Kim turned to her colleague. The itch had been scratched, and there was just one thing left for her to say.
‘Okay, Bryant, that’s it. Now I’m officially done.’
Fifty-Eight
It was almost five before Kim was given the okay to interview Joe Butler.
His sudden need to see a doctor due to chest pains had delayed questioning, both to her and his lawyer’s annoyance. After a diagnosis of mild stress, Joe had been declared fit to talk. Kim had taken no chances and had insisted he be offered something to eat and drink before she had a crack at him. She was sure she was not going to have an easy time with Joe Butler, unlike she’d had with Lena Hubbard.
She entered the interview room with Bryant at her side. She nodded a greeting to Mickey Fisher who, despite his name, was not a sleazy underworld mobster guy. He was a decent lawyer who protected his clients but wasn’t particularly obstructive.
‘Inspector,’ he said.
‘I trust you’ve been made comfortable and that you’re feeling better now,’ Kim said pleasantly to Joe.
‘Can we just get this over with so I can go home?’ he asked.
‘Formalities first, Mr Butler,’ Kim said, pleased that he’d already shown his first hand. He was growing impatient.
Good. She could work with that.
She slowly opened her folder and began to read the pages within. She already knew what they said, but she heard his foot start tapping against the leg of the table.
Mickey Fisher took out his phone and turned away from his client. Kim knew from experience he was playing Tetris. Bryant quietly inspected his nails. The only tension in the room was emanating from Joe Butler.
‘Okay, let’s get started, shall we?’ she said at last, maintaining a neutral expression to his glowering rage.
She was in no rush. By her reckoning, she was about to tie up her second major case of the week and still make it home in time to take Barney for a good long walk.
She switched on the tape, introduced those present and cautioned Joe for the second time.
‘So, Mr Butler, can you start by telling us where you were lunchtime yesterday?’
The man looked to his lawyer, who nodded without glancing up from his phone.
‘I was at the Dog and Duck pub.’
‘And who did you meet there?’ Kim asked.
Again, he looked to his lawyer, who repeated the nod.
Kim knew he wasn’t being lazy. She was presenting indisputable facts. Fisher knew there were witness statements, photos and an audio recording to prove he was there.
‘I met a woman.’
‘Was that woman Nadine Cowley?’
Joe nodded.
Kim pointed at the tape recorder meaningfully.
‘Yes.’
‘And this was with a view to having a sexual encounter?’
Fisher glanced her way. She couldn’t prove what had been in his head.
She rephrased. ‘The two of you had exchanged text messages that would indicate there was a sexual attraction?’
