The Marriage K.L. Slater (classic romance novels TXT) 📖

You don’t necessarily register exactly where you are.’

‘It’s reasonable to assume that if you’d heard about someone you knew well having an accident there, you might have given it a thought,’ Tyra remarked.

‘Well, I didn’t,’ Tom said firmly. ‘I’ve got a lot on my mind right now.’

‘Such as?’

He glared at her. ‘Such as personal stuff that’s nothing to do with you and nothing at all to do with Coral McKinty’s death.’

Irma picked up a piece of paper, her eyes skimming over it.

‘You were released from prison very recently. I can imagine there’s an awful lot to sort out, particularly as you got married when you were inside. All change.’

‘Do I need a solicitor?’ Tom narrowed his eyes. ‘Because I’m not sure I like your tone.’

‘This is an entirely voluntary interview, sir,’ Tyra replied smoothly. ‘You’re free to leave at any point.’

‘It would look bad if I did, though,’ Tom said curtly. ‘You lot need little excuse.’

Irma regarded him with interest. This was a very different person to the polite, concerned young man she’d interviewed with Marcus all those years ago. It was only to be expected, but his opinion of the police had clearly soured during his time in prison. She’d seen it many times before: a first offender landing a lengthy sentence and getting a good education from the seasoned lags inside. Sometimes they only picked up the attitude. Other times it was a more sinister set of skills on how to evade police detection.

‘We understand Coral McKinty went to the same school as yourself and Jesse Wilson,’ she stated. ‘You must have known her well.’

‘I wouldn’t say that.’ Tom shrugged. ‘She was a mate, sure. There was a group of us that hung around regularly. She was much closer to Jesse than me, obviously.’

‘I’d imagine you might have found Coral was a little unfriendly towards you when you got out of prison,’ Tyra suggested. ‘You moving in with her son’s grandma, I mean. The fact that you were responsible for her partner’s death and also the boy never knowing his father.’

‘And I paid the price for that,’ Tom retaliated, his cheeks reddening. ‘Ten long years for a single punch to defend myself from a knife attack.’

‘A penknife,’ Tyra murmured under her breath, earning herself a piercing glare from Tom.

‘I suppose Coral might not have looked at it like that.’ Irma’s pleasant smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. ‘From her point of view, she’d been left without the support of her partner and forced to bring up their child alone.’

‘Don’t you think I know that?’ The muscle in Tom’s jaw flexed as he tried to control his temper. ‘What exactly are you trying to say? I didn’t agree to come here for you to put me through a second trial.’

He was agitated and it hadn’t taken long. Irma wanted to keep pushing.

‘Course not, let’s move on.’ She glanced at the sheet in front of her. ‘Tell us about Ellis.’

Tom sniffed. ‘He’s Jesse’s son, but you already know that.’

‘How did he react when you moved into the house with your new wife … his grandma?’ Tyra asked bluntly.

‘Like you’d expect any kid to react.’ Tom shrugged. ‘He wasn’t impressed and I tried to break the ice, but then you can’t get much out of them at that age. They’re only interested in gaming and pizza.’

‘Would you say there were heated exchanges?’ Irma pursed her lips. ‘Perhaps a few fireworks between the two of you?’

‘Yes,’ Tom said honestly. ‘But like I’d already said to Brid … Bridget, we have to give it time. He’ll come round eventually, though he’s had a massive setback now and that’s not going to help.’

‘Another massive setback,’ Irma remarked. ‘Lost his father and now his mum.’

‘Yes.’

‘What did Coral think to you spending time with Ellis at the house?’ Tyra asked, sitting back in her seat. ‘Did she object?’

‘Yes. I think she and Bridget had words about it.’

‘What kind of words?’ Tyra pushed.

‘You know, Coral saying that she wouldn’t let him come around any more and Bridget telling her that wasn’t going to happen.’

‘Bridget must have got quite annoyed about it,’ Tyra suggested. ‘Coral telling her what to do.’

‘Course.’ Tom nodded. ‘Ellis is all Bridget has left of Jesse, so it’s a natural reaction.’

‘Perhaps you also felt angry with Coral,’ Irma said. ‘Her being awkward must’ve scuppered your romantic new start with Ellis’s gran.’

Tom laughed bitterly. ‘Maybe I did, but I didn’t hurt Coral, if that’s what you’re getting at.’

‘Nobody is suggesting that, Mr Billinghurst,’ Irma said solemnly. ‘We’re trying to understand where the tensions lay in the family. You marrying your victim’s mother, it’s quite an unusual situation by anyone’s standards, I’m sure you’d agree. Probably a shock for everyone, particularly with the recent press interest.’

‘I suppose so,’ Tom sighed. ‘But it’s nothing to do with anyone else. All that counts is that it’s what me and Bridget want. We knew there would be family resistance to start with.’

‘Coral, Ellis … who else has taken it badly?’ Tyra asked.

Tom blew out air. ‘My mother, Jill. She’s been worse than any of them.’

Irma sat forward, interested. ‘In what way?’

‘Oh, you know, generally kicking off. Making up silly stories in her head about what might go wrong.’ He grinned. ‘Being a mum.’

Irma did not return the grin. ‘What’s your mother’s relationship with Bridget like?’

‘They haven’t got a relationship,’ Tom replied curtly. ‘They used to be best friends, but that ended when Jesse died.’

‘Did you tell your parents you were getting married in prison?’ Tyra asked suddenly.

He shifted in his seat, looked at his hands. ‘No. We thought it would be best to just do it. I knew what Mum’s reaction would be, and she’d have tried to stop it.’

‘And your father?’

‘He doesn’t care. He’s never been interested in my life.’ Irma noted the unmistakable tang of bitterness that was laced through his words.

‘Did your parents have much contact with Coral when you were in prison?’ Tyra broke the brief silence.

Tom shook his head. ‘None. They knew her from