Page 26 of Gone in the Night

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.

EIGHTEEN

Morgan and Cain arrived to find Ben in his office, phone clamped to his ear, scribbling notes on a piece of paper on his desk. Neither of them spoke, but Morgan picked up a marker pen and wrote Stefan Montgomery’s name on the whiteboard, then turned to Cain.

‘What was Leah’s surname?’

‘King, she lives in a flat above the rock shop in Ambleside.’

‘I used to love that shop, it’s so neat. I haven’t been for years.’

She wrote underneath Stefan’s name in brackets.

(Leah King, Stefan’s lover. Sharon’s best friend.)

‘Well, now’s your chance for a visit. What do you think is up with Ben? His face is a picture.’

Ben looked stressed beyond belief. The way he was scrubbing his hand across his face was a huge indicator that he was dealing with something off the scale. The door opened and in sauntered Stan who looked as if he hadn’t a care in the world. He smiled at them.

‘What are you and Ben on with?’ Morgan didn’t return his smile.

‘Well, we found Eddy Lightburn, he’s in custody. I don’t know who Ben’s talking to now though. I’ve just booked Eddy in.’

Stan was reading the whiteboard. ‘Stefan Montgomery, is that the victim’s dad?’

‘Yes.’

‘He’s a viable suspect then?’

‘He is until we can confirm where he was last night.’

Tristan whistled. ‘What a mess this is, that’s some weird relationships going on in that family.’

Ben was standing at the door to his office. ‘It’s just got even messier.’

‘Why?’ asked Morgan.

‘Jack White was dating Sharon Montgomery.’

‘Amy’s ex Jack White?’ asked Cain.