to earn some goodwill. Where can we find Martin Steel?’
‘No comment.’
‘Don’t be awkward, Dalton. This is one life you can save. Where’s he being kept?’
‘I want my solicitor.’
‘I told you. You must wait.’
‘In that case, so must you.’
‘Is Steel dead already?’
‘No comment.’
‘Because if he isn’t and you cooperate, we can make this whole experience less uncomfortable. Do you smoke?’
Monnington shook his head.
‘Coffee? Clears the brain.’
Another shake of the head.
‘You see, this thirty-six hours allows us time to check the evidence. We’ve got DNA from your comb. We’re looking at your laptop. The plastic cord from your car boot is being minutely examined. It’s all over for you really.’
Monnington didn’t look unduly worried.
Inside, Diamond was seething. He turned to Leaman. ‘We’ve got a silent one, John. No point in running the tapes when nobody is speaking. Why don’t you turn them off for a bit?’ This was meant to alarm Monnington, and did, the more so when Diamond stood up and took off his jacket.
‘No,’ Monnington said. ‘Leave them running.’
‘Why? Have you got something to say?’
‘I’m protecting my rights.’
‘Stuff your rights,’ Diamond said, coming round the table.
‘What about the rights of that poor sod you’ve got trussed up in some godforsaken hole?’
‘You’re mistaken.’
‘Where is he, then? Sitting at home with his feet up? I don’t think so.’
‘I know nothing about this.’
‘Did you fit a jacuzzi at the Steels’ house in Midford? Jocelyn and Martin Steel?’
‘In point of fact, no.’
‘Oh, come on, Monnington. Let’s not split hairs. You may not have installed it, but you sold it to them. We found the invoice in their filing system. Give it a Whirl. That’s your company, right?’
‘It wasn’t a jacuzzi. It was a hot tub.’
This, at least, was progress. He remembered the job. The link to the Steels was admitted.
‘Tell me the difference,’ Diamond said with an effort to be patient.
‘A jacuzzi uses an air system. Bubbles. A hot tub works on a different principle altogether, using jets of water.’
Diamond glanced at Leaman. ‘The things you learn in this job.’ He went back to his chair and nodded to Leaman to resume the tape-recording. ‘So you don’t deny visiting the Steels to sell them their hot tub?’
‘Two years ago,’ Monnington said. ‘That was all of two years ago.’
‘We’re getting somewhere. You admit they were clients?’
‘That’s no crime.’
‘Taken together with your attempts to start a relationship with another of the victims, Delia Williamson-’
‘Relationship?’ he broke in. ‘I flirted with a waitress.’
‘Gave her your hotel room number. If she’d come knocking on your door as you planned, would you have let her live? You like them begging for it like Lottie Brown, don’t you? You’re a sexy devil. But you get nasty when they ignore you.’
He looked away.
‘We’ve got your number, Dalton. You can’t take rejection. Killing them isn’t enough. You have to punish them, make an example of them by stringing them up. And when the boyfriends and the husbands come looking, they get the same treatment.’
Monnington shook his head and said nothing. But his hands were shaking.
‘All right,’ Diamond said. ‘Let’s leave your twisted thinking for later. Where can we find Martin Steel?’
‘I’ve no idea.’
‘I told you, it’s over, Dalton. The killing is over. No way are you going to string this man up. Is he dead already?’
‘No comment.’
‘Did you work with someone else? Are you trying to protect anyone?’
Silence.
‘What do I have to do to get the truth? Will your partner Angie help us? You must have some regard for her, because she survived. We can pick her up and bring her here, but it’s a two-hour drive.’
He shook his head again.
‘Don’t worry, she knows all about you and your playing around. I’ve spoken to her. I keep telling you, it’s common knowledge what you are. You’re finished. If you’ve got a shred of decency you’ll tell me where to find Martin Steel. That’s all I’m asking at this point. Tell me, and we’ll give you a break. You want some sleep tonight? You can get it.’
Monnington sighed and looked up at the clock.
Diamond made a grab for his hair and shoved his face hard against the table.
He yelped, more in shock than pain.
Leaman said, ‘Guv, don’t do this.’
Diamond jerked the face upwards. ‘I haven’t marked him.’ With his free hand he slapped Monnington sharply on both cheeks. ‘This is pit-a-pat. I haven’t started. Stand up.’
Monnington obeyed. He’d gone dead white, but red patches were forming on his cheeks.
‘Has anyone ever roughed you up?’ Diamond said, staring. ‘I mean really given you a workover?’ Without moving his eyes he said to Leaman. ‘Leave us alone for a bit.’
Leaman said, ‘Guv, I can’t do that.’
‘It’s an order.’
‘I think he might be ready to talk.’
In fact, Monnington was opening and closing his mouth without giving voice to anything at all. Then he fell back onto the chair and started making a series of animal-like sounds.
‘That’s all I bloody need. Hyperventilating,’ Diamond said. ‘Get him sorted.’ He marched out of the room.
He met Ingeborg coming fast downstairs.
‘Guv.’
‘Out of my way.’
She grabbed his arm. ‘Guv, I was coming for you. DI Halliwell needs you.’
He’d sacrificed Halliwell for the ram raid. The bloody ram raid. ‘He can get stuffed.’
‘He says it’s personal.’
‘Does he want out? Is that what it is? You can tell him I want out as well, but it ain’t going to happen.’ He brushed her arm aside and marched on, he didn’t know where. He needed to cool the fire raging inside his head.
She wasn’t giving up. She shouted after him, ‘He sticks up for you whatever anyone says and you treat him like shit.’
He stopped and turned. ‘Would you care to repeat that?’
She was white and shaking. ‘No, but I meant every word. People who toe the line get nowhere with you.’
‘You could find yourself in front of a disciplinary board.’
‘All right, but will you speak to Keith? I’ve never seen him so serious.’
If Ingeborg was risking her career, something was badly wrong.
