Page 21 of When You're Safe

“Perhaps you know her better as Mrs.Stewart DeGrey? Stewart DeGrey, Quentin DeGrey’s nephew and business partner?Both of whom were trying to dissolve your company in the courts.”

Langdon slammed his fist on thetable. As if in answer to his anger, the light above flickered again. “No! You’vegot this wrong. I haven’t killed anyone. I was handling it in the courts!”

“Where were you this morningbetween the hours of six a.m. and eight a.m., Mr. Langdon?” Amelia asked,leaning forward.

“I was still at the Grim Dog. Iwas there! You can ask—”

“Mr. Beatson?” Amelia asked. “Youmean the man who is selling illegal alcohol for a quick profit with you? A manwith a vested interest in keeping you out of prison?”

Langdon’s shoulders sunk slightly,and he slumped down in his chair. No longer the super-confident con man, Ameliathought, he looked more like a little boy who had been told off by hisheadmaster.

“Is there anyone else who canconfirm your whereabouts?” Finn followed up.

“I’m not sure.” Langdon seemeddejected.

“Did you go into a shop in themorning or anything?” his solicitor now asked.

“Wait!” Langdon said, standing up.“Yes, I went and took money out at a cash machine in St. Albans High Street.”

Amelia felt her heart sink. “Andwhat time was that?”

“About seven fifteen, I think,” hereplied with enthusiasm.

“Where was Maggie DeGrey killed?”the solicitor asked.

“Not far from DeGrey Castle,” Finnanswered, clearly not wanting to divulge exact details.

The solicitor grinned from ear toear like a Cheshire cat. “And you say the time of death was between six and eightthis morning?”

Amelia nodded. “Yes.” She knewfull well what that meant.

“Then my client couldn’t possiblyhave traveled that distance in time,” he said. “You have the wrong man.”

There was silence for a moment.Then Finn spoke. “Sure, if there’s security footage of you at that ATM, Devon,then you couldn’t have been behind the wheel of that car. But given yourrelationship to both victims and your clear money problems—”

“Money problems?!” the man saidsharply, taking offense. The light above flickered again, casting a shadow onhis face and making him seem more sinister than before. “I have plenty of cash,pal. I have more money than you’re likely to see in your life.”

“Oh really?” Finn grinned. “Someonewith a lot of money doesn’t get involved in an amateur beer brewing operationto make a quick buck. He also doesn’t wear what’s clearly a fake Rolex.” Finnpointed to the shiny gold watch on the man’s wrist.

Devon Langdon reacted sheepishlyand covered it up with his sleeve.

“You’ve got money problems, Devon,”Finn said. “And the two people who were trying to take whatever you had left,Quentin and Stewart DeGrey, have most likely been murdered in Quentin’s case,and made a widower in Stewart’s case. You might not have been behind the wheel,but you sure as all hell could have gotten someone else to kill Maggie DeGrey.”

“You have no evidence connectingmy client with either of those two deaths,” Weathers said in a cold tone. “Doyou?”

Amelia stood up. “We have furtherinquiries to make. One of our colleagues here at Carnwell Station will betaking over the investigation into the selling of illegal alcohol at the Grim Dog.They will be in shortly to question you.”

Devon Langdon’s confidence had nowreturned. He sat back in his chair and put his arms behind his head as if relaxing.

“Don’t get too comfortable, buddy,”Finn said to Langdon as Amelia concluded the interview and switched off thetape recorder.

“Or what!” Langdon said, standingup, his fists clenched by his sides.

Now Finn stood up out of hischair, towering over the man. Langdon suddenly looked nervous again.

“I’ll be keeping an eye on you,”Finn said. “And the next time you fall from a height, I won’t be there to catchyou.” Finn patted him on the shoulder, just enough to make the man sway alittle.

Amelia left the room with Finnclosely behind. They walked along the old police station hallway in silence fora moment.

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