‘Stay down.’ She already had his arm behind his back.
Fabian helped her to restrain him but she had him pinned. ‘You OK?’
Banner nodded.
‘Neil Vicar?’
He didn’t answer.
‘Come on.’ Fabian caught his breath. ‘You’ve just fled from Neil Vicar’s address. You’re not exactly making this difficult for us.’
‘Yeah, all right.’ Neil Vicar was in his early twenties, had a pockmarked complexion, mousy shorn hair and a row of rings in his left ear.
Fabian’s circulation didn’t slow. ‘Why were you running away, Neil?’
Chapter Thirty-Nine
‘Let’s get you to your feet.’ Banner dragged her prisoner up.
‘This is police brutality,’ Neil Vicar’s rasping voice complained.
‘’Course it is.’ Fabian felt his heart double beat and immediately coughed. He’d had a murmur since he was a teenager and had been repeatedly assured by his doctors that it was nothing to worry about. Nowadays the murmur seemed to be becoming more coherent.
‘I think you’ve broken my arm.’ Vicar clutched the limb as Banner released him.
‘Come on, let’s take a stroll back. Your brother’s probably wondering where you’ve got to.’ Fabian positioned himself at Vicar’s right side so he couldn’t turn and run.
‘What’s this about?’
‘Seems like you already know the answer to that.’ Fabian said nothing else and nor did Banner.
‘I’m not holding. See.’ Vicar stopped and turned out his hoodie pockets. He held out an e-cigarette and some refills. ‘That’s all I’ve got.’
‘Just keep walking.’ Fabian nodded ahead. ‘We’ll have a chat in a minute.’
They emerged back onto the street.
‘I think I need to go to the hospital.’ Vicar made a show of cradling his elbow.
‘They can’t fix everything.’ Fabian met the eye of a bald man with a tattooed neck coming out of the house opposite.
They escorted Vicar across the road and back through the passage that led to his home.
‘Not picking that up?’ Banner pointed to a foil wrap lying in the gutter.
Vicar shook his head. ‘Why would I?’
‘You ditched it just before I caught you.’
Fabian had missed that. He scooped up the wrap and opened it. There was a square of black resin inside about the size of a matchbox.
‘You planted that there,’ Vicar accused with unconvincing mortification.
‘Not yours? We’ll keep hold of it then.’ Fabian wasn’t interested in Vicar’s recreational habits, but it did mean they had a reason to take him in if they wanted. He handed the wrap to Banner.
Vicar chewed his bottom lip.
‘Come on. We need to ask you a few questions.’ Fabian gestured down the walkway and they continued along it.
‘I’m not dealing.’
‘A second ago you weren’t holding.’ Banner pocketed the wrap.
‘Been in trouble already?’ Fabian suspected he probably had a record.
‘Like you don’t know,’ Vicar grumbled.
That confirmed it to Fabian. ‘What would Mr Brennan say?’
Neil spun to look at him. ‘Jesus, what is this?’
‘Not really appropriate behaviour for a law student.’
Vicar turned away and traipsed on but Fabian saw his shoulders tense.
‘Why have you stopped attending lectures?’ he asked the back of Vicar’s head.
‘Because I don’t have to.’
‘You must be intelligent enough to be studying at Drummond-Moray.’
‘Intelligent enough to work out part-timers can attend a certain amount of lectures and not have to turn up to job interviews to get benefits.’
Fabian didn’t buy that. ‘But you haven’t been attending.’
‘Don’t need to. As long as I make an appearance a couple of times a month I’m still officially a student.’
‘No other incentives to go? I suppose since Candice Langham was murdered…’
Vicar stopped and swivelled to Fabian again, his green eyes full of derision. ‘Is that what this is all about?’ He sighed. ‘You think I might have murdered her?’
‘Nobody’s said that.’ Fabian noted his shoulders were still tight.
The contempt in his gaze briefly faltered but a smirk revealed the dimples in his cheeks. ‘Why else would you be talking to me?’
