Pretend To Be Dead by Jack Gatland

Author:Jack Gatland [Gatland, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-23T16:00:00+00:00

14

INTERVIEW WITH AN EMPIRE

Matt Butcher stared at Declan and Anjli as they sat across from him at the interview room table.

He was nervous, fidgety, and unsure what was actually going on, which was exactly how Declan wanted it.

‘Look guys,’ he said, forcing a smile, ‘I really don’t know why I’m here. I’ve told you everything I know.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Declan replied calmly. ‘Are you in a hurry to go somewhere?’

‘Well yes, actually,’ Butcher said, and the slightest hint of irritation was creeping into his voice now. ‘I’m performing in the Gladiator Arena before lunch, and I need to get ready.’

‘I thought you only organised this?’ Declan asked.

Butcher gave a weak smile.

‘I usually do,’ he said. ‘But with Adam now, well, you know … we’re a man short, and it’s easier for me to go on.’

‘That’s okay, I’m sure someone could stand in for you, maybe do a double shift,’ Anjli said. ‘They could wear a helmet, like Adam did.’

There was something in the way she spoke this that made Matt Butcher twitch as Declan leant forward and pressed the recording button.

‘Interview with Matthew Butcher,’ he said. ‘Sunday, ten twenty am. Detective Inspector Anjli Kapoor and Detective Chief Inspector Declan Walsh in attendance.’

He looked at Butcher.

‘Mister Butcher has no representation, and this will be classed as more of a questioning than an accusation interview … for the moment.’

Matt straightened as he realised there was something far worse going on here.

‘Look, I don’t know what’s going on⁠—‘

Declan held a hand up.

‘Science, forensics,’ he said. ‘I’ve always been a fan of it. There’s something incredible about learning using science. Things that couldn’t be discussed or even considered decades earlier. Do you know, we can take a dead body and work out what time it died, almost to the minute it happened these days?’

Matt Butcher nodded at this, although he had the expression of a man who didn’t quite know what was going on.

‘That’s great,’ he said. ‘It doesn’t explain⁠—‘

‘So, tell us more about Adam Harris,’ Declan interrupted. ‘On the day he died, Friday, he had two gladiator sessions, is that correct?’

For a moment, Butcher relaxed, as if believing this wasn’t the problem he thought it was going to be.

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘He had a morning session – well, by the time he went on it was closer to twelve-thirty, one o’clock, and then he went on again about four-thirty, maybe.’

‘Right,’ Declan replied with a smile. ‘Twelve-thirty and four-thirty. And how long did these gladiator sessions last?’

Butcher scrunched his face up as he considered the question, or at least attempted to look as if he was considering it.

‘Fifteen minutes, maybe,’ he said. ‘I mean, there’s a lot of pageantry, you know; they come out, they wave to the crowds, and they run around more than a usual fight would go. We have a good guy versus bad guy thing going, it’s kind of the same style as, you know, most re-enactment shows.’

‘Right,’ Declan said. ‘And did Adam Harris take his helmet off at the end?’

‘Oh God, no,’ Butcher shook his head.

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