22
Zander tied Horner’s hands behind his back with the kitchen string Paul found and recited his rights as he did so. “You need to tell us how to get out of here.”
“Or what?”
Paul picked up Zander’s cane. “Or I hit you with this.”
Kate crossed the room. She wrapped her arms around Zander.
He tried to push her away. The woman really knew how to pick her moments. “Kate?”
She wouldn’t be moved. She leaned in, brushing against his ear, presumably making it look like she was kissing him. “Liz’s surname is Horner. At least her stage name. Not a coincidence methinks.”
He held her for a moment. Then moved three paces away. “Just go sit with Liz,” he said. “We’ll discuss that later.”
“OK.” Kate sat down beside Liz.
Liz shook her head. “Nice try. Shame it didn’t work. He’s in full blown cop mode now though.”
Isabel’s voice came through the earpiece. “The code doesn’t work, Zander. Someone must have altered it after Kate did. You’re right about Horner not working alone. We’re doing a rapid search here to verify what Kate just said. Once the correct code is inputted into the system, we can shut down the power to the floors and get you out of there.”
Zander had already worked out who the accomplice was. Or at least narrowed it down to two people. He shook Mr. Horner. “Did you change the code again?”
“No. Why would I do that?”
Zander looked at Liz. “What’s the code?”
She baulked and pointed at her chest. “Me? How would I know what it is? He tried to kill me just now, remember?”
Zander quirked a brow. “And yet when I tackled him, and Kate freed you, you didn’t get so much as a nick.”
Jay gripped Liz tightly. “You’re in on this?”
Mel smirked as Liz shook her head.
“What?” Zander asked her.
Mel’s smirk grew. “She got done for perjury, remember? Lying is what she does best.”
“Liz, did you kill Hank?”
“No, I didn’t. I’m telling the truth. Mel did it.”
Mel snarled and launched herself at Liz. “You lying cow.”
Zander caught hold of Mel. “Now who’s lying? Was it all three of you or just you, Mel?”
“It’s all my idea. You didn’t think Jack came up with it all on his own? He isn’t that clever.”
“Why?” he asked. “And please explain properly. After all, you planned to kill everyone here, so it’s only fair they know why.”
“Jack’s my brother, and she”—Mel pointed to Ginny—“ killed our sister with her taxi and walked! She got a slap on the wrist for murder. And Liz, being married to Jack, was only too happy to help plan it. The rest of you were invited in order to pay properly for your crimes.”
Jay tightened his grip on Mel. “I’ve got her. She’s not getting away.”
“Good.” Zander turned to Mr. Horner. “OK, so you somehow got hold of everyone’s records. How?”
“Mel has a friend in the CPS. She found out all I needed to know.”
“And Kate’s record? That was sealed.”
He shrugged. “A little cash to the same friend in the CPS. Kate applied and I needed to check her out. See if she’d fit. Then she simply received the same invitation letter the rest of them did.”
“How would you have killed everyone without raising suspicion?”
“Liz and Mel would have been voted out first. Then there would have been a fire. With the doors sealed, no one would have escaped.”
“Sasha, watch this one.” Zander strode carefully to Mel and pulled her hands behind her back. “Melanie Granger, you’re under arrest. Liz Horner, you are also under arrest. You both have the right to remain silent…” He recited the rest of the rights. “Someone find something to tie them with. Now don’t make me ask you again. Did. You. Change. The. Code?”
“No. I did.” Liz scoffed. “For a cop you are extremely slow.”
Zander shook his head.
Ginny appeared with some curtain ties. “Will these do?”
“Thank you.” He tied Mel’s hands and then tossed one to Jay. “Tie her up as well.”
“With pleasure, officer.” Jay swiftly bound Liz’s hands.
“And far from being slow, I’m actually two steps ahead of you all the time.” He thought fast. “You’d have had to do it when you, Mel and Hank came in here. Is that why you killed him?”
“Yeah, he got in the way. Wanted out. We couldn’t let him go.”
“What’s the new code?”
Mel grinned and shook her head. “She won’t tell, and nor will I.”
Zander shoved Mel onto the couch. “Sit there and don’t move.”
Jay sat Liz beside her.
“Kate told you what it was, and you wouldn’t have time to fiddle the system too much. Maybe we just try reversing it.”
Kate trod carefully over to the panel and typed quickly. “OK, then that is seven dash one oh six four two.”
“That’s it. Power’s off. We’re coming in.” Isabel spoke quickly.
The main door clunked and swung open. Police and paramedics swarmed into the room.
Zander yanked Mr. Horner to his feet and handed him over to two uniformed officers. “He’s all yours. So are the ladies. They will all need cuffing properly.”
Isabel clamped a hand on his shoulder. “You OK, partner?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
“Good.” She moved over to Ginny. “Ginny Travers, you’re under arrest for driving without a licence and insurance.”
DI Holmes held up his warrant card. “I’m DI Holmes. You’ll all be checked over at the hospital and interviewed again. This time I want full disclosure from everyone, or charges of perverting the course of justice will be laid. Can I point out I have everyone’s complete records at my disposal.” He glanced over at Kate. “That includes yours, Miss Dahlbeck.”
Kate sighed. “Great.”
He moved over to Zander. “I want you checked over as well. Then I’ll debrief you in my office. And you leave nothing out, is that understood?”
“Sir.”
DI Holmes nodded. “Good call, by the way, and nice job.”
“Does that mean I’m off desk duty now?”
There was a twinkle in the Guv’s eye. “There is still a small matter of not declaring several points on your license. See you back at the office once the hospital discharges you.”
Zander nodded and walked over to Kate. “We need to talk, but not here.”
She looked up from a wheelchair the paramedic had, no doubt, insisted she sit in. “Preferably somewhere with no cameras. And no more lies.”
He nodded. “How about the Three Sixteen on the High Street? You did say you lived in town, right? Friday at twelve?” Before she had chance to answer, the paramedic whisked her away.
His partner elbowed him. “She kissed you. And you kissed her back. Must be lurve.”
Zander groaned. “Enough already.”
Isabel laughed. “Let’s get you to the hospital. The Guv can yell at you later when you get back to work.”
“Oh, joy. I’d rather be on live TV.” He gripped the cane and kept pace with his partner who was still chuckling. “What?”
“Nothing. ’Cept the whole squad now knows you snore and have no taste in socks.”
He chuckled. “It could be worse. It could be the whole nation. Besides, they already knew about the socks. How much did I raise?”
She laughed. “Five hundred and fifty quid. We got the whole nick involved. Although once we’ve upped it to your tenner per pair, it’ll be two or three times that amount.”
He stopped, a horrid feeling settling in the pit of his stomach. “Don’t tell me they’ve all seen the kiss as well?”
The innocent look he knew all too well settled over his partner’s face. She turned her back on him. “You’ll need to ask Jason what he did with the footage. I can neither confirm nor deny that the whole nick and maybe a couple of officers from Fleet Street might just have seen some material from the house.”
Zander groaned. No doubt he would never hear the end of it.