Page 14 of Gone in the Night (Detective Morgan Brookes #16)

FOURTEEN

Ben had taken Stan with him to track down Eddy Lightburn, Sharon’s ex-boyfriend.

He’d considered sending patrol officers to pick him up, but he thought it might be a good chance to get to know Stan a little bit.

Stan was clutching a sheet of paper with a list of addresses for Eddy and associate addresses.

‘So, which is his current address that’s on his prison release for probation?’

Stan studied the sheet of paper. ‘It’s at twenty-three A Sandy Lane Avenue, Kendal.’

Ben nodded; he knew the area well. He’d grown up not far away from there.

Ben drove to Sandy Lane Avenue and parked a little way up the street.

‘Eddy is all mouth and no trousers, except for when it comes to how he treats his women,’ he told Stan.

Ben got out of the car, and Stan followed him. Knocking on the flat door, Ben could hear the beat of some awful music from inside and felt bad for whoever lived above. The door opened, Eddy took one look at Ben and slammed it shut.

‘Nice guy,’ whispered Stan.

‘Oh, he’s just the best,’ replied Ben. He twisted the handle and shoved it open before Eddy could lock it.

‘Long time no see. That was a bit rude, Eddy.’

Eddy had a shaved head and a tattoo of a spider on his neck. He was over six foot tall and twice as broad as both Ben and Stan. He looked ripped in his too-tight vest. He also looked as if he’d just let a couple of Jehovah’s Witnesses into his flat by mistake. ‘Fuck off,’ he said.

Ben, who wasn’t in the least bit threatened by Eddy, turned to Stan. ‘How rude.’

He turned back to Eddy. ‘I just need a quick chat with you about Sharon Montgomery.’

The music was louder inside, and Ben strode past Eddy into his small kitchen, where the speaker that was almost as tall as the guy who owned it was pulsating with the awful sound, and he yanked the plug out of the wall. The silence was wonderful.

‘You can’t come in here and do that. Have you got a warrant?’

Ben shook his head. ‘I don’t need one. Are you still on parole?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Then you know that part of your licence conditions is that police officers can enter your property to make sure you are complying with that licence.’

‘What do you want? I haven’t seen Sharon for years. So, if she’s made up some bullshit story that I’ve been to her address harassing her it’s a load of crap.’

Ben looked around the flat which was surprisingly neat. ‘Have you been to Sharon’s address?’

Eddy looked uncomfortable. ‘Well, yeah, when I first came out, I thought I’d go see her.’

‘How did that go?’

‘It didn’t, she didn’t answer the door, so I left. End of story.’

‘Why did you go see her? I mean you didn’t end on the best of terms.’

He shrugged. ‘I liked her, and she’s loaded, her parents are rich. I thought she might be able to help me out with a bit of cash to tide me over.’

Stan was staring at Eddy with a look of disgust on his face. ‘You beat the woman up, got sent down for it and thought she’d want to help you when you came out of prison?’

‘What can I say, it was a misunderstanding that’s all.’

Ben spoke before Stan could. ‘So, you went to her house. How long ago was that?’

‘Last week, look I didn’t do anything, so why are you here?’

‘Because we found Sharon’s body earlier this morning and, unfortunately for you, you’re top of my suspect list. Eddy Lightburn, I’m arresting you on suspicion of murder.

You do not have to say anything . But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court.

Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand?’

He nodded his head. ‘Sharon is really dead?’

‘Yes, I’m sorry.’

The blood had drained from Eddy’s face. ‘I didn’t do it.’

‘Save it for interview.’

Eddy stared at the floor. Stan took out his handcuffs, but Ben shook his head.

‘Eddy, are you going to behave yourself or do I need to let my colleague cuff you and walk you out of here?’

‘Yes, I mean no. I mean I’m not going to kick off. What’s the point? I haven’t done this.’

‘Good, walk yourself out to the car like a good citizen then and we can get this over with as quickly as possible. If you had nothing to do with Sharon’s murder, we could get you processed and back here before you know it.’

Ben walked in front, Eddy in the middle and Stan behind.

Stan locked the door and pocketed the key to the flat.

Ben knew he should probably have waited until they had more evidence, but Eddy had admitted to going to Sharon’s house.

He wanted him booked in, forensically examined and interviewed to make sure he didn’t have anything to hide.

They didn’t have time to waste. It would be a refreshing change to have Sharon Montgomery’s killer behind bars in record time.