Page 26 of Fortune's Ashes
‘Did anyone else see you there?’
My shoulders dropped an inch. ‘No.’
Barnes grimaced. ‘You understand why I am asking these questions.’
‘I do.’
‘And you understand what needs to happen now.’
I nodded. ‘I didn’t kill Alan Cobain.’
She held up her hands. ‘Save it for your official statement.’ She gave me a pointed look.
I sighed, pulled out my warrant card and handed it over, followed by my crossbow.
‘I’m going to need your phone as well to verify the tip-off you received,’ Barnes said.
Shit. I hadn’t thought that part through very carefully. I’d make a terrible criminal. ‘Uh…’
‘Is there a problem, DC Bellamy?’
I handed over my phone and tried to explain. ‘The tip-off didn’t come through on this phone.’
Barnes didn’t blink. ‘Which phone was it, then?’
I met her eyes. ‘I can’t explain that right now.’
‘Oh dear.’
I couldn’t disagree.
Barnes stood up and dusted herself off. ‘We’ll need to save this for the actual interview. For now, Detective Constable Bellamy, you are suspended from your duties while the investigation into Alan Cobain’s death is ongoing.’
‘Okay.’ I glanced at her face, wondering if she believed I could have murdered him, though I didn’t ask the question. She wouldn’t have answered it. Besides, we both knew that anyone was capable of anything under certain circumstances.
‘I’ll take you to New Scotland Yard myself,’ she said.
I wasn’t sure if that was a good or a bad thing. I heaved myself to my feet and looked awkwardly at my wrists. ‘Do you want to—?’
She clicked her tongue. ‘Handcuffs will not be necessary at this point.’
I breathed out. That was something, I supposed.
ChapterTen
Lukas tailed us, his sleek black car less than two metres away at any given time. If he involved himself more directly, there would be serious problems. I made sure he realised that when we finally pulled up outside the police headquarters and got out of Barnes’s car.
He parked behind us and also stepped out. ‘Go home,’ I told him. He folded his arms, leaned against his car and watched me with hooded eyes. ‘This is just procedure, Lukas. It’s what has to happen.’ He still didn’t react. ‘The only way you can help is by staying out of it.’
He could have been a damned statue. He wasn’t even blinking.
I tried again. ‘It could take a long time.’
Finally he spoke. ‘I’ll be here and waiting until you’re done.’
Barnes frowned. ‘Your relationship with Emma Bellamy is over, Mr Horvath. This smacks of stalking and coercive control.’
‘It’s Lord Horvath to you,’ he said, then he looked at me. ‘Is our relationship over, Emma?’
