Page 20 of When You're Safe

“That’s all behind me, love,” theman said.

Amelia winced at being called “love.”It was a term that could be used endearingly at times for a woman, but often itwas used to dismiss something that a woman was saying.

She tried her best to ignore it.

“You spent three years in prisonfor causing grievous bodily harm,” Amelia continued.

“My client served his time manyyears ago. He is fully reformed and has paid back society in full,” the solicitorsaid, like a well-rehearsed soundbite from a politician.

“But still a criminal?” Finn satforward. “How’s the illegal booze industry going for you?”

“I don’t know what you mean,”Devon answered, pointedly.

“Your place of business isregistered at the Grim Dog pub,” Amelia said. “And other officers arequestioning the bar owner, Mr. Beatson, about selling St. Albans Special Brewwithout a license. Who is the mastermind behind that little scheme?”

“You don’t need to answer that,”Graham Weathers interjected.

Devon Langdon looked at his watch,a gold Rolex. “Can we wind this up quickly? I have some important business totake care of.”

Amelia was about to throw a wrenchin the works. She had riled the suspect up enough, talking about what was alow-level charge. Devon Langdon would have been advised by his solicitor thathe would be out on bail in no time.

But not before Amelia dropped abombshell in his smarmy lap.

“Tell me,” Amelia said, sittingback in her chair in a relaxed fashion, “what do you know of the DeGrey family?”

And there it was: The man’sconfidence was stopped dead in its tracks. His mocking grin melted away, replacedby a flicker of worry, the blood draining from his face.

His solicitor turned and looked atLangdon with a puzzled expression and then turned back to Amelia.

“What does this have to do withanything?” he asked.

“Two people are dead, Mr. Weathers,”Amelia said. “Both of them members of the DeGrey family. And both of them had abusiness arrangement with your client. A business arrangement that they weretrying to dissolve in courts.”

“I wasn’t aware of this,” GrahamWeathers whispered to his client.

Langdon shook his head. “I’m usinga different solicitor’s firm for that one. The damned DeGreys are trying to swindleme out of a business we put together. All that hard work! And they want todismantle it and sell off the assets.”

“And that made you angry, didn’tit, Mr. Langdon?” Finn asked.

“Well… of course. But I’m doingeverything by the book through the courts,” he replied nervously before turningto his solicitor. “I told you! These coppers are trying to stitch me up! I didn’thave nothing to do with anybody’s death.”

“But you are aware that QuentinDeGrey died two weeks ago?” Finn continued.

Up above, one of the fluorescentlights clicked off for a moment, casting shadows from the four figures seatedaround the sterile table. Then, without warning, the light went bright again.

This place is falling apart,Amelia thought.

“I know Quentin died,” Langdonsaid. “But he was old and sick.”

“There is some evidence it mayhave been foul play,” Amelia said, matter-of-factly.

Langdon shook his head and ran hisfingers through his gelled hair. “No. No way. You can’t put that on me.”

“Do you know Maggie DeGrey?”Amelia then asked, turning the screw. “She was found dead this morning. Killed ina hit-and-run.”

Weathers looked at Devon Langdon. “Perhapswe should have a conversation about this in private before you answer that?”

“The name doesn’t ring a bell,”Langdon said, seemingly pulling himself together.

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