Page 69 of Little Children
Bryant handed Justin a glass of water.
He took it with trembling hands. He didn’t take a sip; he just stared at it.
‘Listen, it’s just a formality, mate, but I gotta ask where you were last night.’
His head shot around and water sloshed from the glass. ‘You can’t think I did it.’
Bryant took the water back and placed it on the coffee table.
‘Not for a minute, mate,’ Roy soothed. ‘But as her last known partner, we have to ask.’
‘I was playing pool with my mates down the Buzby club.’
‘Until what time?’ Roy pushed.
‘Ten, half past.’
‘And then?’
‘I came back here with a pizza.’
Bryant could see the box on the countertop.
‘And you didn’t go out again?’ Roy asked in the same gentle, soothing tone.
Bryant saw the panic start to rise on Justin’s face.
‘Nah, I never left, but I wouldn’t hurt— Oh God, I could never hurt Jas. I loved her, mate – you gotta believe me.’
‘It’s all right, pal, I believe you. Now just calm down, eh? You’ve had quite the shock.’
The young man took a couple of deep breaths, looking relieved that Roy believed him.
‘Told you, just a formality. Now do you mind if I use the loo before I go?’
‘Course not,’ Justin said, waving towards the kitchen. ‘Just through there.’
‘Is she really dead?’ he asked, once Roy had left the room.
‘I’m afraid so,’ Bryant said, shoving his hands in his pockets. He was still struggling to understand what they were doing here before Jasmine’s next of kin had been informed.
‘That’s better,’ Roy said, coming back into the room. ‘Okay, mate, sorry to have brought you shitty news. If you need anything, give us a shout.’ He walked straight past Justin to the door. ‘Oh, and don’t go making any calls to family members until they’ve had a chance to absorb the news, okay?’
Justin nodded as Roy let himself out of the room.
Bryant had the feeling a whirlwind had just swept through this man’s life.
He wasn’t sure that either he or his boss would have been happy to leave this guy unattended so soon, but Roy’s gait indicated that they’d done what they were here to do and it was time to move on.
Nevertheless, he felt the need to offer something.
‘Deeply sorry for your loss,’ he said, squeezing the man’s shoulder as he walked past.
He closed the front door quietly behind himself.
‘You don’t think we should have called a relative to comfort him?’ Bryant asked, getting back into Roy’s car.
‘Nah, mate, not our job, and our family liaisons don’t stretch to the ex-boyfriends of the deceased. That’s best saved for the family. He’ll be all right.’