They’d almost reached the turning that would take them down the side of Vicar’s address. Fabian indicated it. ‘It’s freezing. Shall we talk about this inside?’
‘I’m fine here.’ Vicar folded his arms.
‘We understand you had a bit of a crush on Candice.’ Banner pulled her coat around her but didn’t zip it back up.
Vicar shook his head. ‘“Crush”?’ He sneered. ‘What’s this? Glee? Who told you that? Garth?’
‘You on first name terms with Mr Brennan then?’ Fabian stepped aside so a young guy on a bike could pass by them. ‘Everything fine here.’ He’d slowed to eavesdrop but moved quickly on.
‘I played pool with him in The King of Denmark a few times. He drinks with all the students.’
‘Particularly the female ones?’ Banner raised an eyebrow.
‘Not particularly. A few of the girls buzzed around him.’
‘Ria Campbell?’ Fabian watched for his reaction.
His face was blank. ‘Never saw her in the pub.’
‘So Garth never hit on her?’
Vicar snorted at Fabian’s suggestion.
‘Why that reaction?’ he asked.
‘I think he had his sights set higher.’
‘What are you saying about Ria then?’
‘Plain as a tin bucket.’ He clearly enjoyed batting back Banner’s question. ‘Wouldn’t say boo to a goose. That’s all I know about her, really. Like I said, she didn’t socialise anyway. Nor did Candice. They sat together in class but that was the only place I saw them. Garth had plenty of better candidates to choose from.’
‘Like his current girlfriend, Kirsten?’ Fabian prompted him.
‘Yeah.’ He chuckled. ‘He’s got his work cut out there.’
‘Why d’you say that?’
‘High maintenance. Good-looking but mad as a sack of bats.’
‘So you’d discussed Candice with Garth?’
Vicar pouted at Fabian, as if briefly thinking. ‘Nope.’
‘Don’t guys do that?’
Vicar looked at Banner askance. ‘No.’
‘Mr Brennan said you hit on her.’ Fabian observed him quickly swallow.
‘That’s rich coming from him.’
‘Why?’
‘He was hitting on her as well.’
‘So we understand. Who asked her out first?’
‘I don’t remember.’
‘He says he felt better after she’d snubbed him because then he saw you fail too.’
‘Then you know he asked her out first.’ Vicar rolled his eyes at Fabian.
‘I just want to get your version of events. Why did Candice turn you down?’
‘She didn’t give a reason.’
‘A polite no?’
Vicar’s glare darted to Banner. ‘Don’t remember.’
Fabian was dubious. ‘Come on, it’s an excruciating moment. You must remember.’
‘Have you had your heart stepped on too?’ Vicar moulded his face into mock sympathy. ‘Tell me it’s not true. Catch like you? Look, I honestly can’t remember. It’s like playing the lottery for me.’
‘You ask out any other girls in the class?’ Fabian was positive Vicar was underplaying his feelings for her.
‘Uhhh… nope.’
‘So she was the girl you picked out of all the rest?’
‘In that class. Shouldn’t you be asking about what I was doing on the eighth?’
‘What happened on the eighth?’ Fabian played dumb.
Vicar briefly closed his grey eyelids. ‘T
he date Candice was murdered. And, yes, I do remember that specific date because it’s not very often somebody you know gets knifed.’
‘Actually it’s common for people to remember the event but not particularly the date.’
‘Then I must be her murderer after all.’ Vicar theatrically held out his wrists in Fabian’s face, as if he were ready to be cuffed.
Fabian didn’t blink. ‘As you’re eager to be asked though, what were your movements on that date?’
‘What I’m usually doing every evening.’
‘Which is?’
Vicar dropped his hands before he answered Fabian’s question. ‘Watching boxsets, getting stoned. Why don’t you ask Netflix?’
Fabian got the impression that Vicar was going to make them work hard for an alibi he knew he had. Or was that just the impression he wanted to give? ‘I think we should continue this at the station.’
Vicar looked genuinely surprised. ‘You’re arresting me?’
