Tony Hill u Carol Jordan 08 - Cross and Burn

think so,’ Rachel said. ‘I’ve got keys for Bev’s. I’d rather feel her all around me than be in a strange place with strangers.’
    ‘Of course. The police have already searched it – my partner, Paula, did it as soon as we realised Bev was missing. It’s been hard for her, being so closely involved in the case. But if you like, I can call her and check that the police have finished with it?’
    Rachel shook her head. ‘I’ll take my chances. If there’s a problem, I’ll go to a hotel. I just want to get things sorted out. I was pretty sure I was coming to bury my sister. All I wanted was to organise a nice funeral and take Torin home with me. It looks like I won’t be doing either of those things.’
    ‘I’m sorry,’ Elinor said. And she was, because, as Paula regularly pointed out, Elinor was the nice one. But part of her felt a deep satisfaction that Torin wanted to stay.

41

    T he first thing Paula said when she came to meet him in the waiting area at Skenfrith Street was, ‘I’m sorry.’
    Tony was puzzled. ‘Sorry for what? It’s not like I was doing anything else.’
    Uncharacteristically, Paula made no quip about him being a sad bastard. Instead, she briskly ushered him through into the main part of the station and down a hallway lined with doors. The signs said ‘Interview Room’ followed by a number. ‘I misled you. I had to. It’s the only way I could stay on the inside.’
    ‘I don’t understand.’
    Paula stopped in front of a closed door, number four. ‘You will.’ She opened the door and gestured for him to enter.
    The claustrophobic room was painted battleship grey with a low ceiling covered with acoustic tiles. There was no two-way mirror, just bare walls and a video camera mounted in one corner. DCI Fielding was already sitting in one of the grey plastic bucket chairs arrayed on either side of the grey table with the recording equipment. She didn’t even raise her head from the file in front of her when they walked in. All she did was wave a hand at the chairs opposite her.
    Tony had been in plenty of police interview rooms, but always on the questioner’s side of the table. Unsure of what was going on, he sat down facing Fielding and was even more disconcerted when Paula took the seat next to her. Paula took out a notepad and pen and arranged them in front of her. He could see there was a list, presumably of questions, but he couldn’t read her handwriting upside down.
    ‘What’s going on, Paula?’
    Fielding looked up. ‘Let’s get the tape running, McIntyre.’
    Paula gave him an apologetic look but she pressed the buttons on the recording equipment. After the long beep sounded, she said, ‘Interview commenced at six twelve p.m. Present are DCI Alex Fielding, Detective Sergeant Paula McIntyre and Dr Tony Hill. Dr Hill, it’s our intention to interview you under caution in connection with the murders of Nadzieja Wilkowa, known as Nadia, and Beverley McAndrew, known as Bev.’
    ‘Are you arresting me?’ There would be no mistaking his incredulity on the recording.
    ‘Not at this point, no. We simply wish to ask you some questions. You’re entitled to have a lawyer present. Would you like to have a lawyer?’
    The role reversal was so startling that Tony couldn’t quite process it at first. ‘What do I need to be lawyered up for? I haven’t done anything. Apart from a couple of unpaid parking tickets. On you go, Paula. Ask anything you want.’
    ‘You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand?’
    ‘What defence? I thought you weren’t arresting me?’
    ‘It’s a form of words, Dr Hill. As you well know. This isn’t the time or the place for levity. Two women are dead.’ Fielding’s eyes held no promise of warmth. He’d heard she didn’t hold much of a brief for his dark arts; he hadn’t realised how deep her dislike for his work was. And of course, she was ambitious, which could be a hard thing for a female cop to negotiate. Solving these crimes quickly and nailing them on a high-profile offender would do her nothing but good in the eyes of those to whom those things mattered. Was he about to become a scapegoat? It was an unnerving thought. The only option was to pretend he had no idea what was going on.
    ‘Of course. I apologise. Please, I’m happy to answer your questions. Is