Page 28 of Gone in the Night
‘Poor Amy, as if she needs Jack turning up and dumping his problems on her when he’s been a total idiot with her.’
Morgan was pulling Amy in for a hug before Ben had even locked the car. She whispered, ‘Do you want me to kick the shit out of him for you? I’ve been waiting for an excuse.’
Amy grinned at her and whispered back, ‘If you get the opportunity, then please don’t let me stop you. I have no idea why he turned up here to tell me this because I honestly don’t care, but he looks a state and, against my better nature, I thought I should do the right thing, in case he went off and did something stupid.’
Morgan squeezed her again. ‘You’re a better person than he’ll ever be.’
‘Amy, I didn’t think I’d see you again so soon. You’re almost as bad as Morgan, can’t keep away from us all.’ Ben winked at her and Amy rolled her eyes.
‘This is not through choice; Morgan is just a glutton for punishment.’
‘Come on, let’s get this over with so we can leave you in peace.’
Ben was being serious even though he smiled at her, and she led them into the house and down to the living room, where Jack was pacing up and down in front of the window like a tiger marking its territory.
NINETEEN
Cain sat opposite Eddy Lightburn in the small interview room. Eddy had demanded a solicitor, and the duty solicitor, Lucy O’Gara, was sitting next to him. Lucy had been down this road more times than any one of them. She smiled at Cain, who nodded at her. Stan could not tear his eyes away from her long blonde hair, sharp suit and warm smile. Cain could see him from the corner of his eye, and he gave him a side kick in the shin with his extra-large boot. Eddy looked bored, as if this was all a major inconvenience to him. After the introductions, Lucy looked up from her notepad.
‘My client is happy to be open and honest with you; he has nothing to hide so will answer your questions as long as they are reasonable and pertinent to the case.’
‘Thank you, Lucy. Eddy, that’s good. We can get this over with if you’re happy to comply.’
‘I’ve got nothing to say, except I’m sorry to hear Sharon is dead. I know I treated her badly, but I’d never have killed her.’
Cain refrained from stating the obvious: that Eddy had beaten her so badly he’d gone to prison for it.
‘When was the last time you spoke to Sharon?’
‘The day I was released from prison, I went to her house.’
‘Why?’
He shrugged. ‘I had nowhere to go. Have you stayed in a bail hostel? They’re full of nonces and weirdos.’
Cain shook his head. ‘Can’t say I have.’
‘No, you’re on the right side of the law.’
‘What happened when you saw Sharon?’
‘I said I was sorry, could we maybe start over.’
Stan let out a loud noise that was a mixture of disbelief and disgust, and Cain had to stop himself from kicking him again.
Stan asked, ‘I thought you said Sharon didn’t open the door to you when you knocked?’
Eddy shrugged. ‘Wasn’t going to admit to that, was I? But seeing as how I don’t really have much choice, I’m being honest with you now.’
Cain continued. ‘Well, we appreciate that, Eddy. I’m having a hard time understanding why you’d think that Sharon would want to see you again after you hurt her so badly the last time you were together. Did you not think to yourself that going to her house was a little messed up? Like you say, you didn’t exactly treat her well. Don’t your release conditions say you are not to even set foot on the same street as Sharon Montgomery?’
Eddy glanced at Lucy, who nodded. ‘Yes, I just wanted to make things right. I thought she might forgive me; she was such a forgiving person. I’ve had a lot of time to think about stuff in prison. I’m getting tired of living the same shit life, go straight for a bit, then fall off the wagon and end up back inside. It’s the drink, you see? Not me really. I wanted more and I’m not getting any younger. This time I’ve been looking after myself inside, working out and trying to focus on getting healthy, you know.’
‘And you thought that Sharon could give you more?’
‘Yes. She’s loaded, or her parents are anyway.’
‘How was Sharon with you? We have no log of her calling the police out to remove you.’
