The Dead Of Night (The DS Jack Townsend Crime Series Book 1) by Robert Enright

Author:Robert Enright [Enright, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-09T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

DI King was expecting a frosty reception when she finally arrived at the interview room, and Riley delivered.

‘Fucking took your time.’ The young man spat at her before his appointed Duty Solicitor whispered into his ear and Riley rolled his eyes. When he had been taken in by Townsend, Riley had requested representation, and the uniformed officers who booked Riley had already contacted the Defence Solicitor Call Centre to arrange it for him. Rupa Patel was a known figure at High Wycombe Police Station, as she was often the one who was sent to offer free legal advice for those on Riley’s side of the table. Never too antagonistic, King had often found her to be a smart and reasonable solicitor, even if she could often provide a bump in the road. Patel and King shared a respectful nod before King began the recording, introducing herself and everyone in the room.

‘Mr Riley, I’m sure you’re aware as my colleague’s told you that as of now you are not under arrest, but we do want to question you regarding the murder of Lauren Grainger at four o’clock on Monday morning.’

‘I didn’t fucking do anything.’

King ignored him, allowing Patel to do her best to control his outbursts. King opened her laptop onto the desk and then set her eyes on him.

‘When we last spoke, Dean…can I call you Dean?’

‘You can call me a cab…’

King ignored him.

‘Dean, when we last spoke, you said that after you got out of prison, you and Lauren split up.’

‘Yeah, when she started taking her clothes off for money,’ Riley said angrily. ‘Like I said, I didn’t want to be with a whore.’

Next to him, Patel shuffled uncomfortably in her seat. It drew a small echo of sympathy from King, who wondered how difficult it was to try to look after people like Riley.

‘Now, I asked you if you had any contact with her or saw her again and you said, and I quote, “Nope”.’

‘Sounds about right.’

King tried to hide her smile, especially as she was leading him down the path she wanted.

‘Dean, do you know a woman called Natasha Stokes?’

‘Who?’

‘Natasha Stokes,’ King repeated firmly. ‘She owned an estate agency just up the road. Blonde hair. Pretty. Divorced.’

‘She sounds great.’ Riley smiled at his solicitor. ‘But I don’t know who ya talking about. Why would I know her?’

‘Because she was killed yesterday evening in the same way that Lauren Grainger was.’ King could see the colour drain from the young man’s gaunt face. She turned her screen around to show the smiling face of Natasha. ‘This is her.’

‘I don’t know her,’ Riley said, his voice trembling. ‘Look, I haven’t done anything.’

‘No?’

‘He has said so.’ Patel cut in, clearly annoyed by King.

‘Okay.’ King turned the laptop back and tried to navigate the sensitive mouse pad. ‘It’s just, I'm finding your answers hard to believe, Dean.’

‘Well, that’s your problem.’

‘Actually, it’s yours. You said to me on Monday, and earlier in this chat, that you never saw or contacted Lauren. Right?’

‘Again,’ Patel interjected.

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