Surefire by Ashe Barker Read Free Book Online Page B

She died, you see, and I inherited it. Last year.”
    “Yes, we’ve been hoping for a word with you. There are some questions we need you to answer. At the police station. Would you come with us please, Miss Spencer?”
    “What, yes all right. My car’s just there, in front of yours. I’ll follow you.”
    “No, Miss Spencer, you’ll come with us, in our car. Now, if you don’t mind.” PC Tall and Stocky is rocking on his heels, puffing out his armored chest at me, making no attempt to conceal his expression of distaste.
    “What? Why?” This is all feeling horribly familiar. This is how the police spoke to me when I was arrested for lying to help Kenny. But times have changed, and I make one last attempt to get them to see reason.
    “Look, I’m happy to make a statement, I want to provide any help I can. But I’ll need my car later, I have to sort out insurance, see my solicitor, make arrangements for repairs…”
    There’ll be no repairs for a while yet. Now, if you’d just come with us…?”
    “Are you arresting me? What the hell for?”
    “We were hoping it wouldn’t come to that, but… Sharon Spencer, I’m arresting you on suspicion of arson…”

Chapter Five
    The rest of his rights speech is lost on me as my brain turns to porridge. Arrested! I’m being bloody well arrested. For arson. These idiots think I actually set fire to my mother’s house. My mother’s house, for Christ’s sake. My grandparents’ house.
    Idiots or not, I’m soon enough installed in the back of the patrol car, PC Tall and Stupid next to me while his colleague drives us to the police station. Once there, I’m taken to the custody suite, presented before the custody sergeant as an arson suspect. My panic mounting, I do at least remember enough of the drill to know I should be allowed to phone someone. At my desperate request the custody sergeant pushes the desk phone at me.
    “Make it quick. We’ve not got all day.”
    Maybe I should try to get a solicitor, but the only one I know in the area is sweet old Mr Miller. This is hardly his bag. I think of Tom, because he’s who I really want. I know he’ll believe me, and he’ll help me. But I’ve only got one quick phone call, and for all I know Tom’s still in a mobile not-spot. I can’t risk not getting through. I dial the number for Black Combe instead, and almost faint with relief when Eva answers.
    “Eva, it’s Ashley. Please can you get a message to Tom?”
    “Ashley? Yes, of course. Where are you? Is everything all right?”
    “No it’s not. I’ve been arrested. For arson. They think I set fire to my house. With bloody students asleep inside. Christ, Eva…” My voice is cracking, she must be able to hear it. I gather my wits, I need to make sure she understands what to do. “Please could you ask Tom to arrange a solicitor for me? I have money, I can pay, but I don’t know anyone. I don’t know who else to call. Please, Eva…”
    “Ashley, yes, it’s done. Don’t worry, it’ll all be fine. Tom’s…”
    “That’s enough, Miss. Time to move you along now.” The custody sergeant holds out his hand for the telephone, takes it from me then hangs up. “Let’s get your details and then find you a nice warm cell to wait in, shall we?”
    It’s not only Tom who appreciates the power of anticipation. The cell door clangs shut behind me, its note of finality echoing around me. I promised myself never again. Never, never again would I allow myself to be locked up. Yet here I am, totally innocent and even so, I spend the next hour and a half perched on the edge of a cold bench in a Spartan cell, my only other furniture a rather unsavory looking stainless steel lavatory with no seat. I make up my mind then and there I’ll burst before I use that. Eventually though, the custody sergeant jangles his keys on the other side of my door and it swings open.
    “Time for a little chat. Come with me please.”
    Numb, I get to my feet and follow him along the