‘No. I’m asking you to come of your own accord but we will be having a further conversation. Somebody else could be dead in the police time you seem determined to waste. What’s it to be?’
The arrogance remained on Vicar’s face but he nodded once. ‘I was with Brennan on the eighth.’
Chapter Forty
‘So did you commiserate with Garth?’ Fabian leaned back in his chair.
Vicar was hunched forward in his, head hanging as he examined the edge of the interview room table. ‘About what?’
‘Candice turning you down.’
‘I’ve already answered that.’
‘We weren’t recording then.’ Banner finished positioning her coat on the back of her chair.
‘No.’
‘So what were you and Garth Brennan discussing the night she was murdered?’ Fabian wanted to get Vicar’s version of events before he questioned the lecturer again. Why had Brennan lied about being with his girlfriend? It seemed odd that Vicar would use him as an alibi if they hadn’t been together.
‘I wasn’t just with Brennan. There were other people in The Skinner’s Arms I spoke to.’
‘Not The King of Denmark?’
‘No. Skinner’s is a dive but I… hook up with a few people there.’
Fabian knew the place was a notorious drug den and assumed Vicar had been scoring. ‘So there were plenty of witnesses who saw you?’
Vicar looked up. ‘Plenty but whether they’d want to talk to you is another matter.’
‘Was Garth Brennan there the whole night?’
‘Don’t remember. I chatted with him but there’s this thing that happens to me after eight pints of Stella… and I’ve seen a few of your boys get behind the wheels of their cars afterwards as well.’
‘Was he there when you left?’ Fabian knew Candice Langham had died at around eleven that night.
‘Don’t know. He was sat on his own at a table when I arrived.’
‘What time was that?’
‘Eightish.’ Vicar wriggled in his plastic chair.
Fabian waited for him to settle. ‘And did you see him again after that?’
‘At least once when I went to the bar for a drink. I was out the back, smoking.’
‘Had you seen him in there before?’
Vicar shook his head. ‘Didn’t really question it though. I knew he got around. Just figured he was meeting up with someone he didn’t want to be seen with.’
‘Why would you think that?’
‘There are better places than The Skinner’s to drink. He wasn’t likely to bump into any of his middle-class students there though.’
‘Was he surprised to see you?’
‘He was friendly enough.’
‘Did you see him in class after that?’
‘Yeah. I’ve been back once since Candice died.’
‘How was he then?’
Vicar shrugged. ‘We were all shocked,’ he said matter-of-factly.
‘Did you speak to him?’
‘Not that I recall.’
‘And you haven’t been back to class since?’
‘No.’
‘Why not?’
‘Told you. I don’t need to go too often to get my benefits.’
‘Was Garth Brennan aware of what you were doing?’
‘Maybe. I don’t think he cared too much.’ He fixed Banner. ‘So what happens to the cannabis?’
Banner took off her specs. ‘How would you know it’s cannabis if it isn’t yours?’
Vicar shook his head. ‘It’s going to be a long weekend for me.’
‘It might be even longer if you spend it with us.’ Fabian got the impression he hadn’t told them everything. ‘Nothing else you want to add about what happened on the eighth? Where did you go after you finished in The Skinner’s?’
‘Picked up a kebab. At least I assume so. I had chilli sauce all over my shoes the next day.’
‘“Chilli sauce”?’ Fabian repeated dubiously.
‘Could have been blood. Yes, chilli sauce.’
‘And which kebab shop did you get it from?’
‘Probably Sammy’s.’
‘That’s in the high street. We can get CCTV footage to confirm that.’
‘Like I said, it was probably Sammy’s, but I was pretty hazy by then.’
‘Any idea what time you got home?’
‘Late.’
‘Specifically?’
Vicar snorted at him. ‘No. I do remember I still had my clothes on when I woke up though.’
‘We’ll check all this out but the more you can remember the better. I’d like you to stay put for the meantime.’
‘Come on, I haven’t eaten all day.’
‘We can sort you something to eat.’
‘Just ask Garth.’ Petulance crept into his voice. ‘He knows I was there.’
