‘Lowen Kellow has been poisoned and we need to find out who has done it.’ The older police officer directly stared at her as he delivered this line.
Sabrina pulled what she hoped was a convincing face of surprise. ‘Oh my God! That’s terrible. Poisoned? Is he OK?’
‘As OK as a man who has been given traces of poison can be, I guess.’
‘You look shocked.’ The bearded police officer stood up. She sat down. Her hand was trembling.
‘I am shocked. How awful, poor Lowen.’ She suddenly was grateful for every single acting lesson she had had. Because if Dominic was to blame for this, then she surely would take the rap too. Terrified of what she was going to ask, yet feeling that she had to, she said slowly and deliberately, ‘So why have you come to me?’
‘Because Lowen’s partner said that as he was slipping in and out of consciousness he was saying your name. In fact, he was repeating over and over that this was down to you.’
‘As in the name, Jilly?’
‘Yes– unless you have any other names he liked to call you by?’
‘I’m not sure I like what you are insinuating here?’
And then as if real life had morphed right into her old working life, Sabrina Swift heard the words that she was so used to hearing as her alter ego, good old Polly Malone.
‘Jillian Swift, I am arresting you relating to Section 23 Offences Against the Person Act 1861 on suspicion of maliciously administering poison to endanger life or inflict grievous bodily harm. 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.’
Sabrina sat next to Big Frank’s Penrigan lawyer in the austere interview room of Hartmouth police station opposite the two policemen who had arrested her. Her palms were sweating. She shifted nervously in her seat.
The bearded cop raised his eyebrow to his counterpart. ‘So, would I be right in thinking that you’ve spent a fair bit of time with Mr Kellow recently?’
She glanced at the lawyer and despite Conor’s insistence that she say nothing, he nodded for her to reply.
‘I… err… Recently took on a unit at the market, yes.’
‘And did you realise he had a girlfriend?’
‘It never came up. It didn’t need to.’
‘Right,’ the bearded man held in his innuendo and smiled.
‘So, am I also right in thinking you could have shared a drink with Mr Kellow at some stage?’
‘Yes, I’m sure we probably did, at some stage– but I didn’t put bloody weedkiller in, if that is what you are suggesting.’
‘Probably? You either did or you didn’t,’ the bearded one stated.
Sabrina’s back had now started sweating, too.
‘And how did you know it was weedkiller?’ The older police officer stood up and started pacing the room.
Shit!she thought. The lawyer coughed nervously. ‘Because, well, I suppose I did get wind of this earlier, and umm, and you’d started talking already and…’
The bearded policemen, suddenly grinned. ‘Do you think maybe Polly Malone has taught you all you needed to know on the subject of killing a man?’
The lawyer bashed his hand down on the table far too aggressively. ‘Polly Malone is a fictional character and has nothing to do with these ridiculous accusations against my client.’
With the stark realisation that her cover was well and truly blown, Sabrina’s voice was hoarse. ‘Killing, you say? Is Lowen going to d…die?’
‘I bloody love you in that show.’ The bearded one suddenly blurted, much to the anger of his colleague, who scowled at him.
‘Dobbins! Get out. NOW!’
As the red-faced rookie officer headed out, another officer appeared. She whispered in the remaining policemen’s ear. He grunted and nodded, until his face looked as if it might burst with anger. Sabrina glanced at the lawyer again, who shot her a worried look.
