Pinkton was sitting in the small interview room when they walked in. His head was hung down and he seemed to be lost in his thoughts.
Steve and Branson sat opposite him at the table and placed their file and notebooks down. They looked at Pinkton waiting for him to look up.
‘Mr Pinkton, thanks for coming down to the station’ Steve started out.
‘Did I have a choice?’ Pinkton replied tersely making eye contact.
‘We wanted to ask you a few more questions about your relationship with James Firth’ Steve said opening his notebook where he had taken some of the details from the conversation with Melissa Johnstone.
‘Fire away’
‘It’s been brought to our attention that you and James had a heated discussion in the office on Friday afternoon, is that correct?’
‘Oh? And where did you hear that? No doubt from that bitch Melissa Johnstone, right?’ Pinkton replied with a smirk on his face.
‘Yes we have spoken to Ms Johnstone amongst others’
‘Well I wouldn’t believe a word she has to say detective. You do know she was hopelessly in love with James, right? Had been for years’
‘And did Mr Firth return her affections?’ Branson asked.
‘God no’ Pinkton laughed. ‘He just strung her along for years giving her hope that one day the two of them might run of into the sunset together. No chance of that happening now, is there?’
Steve observed Pinkton as he spoke. For a man being interviewed for murder he seemed calm and relaxed. If anything he was a little pissed off for having his day interrupted.
‘Mr Pinkton, what can you tell us about the heated discussion you had with James Firth on Friday?’
‘Not much really. We had an argument. It got a little heated. We would often have arguments over different things. We both knew the partnership had run its course and it was just a matter of time before we went our separate ways.’
‘And where all of your arguments heated like this one?’ Branson asked.
‘No. This one was a little more heated than the normal’ Pinkton replied glaring at Branson for having asked a stupid question.
‘And why was that?’ Steve asked.
‘Why? Well James was losing his head a little. He was accusing me of all sorts of crazy things. Truth is I think he was probably out on an all night bender the night before’
‘What specifically was he accusing of?’
‘Oh I don’t know, crazy stuff’ Pinkton lowered his gaze back towards the floor.
Steve stood up and walked over to the water fountain in the corner. He poured three paper cups of water and returned to the interview table. He sat back down and didn’t speak leaving a silent gap as he sipped on his water.
Not being able to stand the silence Pinkton added ‘He had this crazy idea that I had stolen money from the trust account. Something which is just absurd so I objected to his accusation naturally’
‘Is there money missing from the trust account?’
‘Yes, there is one point eight million missing’
‘How is it possible that such a large sum of money just goes missing unless someone who had access to the trust account took it?’ Branson asked.
‘Well a number of people where authorized to transact on the trust account. But the money didn’t go missing all at once. It has been siphoned of over the last few years. So in small amounts it was harder to notice the money being taken.’
‘I see, but you were aware of it?’ Steve asked sipping his water.
‘Yes we were all aware it was happening. Just that whoever was taking the money was very clever in hiding the transactions’
‘And James was convinced it was you which is what led to the argument?’ Steve continued.
‘Yes something like that!’
‘Any other reason for the argument?’
‘No that was the basis of it’
‘So James didn’t accuse you of sleeping with his wife then?’ Steve asked unexpectedly.
Pinkton looked horrified and his face flushed red.
‘He may have accused me of it in the heat of the discussion. A number of things were said!’
‘And what is your relationship with Mrs Firth?’
‘I don’t see how that is relevant to the case really?’ Pinkton was fuming inside.
‘Its relevant as right now the situation is this Mr Pinkton. We have a dead body, your business partner who you have admitted believed you stole millions from the trust account. If thats true then you have a motive for his death. And you don’t have an alibi for your where abouts on the night of his murder. So right now the way we see it is you are our number one suspect. That’s why its relevant, you understand?’ Steve explained growing frustrated.
‘Thats all circumstantial evidence none of which will stand up in court detective you know that’ Pinkton replied maintaining his composure.
‘Yes true. But your overlooking one key fact. You knew the body was found in Collingwood before any one had a chance to tell you. That is not circumstantial and could put you away for the murder’
Pinkton lowered his head again. His face was flush with red and perspiration was forming on his forehead.
The door to the interview room opened. One of the uniforms burst into the room.
‘Detectives, I have forensics on the line. Important development in the case that I think you will want to take a look at now’
‘Okay thanks’ Steve said as he stood up. Branson gathered all the files and notebooks of the table to follow him.
‘Wait here we will be back shortly’ Steve said to Pinkton.
‘What? You mean I am not free to leave?’ Pinkton said sounding astonished.
‘Not at this stage. We are detaining you for further questioning’ Steve said as he walked out the door. Branson walked out after him and kicked the door to the interview room closed behind her.