The officer then turned to them and huffed loudly. ‘You’re free to go. No further questions required.’
‘I’m sorry?’ The lawyer looked as confused as Sabrina.
‘Exactly what I said. Jillian is free to go. I am very sorry to have wasted both of your time.’
Chapter Thirty-Four
Sabrina breathed a huge sigh of relief as she turned the key in the door to the apartment. Conor leapt up from the sofa ready to hand her a cold beer. A big pan of bolognaise was simmering on the hob. Pre-cooked spaghetti sat in a bowl ready to be reheated.
‘Hungry?’
‘Starving.’
She flopped on the sofa and drank nearly a third of the bottle of lager down in one.
‘Well, that’s a first, being arrested for real.’
‘I’ve been so worried about you.’
‘It’s fine. It was my own stupid fault.’ Sabrina laughed. ‘I didn’t let on initially that anyone had told me already about Lowen and then I said something like, why do you think I’d try and harm him with weedkiller anyway and they hadn’t even mentioned what he’s been poisoned with.’
Conor laughed too. ‘Oh my god, OK, that is quite funny. But don’t even think of being in my gang.’
‘I am never so much as stealing a carrier bag from Tesco ever again– I was terrified.’ Sabrina took a glug of beer.
‘I guess with them being coppers who don’t get much action, you were assumed guilty before even looking at the facts. It’s probably the most exciting thing that’s happened down here in a while.’
‘Exactly. To be fair, Lowen was evidently accusing me directly, too. That’s what his girlfriend said anyway.’
‘What the?’
‘He’s angry with me, or maybe he did think it was me, or maybe if he frames me then the heat is off him re the market for a bit, who knows.’
‘Thank you so much for sorting that lawyer, though. He was shit hot.’
‘Frank knows some good ones, I tell you.’
‘Luckily for me he does, because Dom, who has lawyers who look after lawyers, was on a plane to the South of France when I initially called for his help.’ Sabrina took another drink. ‘I do have something to tell you, though.’
‘Go on.’ Conor was now tucking into his tasty feast.
‘I did tell Dom about the development plans to see if he could do anything. He’s far more of a negotiator than a murderer so I can’t believe he agreed to something like this, to be honest. It’s crazy.’
‘It is, but a trace of poison doesn’t shock a Brady. We tend to shut people up before the arrow is drawn. But you’re right. It was a bold move if your ex were involved.’
Suddenly realising that she was mad to think that Dom would ever consider anything that risky, Sabrina experienced a surge of adrenaline.
‘Conor, do you know who did it?’ The Irishman looked away. ‘Conor?’ He took a slug of lager. Sabrina started twirling spaghetti around her fork.
Conor looked away. ‘You asked me not to get involved with anything until you had had a chance to sort things your way.’
‘OK.’ Sabrina blew out a big breath. ‘Well, whatever happened after my lawyer arrived, I was suddenly off the hook. I was in the interview room, someone knocked on the door whispered in one of the copper’s ears. Next thing, I’m free to go, with them being nothing but apologetic for wasting my time and clearly stating that there would be no further questioning.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes. Please tell me if you know something.’
Conor put his hands in the hair. ‘I don’t… This had nothing to do with the Brady’s, I mean it.’
