Complicity Part 4 (2/5) By Nick Quantrill

(1/5), (2/5), (3/5), (4/5), (5/5). Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

'Yes, that's exactly it. I wasn't thinking straight earlier' he said fidgeting with his glasses. 'You're right, Smyth was keen to move and bank the cash' said Lock leaning forward. 'This is difficult for me...and I've been unsure as to what to do, but yes ... Julian has a motive. I thought that this was something I should bring up with you. He told me that his lack of an alibi was due to him seeing a woman, but I've been thinking about it and I'm not sure that he's told me the truth. I hope I've not inconvenienced you at all.'

'Not at all, Brendan' said Coleman leaning back in his chair. 'So, to summarise, you agree with me. Smyth has a strong motive for the murder of Ray Baxter. Essentially, it was greed.' 'Yes.' Lock lowered his head. 'Bullshit' shouted Coleman as he thumped the desk. Lock leapt back with surprise.

'Do you really expect me to believe that you've suddenly decided that Smyth has a motive for murder and that you thought you'd bring this to our attention? No, Smyth is a prize-fucking turd, but even I doubt that he's capable of murder. As I've just said, he's got the big house in the suburbs, well away from the poxy areas of the city; he's got the penis extension of a car and possibly the young mistress. Why does he need to risk all that? 'I'm just trying to be helpful.'

'I see' continued Coleman. 'Does this helpfulness extend to offering legal advice to known criminals?' 'What? That's outrageous.' 'Is it? I've checked out your alibi. Your meeting with a client was actually a meeting with David Mallory.' Lock slumped back into his seat before dragging himself back up in his chair. 'As he's never been found guilty in a court of law, I don't see how you can call him a criminal.' 'Come on, Brendan. Get with the programme here. Your alibi is seriously fucking compromised.'

'We've been checking into your financial circumstances, Brendan. You're up to your eyeballs in debt. Why haven't you asked daddy for some help?' 'How did you find out that my meeting was with Mallory?' he asked while fidgeting with his glasses. 'It's on the CCTV, Brendan.' Lock buried his head in his hands. 'Jesus...' 'Why don't you tell us about it? You've clearly come here to get something off your chest.'

Lock started loudly sobbing. 'He told me where to sit. He told me that the cameras wouldn't cover that part of the room. He told me that he had contacts at the hotel.' Coleman allowed him to continue. 'Mallory has contacts everywhere...he found out about me.' 'Found out what?' Lock sat upright. 'I'm gay, Sergeant.' 'So what, why should that bother Mallory?' 'I keep it to myself, it's private. Nobody knows.' 'That's fair enough, Brendan.'

'Mallory set me up in one of his clubs, what they call a honey-pot, I believe. I should have been more careful. I'd been in the club the previous week and a woman had come onto me rather strongly. I should have seen it coming. It was most unusual and unexpected' Lock shrugged. 'I suppose Mallory just worked his way through the possibilities.' 'Why would he do that?'

Continued... Next Page (3/5)

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