Page 17 of Gone in the Night (Detective Morgan Brookes #16)
SEVENTEEN
Cain couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing coming from Stefan’s mouth and was listening with his jaw slack and eyes wide, despite trying his best not to look or sound judgemental.
‘So, let me recap. You slept with Sharon’s best friend; she caught the pair of you, and you had a massive argument where you told her to get out of your house, and you didn’t want anything to do with her and at this point your wife walked in mid-argument?’
‘Yeah, not my best moment.’
Cain shook his head. ‘Okay, then what happened?’
‘Sharon said she hated me, had always hated me, which was a bit of a shock because you know I’ve treated her like my own kid since she came into my life. She’s never wanted for anything, her mortgage, bills, clothes, car, insurance, I pay for it all so a little gratitude would have been nice.’
‘How did Beth take this?’
‘Like Beth always does, keeps out of it. Doesn’t get involved because she knows which side her bread is buttered on. Beth likes the lifestyle I give her, so she turns a blind eye to my extra-marital flings.’
‘Beth didn’t get mad at you at all? You slept with her daughter’s friend in your house and then threw her daughter out. I find it hard to believe she didn’t get angry with you over that, pal.’
He shrugged. ‘Nope, maybe if she had lost it with me over the years, I’d have stopped but she is literally like a doormat. As long as she has access to my money, she keeps her mouth shut.’
Cain could feel the anger welling up inside him at the guy sitting opposite. His total lack of respect for his wife was appalling.
‘Did you know where Sharon was camping on this trip? Where have you been this past week or so? At home each evening?’
‘Are you accusing me of killing Sharon?’
‘No, I’m trying to establish the facts. If I was accusing you, I’d have read you your rights and we’d be in an interview room down at the station.’
Stefan nodded. ‘I’ve been meeting Leah at her place. I wasn’t bringing her home again. I’ve been seeing her a lot especially last week before I broke it off with her, it was coming to an end…I wanted to make the most of it.’
‘And Leah can verify this?’
He nodded. ‘She can.’
‘Leah, what’s her second name?’
‘Leah King, she lives in a flat above the rock shop in Ambleside.’
Cain knew the shop so didn’t need anything else.
‘What’s going to happen now?’
‘Obviously I’m going to have to speak to Leah to make sure you’re telling me the truth, and if she confirms your alibi, then nothing.’
Stefan was getting angry; Cain could tell by the way he kept clenching his fists then unclenching them.
‘I didn’t kill Sharon, I’m devastated, I’m angry that someone has done this to her.
I love her, she’s the closest thing to a daughter I’ve got.
Her biological dad is a waste of space. He didn’t want to know when Beth told him she was pregnant.
He’s never had anything to do with Sharon.
It was me from the moment I fell in love with Beth, and now she’s gone, I’ll never see her again.
Don’t you think I feel bad about how I talked to her, how much of an arsehole I was to her?
I was angry with her because she caught me with her friend, but it didn’t mean I’d want her out of my life for good.
It was just a temporary glitch. We’d have got over it in a couple of weeks and everything would have been back to normal. ’
‘Even though you told her that you wanted her out of your life?’
‘It was all words. Are you telling me you’ve never said stuff you didn’t mean and regret?’
Cain did, almost every day but he wasn’t telling Stefan. He shrugged.
‘Oh, fuck off,’ was Stefan’s reply, and Cain thought how much he’d like to lean across and punch the arrogant bastard right between the eyes.
‘I’m not saying another word unless I have a solicitor.’
‘Good, I don’t think you should either and I’m finished anyway for now.’
Cain let the for now hang in the air. He stood up and pointed to the door. Stefan followed him outside, where Declan and Susie were both hovering, trying to look as if they hadn’t just heard the last few minutes of conversation.
‘Thanks, Declan, we’re finished now.’
‘Anytime.’
Cain knocked on the viewing room door.
‘Come in,’ Morgan’s voice called out.
Morgan looked a lot more relaxed than he felt. Beth was sitting there, her eyes red, dabbing at the corners of them, and he realised that Stefan hadn’t had to wipe his eyes once.
Morgan stood up. ‘Beth is going home to pack some things then going to stop at a friend’s house for a couple of days, Stefan. I’ve got a family liaison officer coming to drive her there, and if Cain has finished taking your statement, you’re free to go.’
Stefan was glaring at Beth. ‘For real, you’re leaving me now?’
Beth didn’t even make eye contact with him.
‘We should be together for Sharon, to help each other through this. You’re not thinking straight, we need to plan the funeral.’
Beth stood up. ‘I am thinking straight, for the first time in twenty years I’m thinking straighter than I ever have before. You can take your house and money and?—’
‘Hello, I’m Caroline, the FLO. I’m so sorry about your daughter, it’s devastating, I’m here to help you with anything you need, and to drive you home, Beth. Stefan, a colleague of mine from Barrow is on their way to give you the same support.’
Stefan shook his head. ‘I don’t want anyone interfering, I can manage on my own.’
‘You might feel different when you get home.’
‘I said no, I want you all to leave me the hell alone. I don’t want some soppy copper hanging around my house when I’m grieving.’
Caroline nodded then stepped into the room, defusing the situation, and Beth looked at her.
‘Come on, flower, let’s get you out of here. I’ll answer any questions you may have on the drive home.’
Beth walked out with Caroline, and Cain, who barely knew the woman, felt proud of her for finally putting herself before her creep of a husband and the money in his bank account.