The door opens and Burroughs shows a small, dapper man into the room. After his relief at hearing about the lawyer, which literally feels like a gift from heaven, Alex’s heart sinks with disappointment when he sees the blue and yellow polka-dot bow tie. He has never trusted people who wear bow ties during the day.
‘I’ll leave you two to get on with it,’ Burroughs says. ‘Let me know when you are ready to continue with the interview.’
‘Alex. John Knapton,’ the man says, grabbing Alex’s hand with both of his and shaking it firmly.
‘How did you know I was here?’ Alex asks.
‘Your father-in-law called me this afternoon and I came as soon as I could.’
‘My father-in-law? Really?’
This news gives Alex a flicker of hope that Emma might still care about what happens to him. And his father-in-law would never get involved if he had the slightest suspicion that Alex could be guilty of such a hideous crime. He is moral to the core.
‘Shall we sit down?’ the man says, pulling a chair out. ‘I gather you have already been interviewed at some length.’
Alex nods.
‘Your father-in-law gave me a few details, but I need to hear what you have to say and to find out what you said in the interview. From what Detective Inspector Burroughs told me, there is no dispute that you were with Nicola Scott on Thursday night, so can you tell me exactly what happened and how you came to be at Bramall Road?’
Knapton opens a leather folder and takes the lid off a very expensive-looking gold fountain pen.
Alex repeats pretty much everything he had told the two officers. Knapton interrupts him every now and then with the occasional question and makes extensive notes on his pad.
When Alex has finished, the lawyer looks thoughtful.
‘Look, things may not seem too good for you at the moment, but it’s early days and who knows what the police will turn up. And they haven’t arrested you, which doesn’t necessarily mean much but at least you are free to go. The most important thing at the moment is to stick to your story.’
Alex feels a surge of anger at the man’s words. It’s almost like a game to these people and the fact that he is telling the truth is irrelevant.
‘Why would I want to change my story? That’s exactly what happened.’
‘Of course, of course, but sometimes the police have a way of leading you into saying something you might regret, so you have to be careful. That’s why I’m here to guide you.’
‘Everything I told them is true. I’m not proud of what I did, but I’m not a criminal.’
‘I know that, but in the absence of any other leads the police are going to try to prove otherwise. As I said, you have to be very careful what you say.’
‘What happens if there are no other leads?’ Alex says.
For a moment he feels despondent. If he finds it hard to believe that somebody else could have been wandering around at one in the morning looking for a woman to murder, how can he convince the police and even his lawyer that that’s what must have happened? With these thoughts swirling around in Alex’s mind, Knapton’s voice suddenly seems very far away, and Alex has to force himself to focus on what he is saying.
‘Don’t worry about that now. Let’s deal with the situation as it is. I’m going to sit with you through the next interview and, if I feel you shouldn’t answer a question, I will make that clear. It sounds as though you were treated quite gently earlier, but that could easily change. The questioning might get more aggressive and they will probably try to rattle you in some way, maybe with graphic photographs. You must be prepared for anything.’
Alex pictures Nicky’s body lying in Bramall Road and feels a wave of fear wash over him. For a moment, he struggles to breathe normally.
Knapton doesn’t say anything, but pours another cup of water from the plastic jug and pushes it towards him.
Alex is grateful not to have to speak and sips the water slowly.
‘Right, shall we get on with it?’ Knapton says when Alex puts the cup down. ‘The sooner we get this over with, the sooner you might be able to leave.’