A burly officer approached him and turned him around. His laptop case and hand luggage fell to the floor, along with his jacket. He struggled and complained, but the officer was firm and he heard the sound of handcuffs. His wrists were restrained and the cuffs locked tightly before he was marched out of the lounge.

People stared. Some took photographs. Others pointed.

Philip’s cheeks raged red as he was paraded through the terminal building towards a private customs area. He was escorted through a search station and towards some service entrance doors, where three police cars waited. They’d sent the fucking cavalry.

He went over the charges in his head. He couldn’t think who he’d be accused of murdering: he’d never got his hands dirty. Nor could he think of one single link between him and Benji that would lead him to be accused of conspiracy to murder. The fraudulent activity was an open book. As soon as these oafs released him and he was sitting in front of somebody in a suit and a tie, he’d call his solicitor and secure his release.

Chapter 59

Matt and Kelly entered the interview room. This was the first time in three years that they’d interviewed a suspect together, and it felt odd to her.

So much for her weekend with Johnny.

Sebastian Montague-Roland sat tight-lipped and straight-backed. He looked proud and defiant, but also innocent and lost. They confirmed details for the tape and began the process of trying to get to the bottom of what role he had played in the whole affair.

‘You were there when it all happened, weren’t you, Sebastian?’

‘I beg your pardon?’ He’d waived his right to a lawyer, saying that he’d done nothing wrong. It was an unusual choice: high-profile suspects usually had a solicitor ferried to the interview room quicker than the coppers got there. Kelly carried on regardless, expecting him to change his mind.

‘We have a witness statement from another suspect, who has admitted to being present at Allerdale on the night of the murder of George Murphy. He says that a man matching your description was seen talking to George in the orangery.’

‘As if he could see me from there.’

‘From where? How do you know where he was standing?’

Sebastian put his head in his hands.

‘Do you know any of these men?’ Kelly spread out photographs of Leo Brown and the other three men who were in custody in London. They’d charged Denny Tapps with the actual murder.

‘No. I never got involved with any of Philip’s thugs.’

‘Philip’s thugs?’ Kelly and Matt exchanged glances.

‘You mean you think this was all me? My God! I’m just as much a victim as George!’

‘Could you explain?’