Indefensible (DI Sara Ramsey Book 12), M Comley [world of reading TXT] 📗

the stairs and smiled up at Sara once she reached the bottom.

“Don’t think you’ve heard the last of this particular topic, Miss Jameson.”

“I’m dying to hear your reaction when you learn the truth.”

Sara glared at her through narrowed eyes. “It can wait.” They walked the length of the corridor side by side and Sara paused with her hand on the doorknob to suck in a few calming breaths before she entered the room.

“You’ve got this, Sara.” Carla winked at her.

“Let’s hope so.”

Jo Zappel and his solicitor were already at the table. Neither of them turned when Sara and Carla entered the room. Sara set the file of evidence before her and sat down opposite the two men. “Good morning to both of you. Another fine day.” She smiled at the uniformed officer standing along the far wall.

“It is,” Mr Jordan agreed, staring at his pad. He glanced up and smiled. “My client has something to say.”

Sara raised a finger. “Let’s get the recording underway first, shall we? DS Jameson, if you’d do the honours?”

Carla set the recorder going, announced who was present in the room and then handed the proceedings over to Sara. “Mr Jordan, am I to understand your client wishes to tell us something after his stint in a cell overnight?”

“He does. While he admits he was present at the first crime scene, he is adamant he knows nothing about the second crime.”

Sara glanced at Carla and frowned. She turned back to Jordan and said, “I’m confused. He says he was present at Val Purcell’s home on the night she was killed, is that correct?” Her gaze drifted over to the suspect. His head was bowed and he was staring at the table.

“That’s an affirmative.”

Sara shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I find that extremely hard to believe. We have the evidence placing him at the second crime scene. You’ve seen that evidence for yourself and yet, it would appear to me that you haven’t given your client any guidance in accepting his guilt.”

“Did you not hear me, Inspector? He’s adamant he wasn’t involved in the second crime.”

“I heard you, I just find it very hard to fathom when all the evidence tells us the opposite is true.”

Zappel’s head rose, and Sara saw the tears in his eyes. There was no form of emotion tugging at her heartstrings, she’d been down this road before with many other criminals seeking sympathy. “I didn’t do it. I swear I didn’t.” His voice faltered on the words.

Carla nudged Sara under the table. She nudged her partner in return and then queried, “Then who did? You told us yesterday that no one else has access to your vehicle and yet, your vehicle was involved in the crime. You can see that for yourself, so you’ll forgive any confusion on my part, won’t you?”

“That’s right. I don’t know how someone got their hands on my car without me knowing. I’m not trying to deceive you here.”

“You’re not? Then explain to me how your vehicle was seen close to the crime and you were caught on CCTV cameras getting into that vehicle. You admitted the man in the photo was wearing your coat and hat, I believe.”

“I didn’t admit anything of the sort. Stop trying to trick me. I’m doing my best here to help you out.”

“And I appreciate the efforts you are making to help us get to the truth, I truly do. But things just aren’t adding up, I need to find out why. You can understand that, can’t you?”

His head lowered again and he shuffled in his chair. “I’m not sure I’m ever going to be able to convince you of my innocence. Therefore, you need to do what you need to do. I’m sick to death of being grilled and being called a damn liar. I’ve done my best to tell you the truth, and I have to say, it hasn’t got me very far, has it?”

His words touched a nerve in Sara. She studied the man’s downhearted demeanour for a while before she sat back and said, “Let’s go over things one more time, to ensure we haven’t missed anything out, then you can have your wish and I’ll call an end to the interview.”

Zappel groaned but nodded all the same. “If you insist.”

“Val Purcell, the first victim, what happened there?”

“I knocked on the door, intending to scam some money out of her. Told her there was a dodgy tile on her roof.”

“So why kill her?”

“I didn’t.” He sighed.

“Then who did? Are you telling me someone else was with you at the house?”

His silence and refusal to answer the question lay heavy in the air. “Mr Zappel, I’ve been at this more years than I care to remember. I have developed this uncanny knack of knowing when someone isn’t telling me the truth.” He opened his mouth to speak, but she silenced him with her raised hand. “Or if that person is avoiding something. Tell me I’m wrong, if you can?”

His gaze bore into hers for a few moments and then drifted off to the side of the room. “Are we done here? I’m getting bored with going over the same questions all the time.”

“We’ll be done when I clarify something important and not before. You are going to be charged with both murders…” He blustered his objection, opening and closing his mouth several times. Sara continued, “With the evidence we have to hand, condemning your actions, it’s a no-brainer for us. You can object all you like; as I’ve said before, if you admit you were responsible for both crimes, the court will be more lenient with your sentencing.”

“This is utter bullshit.” Zappel faced his solicitor. “Don’t just sit there and take this from her, do something. Get me out of this mess. Do your frigging job, arsehole!”

Jordan’s eyebrow shot up. “Arsehole, am I? Right, I’m out of here. Inspector, do what you will with my former client. For the recording, this is me resigning and leaving the