Page 70 of Vengeance is Mine

‘Oh, the poor girl,’ he said, slapping a hand to his chest. ‘She must be devastated. Where is she now?’

‘I don’t know. She gave a statement earlier. Her mother took her home, I presume.’

‘I should go and visit.’ He stood up.

‘Mr Griffiths, we have some questions we’d like you to answer before you do that,’ Terry said.

‘Oh. Of course, yes. Sorry.’ Anthony sat back down. ‘Fire away.’

‘Mr Griffiths, do you know anyone who would want to kill your son?’

‘I don’t understand. I thought you said he surprised a burglar?’

‘That’s one theory we’re pursuing. However, it could just as easily have been someone who broke in with the prime intention of killing your son,’ Terry stated firmly.

‘I see.’ Anthony frowned. ‘Well, no, I don’t. I mean, I’m sure you know about his past. He’s not exactly popular, and I suppose there could be some people out there who were against him being released. Getting all that compensation probably didn’t win him any friends either.’

‘What compensation?’ Kyra asked.

‘I’m sure you know.’

‘We do,’ Terry said, nodding to Kyra. ‘The amount was never released though.’

‘No. It was all done out of court. His solicitor is a very cunning woman. She knew exactly the right things to say and do to make sure everything was done in private.’

‘But him winning the compensation was made public, just not the amount?’ Kyra asked.

‘Yes. It made all the papers. I didn’t agree with it myself. He was released from prison. He should have been content with that.’

‘Do you know if your son received any threats?’ Terry asked.

‘You’d have to ask Dawn about that.’

‘Surely he would have told you over a daughter he barely knew.’

Anthony adjusted himself in his seat. He looked in pain. ‘I didn’t see Dominic,’ he said slowly.

‘What do you mean?’

‘The last time I saw Dominic was in September 1999 when he was sentenced to life in prison. I didn’t visit him. I wanted nothing more to do with him.’

‘But he was released almost a year ago,’ Terry said. ‘He was living less than a twenty-minute drive away.’

‘I know. He wanted us to meet, but I didn’t want to. I couldn’t forgive him for what he’d done. It wasn’t just Stephanie he killed. I blame him for his mother’s death, too.’

‘I have to ask this,’ Kyra began. ‘Where were you last night?’

Anthony gave a chuckle. ‘You think I could have killed him? I have to have a sit down and catch my breath just getting dressed in the morning. But to answer your question, I was here all day. I watched a DVD until about ten o’clock, then went to bed.’

‘Can anyone confirm that?’

‘No, my dear, they can’t. However, you’re more than welcome to call my consultant up at the hospital and ask if a man riddled with bone cancer is physically capable of stabbing someone to death.’

‘Oh.’ Kyra physically paled. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘There’s no need to apologise. You weren’t to know. Are there any other questions you’d like to ask?’

Kyra looked to Terry who shook his head.