‘Think we’re going to have a problem with that.’
He frowned deeply at Fabian. ‘What d’you mean? Just ask him.’
‘If you really can’t remember anything after your last sighting of him there’s a good chunk of time that’s unaccounted for.’
‘I was drunk.’
‘And we’ll try and piece together your movements using security cameras, but if we can’t then there’ll be plenty more questions for you to answer.’
Chapter Forty-One
‘Have you spoken to her?’ Fabian rubbed the exhaustion from his eyes.
‘Still nothing. I’ve been texting and leaving messages all day.’ Harriet’s voice was unclad panic now.
Fabian walked further down the corridor outside the interview rooms where he’d ducked out to take the call. ‘Have you heard from her roommate since?’
‘No. She’s off the radar as well. I really can’t believe Tilly would leave it this long when she said she’d call.’
‘Perhaps her phone needs charging.’
‘She’s had plenty of time.’
‘Did you speak to Toby?’
‘No,’ she snapped irritably. ‘They broke up and he’s not in Exeter. Why would he know where she is?’
‘He was acting pretty strangely yesterday. Maybe he drove down there.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
‘Do you have his number?’
‘Why would I have his number?’
‘You know his father’s number, give him a call. If he’s not at home get his mobile.’ Fabian became aware of Banner at his shoulder, standing a few diplomatic feet away.
‘OK,’ she relented. ‘But I’m thinking of going to Exeter myself.’
‘Hang on. Let’s take a breath.’ If it had been anyone but Tilly he wouldn’t be concerned but she knew how much her mother would worry. ‘I’ll try her again. Call Toby’s father.’
‘Yes… I’ll do that…’ Her voice sounded restrained.
There was a moment of silence as they both considered what to say next.
Fabian tried to shut Banner’s presence out. ‘Maybe this is something we’re going to have to get used to.’ Bu
t he didn’t believe that.
‘I’ll get off the line now.’ It was a phrase from so many past conversations, delivered in exactly the same flat tone.
‘Harriet.’
But she’d hung up, as she always did.
Fabian let out a sigh.
‘Tilly?’
He nodded at Banner.
‘Anything I can do?’
‘Of course not. You know the drill.’
She blinked once, acknowledged his parental pain.
‘Harriet’s doing everything both of us could.’
‘If you’d rather be dealing with that, I can manage things here.’
As much as Fabian needed to, he knew he couldn’t afford to step away from the investigation after their interview with Vicar. There was a familiar conversation pending with Harriet but that was something he’d gladly accept as long as Tilly was OK. ‘She’s not been missing twenty-four hours.’
‘But if you’re sufficiently worried—’
‘I can’t justify it. Not yet. But thanks.’
‘Look, we’ve just heard from the hospital. They’re not prepared to let us interview Cousins yet. Say he’s still fragile. That gives you some time.’
‘No,’ he said firmly. ‘Thanks… but let’s get Garth Brennan in. Find out which one of them is lying.’
Banner knew better than to push it. ‘I think it’s likely to be Brennan.’
‘And Brennan’s girlfriend.’
‘Kirsten Parr. Sounds like she might be a handful from what Vicar says.’
Fabian was thinking the same and remembering what Gavin Streke, the witness outside Emily Mortimer’s house, had said about a couple arguing. ‘And jealous of Mr Brennan’s other classroom admirers?’
‘Funny that he didn’t mention to us that he socialised with Vicar.’
‘He didn’t want us to find out that he was actually in The Skinner’s Arms when Candice was murdered.’
‘And not with Kirsten as he told McMann.’
Fabian exhaled. ‘We need to question him about the other dates.’
‘I’ll speak to McMann first.’
‘We’ll re-interview Kirsten Parr and Brennan separately.’
‘I’ll get on it. What about Francesca Cousins?’
Fabian rubbed his eyes again. ‘Let’s send her home until we know what’s happening with Stephan.’
Never Say Goodbye: An edge of your seat thriller with gripping suspense (Detective Tom Fabian Book 1) Page 12