Inspector Rames

Chapter 9

"Zoe?" Alex looked down at me as I stopped in front of the door. "She wasn't a user. Her post-mortem testifies to it."

"I know, but check anyway. I don't want to leave any stones unturned."

Alex sighed and squeezed past me. His arm brushed against mine, and my heart jumped. Something crackled in the air between us.

I bolted from the office.

***

After a discussion with the solicitor, I sat down in the same interview room I'd not long spoken to Jason Castle-Ackerman in. Kaden Novick and the solicitor were opposite me. Kaden was sulking with even more ferocity than Jason had, staring down at his bloodied hands.

I went through my standard legal explanation, and then I dived into my questioning. "Where were you on the evening of Monday 26th December, between eight and ten?"

Kaden looked at his solicitor. The man nodded. I'd talked him through my suspicions about Kaden's involvement with the murders, and I'd let him know that Kaden's threats towards Bryony did not look good. His first defence was against a looming murder charge.

"The train station," Kaden said.

"Doing what?"

"Waiting for my supplier from Rosek."

"Has this supplier got a name?"

"Rex. I don't know his last name."

"Okay. We'll check the CCTV for the Rosek platform."

"You'll see me there, promise. After that, I was dealing."

I'd leave questions revolving around that to the drugs squad. "Where were you this morning between four and half-past? That's a little while before you went to see Jason."

"Meeting Rex again."

"At Socrico Train Station?"

"Yeah. He gave me some more Crimson."

"Didn't he do that on Monday?"

"Business around here is good."

"I assume there weren't any eyewitnesses to your exchange who can alibi you?"

Kaden shrugged. "Rex."

The testimony of a fellow drug dealer was hardly going to stand up in court. I leaned back in my chair and scrutinised Kaden. "Did you know Zoe Ackerman?"

"Everyone knows her. She was in the news. She married her step-brother."

"But did you know her personally?"

Kaden shook his head. "The only person I deal with from that family is Jason."

"You also used to deal with Bryony Gold, his girlfriend. We know she was supposed to be meeting you, and we've looked at her financial accounts. She was saving like crazy. She owed you something, didn't she?"

"The bitch stole crimson off me." Kaden's lip curled. "I told her she'd have to pay up."

"What would you have done to her if she hadn't?"

"I wouldn't have killed her."

"What would you have done?"

He looked away. "Don't know."

"Did Rex come with you to deal?"

"No. He went to the train station."

"Are you sure? He wasn't waiting in the wings to help you attack Bryony?"