The Lost

Chapter 15

There was silence when Jonah finished. Fletcher’s face was the usual mask, showing no hint of judgement or sympathy. Bennet’s was equally unreadable. Jonah knew they’d have heard far worse, but that didn’t make it any easier. This was the first time he’d told anyone what had happened, and while the memory had lost most of its power to hurt, it didn’t feel any less sordid.

Fletcher let him sweat for a few moments before he spoke. ‘Why didn’t you tell us before?’

‘It’s ancient history. I didn’t think it was relevant.’

‘Not relevant? You forgot to mention that a murder victim slept with your wife? That’s not just relevant, that’s a motive.’

‘Not much of one, if I waited ten years. My marriage was over by then anyway, it’s not as though that’s why we broke up.’

‘Things like that fester. And ten years is plenty of time to build a grudge.’

‘We’ve already been through this,’ Jonah said wearily. ‘I didn’t kill him, you know that.’

‘Do I? Because right now I’m starting to wonder what else you might be hiding.’

‘I’m not hiding anything. That’s it, that’s my big secret. I fell out with my best friend because he slept with my wife, OK?’

Fletcher gave him a considering look. ‘Were you surprised?’

‘You mean when I found my best friend in bed with my wife? What do you think?’

‘Let me put it another way. Was it out of character?’

That was harder to answer. Jonah had known Gavin was unfaithful to Marie long before he’d found him with Chrissie. He’d liked to ‘play hard’, as Wilkes had put it, but it had always been a casual thing for him. Jonah had called him on it more than once, but Gavin just shrugged it off.

We can’t all be plaster saints, he’d said.

‘I didn’t think he’d do that,’ Jonah admitted.

‘That’s not what I asked.’

‘Look, I trusted him. I don’t know what else I can say.’

‘You could start by explaining why you’d want to help the man who got into your wife’s pants?’

There were times when Jonah asked himself the same thing. ‘He used to be a friend. Like I told you before, he sounded like he was in trouble.’

‘And I suppose you’re such a soft touch you just went along with it. Even after he’d slipped it to your wife behind your back.’

Jonah noticed Bennet glance in disapproval at the DI. He knew the man was trying to provoke him, but the wound was too old for that to work. So he said nothing, and had the small satisfaction of seeing Fletcher’s mouth tighten in irritation.

‘I’m assuming you know that McKinney had been suspended.’

‘I only found out after the service yesterday. Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘Are you serious?’ The DI’s incredulity wasn’t feigned. ‘You’re an unreliable witness in a murder enquiry, I don’t have to tell you—’

He broke off, a hand going to his throat.

‘Sir?’ Bennet said, stepping towards him.

‘I need a drink of water.’

His voice sounded weak and hoarse, and he seemed to be having trouble swallowing. Jonah started to push himself up from the chair.

‘I’ll get it,’ Bennet told him.

She crossed quickly to the sink, took a clean glass from the drainer and filled it from the tap. Fletcher said nothing as he took it from her. His hand seemed to have developed a tremor as he raised the glass to his mouth. Bennet’s face gave nothing away, but she watched the DI closely as he drank.

‘Do you want a tea or coffee?’ Jonah asked, regretting his earlier stubbornness.

‘No.’ Fletcher’s manner was even more brusque than usual. He put the glass down, as though disowning it. ‘Let’s talk about McKinney’s suspension. Do you know what the allegations against him were?’

Wilkes had edged around that. ‘Not really.’

‘He was on the take. Accepting bribes from the gangs he was supposed to be investigating in return for information. Raids he was involved with had a habit of drawing a blank, suspects would magically skip out just before they were due to be arrested. He denied it, claimed he was being stitched up. But he’d been going off the rails for a while. Skipped shifts, turned up drunk or so hung-over he could barely function. Punched out a colleague who criticised him. Oh, and he failed a drugs test.’ The DI raised his eyebrows at Jonah. ‘Any of that surprise you?’