Page 95 of Traitors Gate

‘That’s easy,’ said Lamont, sitting back. ‘Right here. In fact, I haven’t left the house all morning. After breakfast I read the newspapers before checking over my tax returns.’ He swung round and pointed to a desk that was littered with official-looking documents alongside a couple of brown envelopes. Even the props had been prepared.

‘And is your wife the only person who can confirm that you never left the house?’ asked Jackie.

‘I was interrupted once during the morning by a call from Jenny’s mother,’ said Lamont. ‘Can’t be sure of the exact time, but it must have been around quarter to nine.’

‘Did you speak to your mother-in-law?’ asked Jackie.

‘No. Not if I can avoid it,’ he said, laughing.

‘I will be asking your wife to confirm that she did receivea call from her mother, and that you were present at the time.’

‘Isn’t my word good enough?’ demanded Lamont.

Paul didn’t respond to his question. ‘I think you know only too well why we’re here. But like the consummate professional you are, you’ll have covered your tracks. But then you’ve had twenty years of dealing with criminals.’

‘Tread carefully, Adaja,’ said Lamont, sounding defiant for the first time. ‘Otherwise—’

‘Otherwise?’ queried Paul.

‘My next call will be to my lawyer.’

‘Mr Booth Watson, no doubt.’

‘I always said we shouldn’t have allowed your sort into the force,’ snapped Lamont.

‘My sort?’

‘You know exactly what I’m getting at, sambo. So perhaps it’s time for you to leave.’

‘Not before I ask your wife what time you left the house this morning, and, more important, when you returned.’

‘As I said, I never left the house.’

‘And what was she doing during that time?’

‘Packing for a holiday we’ve planned for several weeks.’

‘Then she can start unpacking, because neither of you will be leaving until I’ve completed my inquiries.’

‘What inquiries?’ he repeated more sharply.

‘I want to know who was sitting in the back of the Land Rover when you turned up at the Tower this morning.’

‘I told you, I’ve been here all morning,’ he said, his voice rising.

‘And who it was in the back of the Jaguar?’ pressed Paul. ‘Because it certainly wasn’t the Lord Chamberlain.’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘Does the name Phil Harris mean anything to you?’

‘Never heard of him,’ said Lamont, a little too quickly.

‘Should have done,’ came back Paul, ‘because he was in the driving seat when you both turned up at the Tower this morning. He’s just been arrested, and yours was the first name he gave us.’

If Jackie was surprised she didn’t show it.

‘It’s definitely time for you to leave,’ said Lamont, leaning forward in his chair, ‘before you say something you’ll later regret.’

---