Page 38 of Veiled Justice (The Other Detective #1)

Cameron Quintos didn’t have a worry in the world as he smirked at me from the other side of the desk next to his fancy lawyer. Channing wasn’t with me since he was busy drawing up another witness statement, and Quintos took the sign of me flying solo to be a weakness. Showed how much he knew.

‘Thank you for coming in to see me, Mr Quintos. We’ve got a few follow-up questions concerning the murder that took place during your charity gala.’

‘Since your brother found both bodies, I’m surprised to see you’re still on the case, Inspector Wise. A conflict of interest, don’t you think? After all, coincidence only stretches credulity so far.’

There was nothing friendly about my smile. ‘You’re right, so let’s talk about coincidence. Let’s talk about your party and your famous fireworks, and how you didn’t go outside to enjoy the show. I asked all of your guests, Quintos, and not a single one placed you at the display. Why is that?’

‘I was in the bar.’

My smile widened. ‘No, you weren’t. I checked with the bar staff and all of the guests who were inside, but you weren’t there either. You weren’t at the fireworks and you weren’t at the bar, so where were you?’

The lawyer leaned in to whisper but Quintos waved him off. ‘Not answering makes me look guilty. I have nothing to hide,’ he snapped. ‘The truth is, Louisa Carnforth and I were … intimate. Her father despises me so we’re keeping things under wraps. That’s all.’

‘Her father, Magnus Carnforth?’

‘That’s right.’

‘When was the last time you saw him?’ I asked.

He visibly relaxed as the questioning turned away from the murders. ‘I don’t know – a year or two ago? As I said, we don’t get on and we avoid each other whenever possible. Louisa has been taking over the reins. She said he’s aged significantly – dementia.’

‘You and Magnus don’t get on, yet you went to the Carnforths’ gala?’

‘Louisa assured me he wouldn’t be present.’

I bet she did. ‘Were you aware that Magnus Carnforth died last night?’

He blinked rapidly. Evidently not. ‘No,’ he licked his suddenly dry lips.

‘Imbarum overdose,’ I said conspiratorially. ‘Do you know what’s fun about that?’

‘There is little fun in death,’ he said stiffly.

‘Oh, the average person believes that but you and I aren’t average, are we?’ I said pleasantly. ‘There’s power in death.’

‘Inspector, keep your comments relevant,’ the lawyer snapped.

‘This matter is very relevant. You see, all three victims were spiked with Imbarum. It is hellishly rare, which makes it very easy to track. In lots of ways Louisa is quite na?ve, isn’t she? I initially thought you’d secured the Imbarum because drugs are your trade, aren’t they?’

‘Pharmaceuticals are very different to potions!’ Quintos snapped.

‘You’re right, of course – and pharmaceuticals are so traceable. Like that little serum you used on Verona, a vampyr of the Volderiss clan. When I get a warrant, what am I going to find in your labs, Cameron?’

‘It’s Mr Quintos to you!’ He frowned as the cogs in his brain clicked over. ‘How the hell did she tell you about the serum?’

I smiled. ‘And we’re back to the fun, aren’t we? Fun fact: you fumbled on the wording of the oath and we now have a full statement from her.’

I slid a copy across to the lawyer who scanned it quickly. ‘I need a moment with my client,’ he said hastily.

‘It was all Louisa’s idea,’ Quintos blurted. ‘She set the whole thing up, all three deaths! I was just an unhappy witness. She threatened me, told me not to come forward with what I knew or I’d be next!’

‘Quintos!’ The lawyer barked.

Quintos glared at him. ‘Shut up, Trent. You’re fired!’ The lawyer shook his head and stalked out without another word.

‘Are you waiving the right to a solicitor?’ I asked pleasantly.

‘I don’t need one! Charlatans, the lot of them. I built my own company from the ground up and I don’t need some sycophantic lawyer muddying the waters. This is all very simple. Louisa killed them all and I’m a victim, too. She was terrifying. She said she’d kill me. I believed her – she’s a shark.’

‘Interesting wording. That’s what Louisa said to Helga, wasn’t it? That you’re either a shark or a fish?’

He seized on it. ‘Precisely. That’s exactly what Louisa said because it’s true. She’s a killer through and through – I bet she killed her father as well. Honestly, Inspector, she was the one behind it all. I had nothing to do with it!’

‘Except for providing the money for hiring the ogre assassin.’ I smiled. ‘Money leaves trails.’

‘It does not! I routed it through a shell company!’ he protested.

Gotcha. ‘So you did pay for the hit?’

He faltered. ‘I want my lawyer back.’

I grinned. ‘I’m not sure he’ll come, but we can ask nicely.

Another fun thing is that we have you cold.

You’ve just confessed to paying for the hit and we have a statement from Verona and Katz confirming that you masterminded the whole thing.

Not Louisa but you, Cameron Quintos. Lawyer or not, you’re going away for a very long time. ’

‘It wasn’t me! It was Katz!’

‘You said a moment ago it was Louisa,’ I pointed out.

He started to sweat. ‘It was both of them! It all started in Nocturne.’

I opened my notepad. ‘Tell me everything, Quintos, and maybe we can discuss reducing your sentence.’

He sang like a caladrius.

Two down, Louisa to go. And she was going to topple like a house of cards.