The Marriage by K.L. Slater (any book recommendations TXT) 📕

had reported after she’d spoken briefly with the security manager. ‘He told me they were arguing about something inside the club. One minute they were nice and relaxed, talking over a pint, the next he said Jesse was acting weird and there was some pushing and shoving taking place.’

‘CCTV?’

Irma shook her head. ‘Went on the blink last week.’

Luckily, Tom Billinghurst had been the epitome of helpful, summoning an ambulance himself. ‘Strangely, the operator told him that one was already on its way, so we need to follow up on exactly who called the emergency services when there appear to be no witnesses.’ Marcus had frowned. ‘When uniformed officers arrived, he immediately admitted to hitting Jesse, and was arrested at the scene.’

At the station, while Billinghurst got booked in by the desk clerk, Irma and Marcus grabbed a coffee and had a quick chat about how they intended to handle the interview.

‘It looks fairly straightforward. On the face of it, he’s taking full responsibility,’ Marcus said. ‘Let’s not overcomplicate matters. Billinghurst hit him, the victim slipped and hit his head. He may not realise it, but because he’s a trained boxer, the CPS will come down on him like a ton of bricks if Wilson has serious brain trauma.’

When the interview room was ready, one of the uniformed officers provided Billinghurst with some water and he sat quietly opposite the two detectives. Irma explained the proceedings to him for the benefit of the recording, and Marcus kicked proceedings off.

‘Tom, can you tell us in your own words exactly what happened tonight? Start with how you happened to be in the club and take us through how things escalated.’

Irma was struck by how tired and anxious the young man looked. It was difficult to believe he had an ounce of aggression in him.

‘It was Jesse’s idea to go out, as usual,’ he said.

‘As usual?’

‘He always wants to go out. Hates a night stuck in.’

‘I’d guess you are both out a lot then?’ Irma asked.

He nodded. ‘Yeah, but not every night. Usually once or twice in the week and definitely all weekend if Jesse’s funds stretch to it.’

‘Had you been to Movers before?’

‘Oh yeah. Loads of times. With it being midweek, I suggested we went to the pub for a quiet drink.’ He hesitated. ‘I’m supposed to be attending an early training session today at the boxing gym. I wish I’d insisted on the quiet drink now, but Jesse, he’s not easy to put off once he gets something in his head.’

Marcus nodded. ‘So on balance, would you say you were in a bit of a bad mood?’

Tom shook his head. ‘Not at all, but I admit I was slightly irritated. Everything always has to be done the way he wants, you know? After a while, it gets …’

‘Annoying?’ Irma offered.

‘Yeah, it can get very annoying,’ he confirmed. ‘Is there any news on how he is? Has he regained consciousness yet?’

‘No news yet, I’m afraid,’ Irma said, referring to her notes. ‘Back to earlier in the evening. Did you go for drinks before the club?’

‘Only one, in the Mayflower bar. We don’t go out until late, ten o’clock usually. We had a few beers at home, played some FIFA. Then we got a cab straight into town.’

‘What kind of mood was Jesse in?’

‘He was OK at first, in the bar, although I sensed he was a bit on edge.’

‘Did you ask him if anything was wrong?’ Irma said.

‘Not at that point, because I assumed that was why he’d wanted to come out, to loosen up a bit, you know?’

‘You said he was OK “at first”,’ Marcus said. ‘What about later on in the night?’

‘He was drinking heavily. I stuck to beers but he started getting a couple of shots with each pint. Called me a wuss when I said I wanted to take it easy for my early-morning training session.’

‘Did that make you angry?’

‘No, I’m used to him. He doesn’t mean anything by it. Usually.’

‘But this time he did mean something by it?’

‘I don’t know what got into him. He started acting really strange. I asked him what was wrong, but he got crazier, dancing like a madman and then sort of mime-attacking me with kung fu style moves. He got that close I had to push him back.’

‘And he did this for no apparent reason?’ Irma frowned.

‘For no reason. The doorman came over and told him to leave, that aggressive behaviour wasn’t permitted. Jesse pushed into him sort of accidentally on purpose, and then started giving it the usual.’ Tom used his hand like an opening and closing mouth. ‘When we got away from the dance floor, another security guy grabbed me and they pushed us both out of the fire exit, the rear doors.’

‘Then what happened?’ Marcus prompted him.

‘I had a go at Jesse, asked him what the hell was wrong with him, and that was when he pulled the knife on me.’

Irma consulted her notes. ‘There was a Swiss Army type penknife found tucked under him, the sort with small tools and gadgets attached. This is the knife you’re referring to, yes?’

‘Yes. Doesn’t sound much when you describe it like that, but all I saw was a blade flashing in the street light. He jabbed it at me and I jumped back, told him not to be so stupid. I actually laughed, because I couldn’t believe what he was doing.’

‘How did that go down with Jesse?’

‘He lost it. Lunged at me again with the knife. I sidestepped him and he came after me. He was like a man possessed.’

‘Had Jesse taken any drugs that you know of during the night?’

‘No. He can drink like a fish, we both can at times. Jesse has the odd joint, but that’s it, nothing harder, and as a boxer, I’m strictly drugs-free.’

‘So Jesse came at you a second time, then what?’ Marcus said.

‘It’s a bit of a blur, but my instincts kicked in and I just threw a punch. Without even thinking about it.