Free From the Dead by Mark Billingham Page B

back in his chair and crossed his arms. Cocksure again and waiting for them to get to whatever it was they had come such a long way to talk to him about.
    â€˜There are ways to reduce your sentence,’ Thorne said. ‘Radical idea, I know.’
    Monahan smiled thinly, with just a hint of prison teeth. ‘Getting to it now, are we? What you actually want.’
    â€˜What? We can’t just pop in to see how you are?’
    â€˜Like I said, funny as cancer.’
    â€˜It’s really no big thing,’ Thorne said. ‘Just a little help with a murder we’re trying to solve. Not even that, actually, because we know very well who the murderer is. It’s more a question of trying to identify the victim.’
    â€˜Why should I know anything?’
    â€˜Well, because it was you that handcuffed the poor bastard to the wheel of that Jag and set fire to it.’
    Monahan stared for a few seconds, then began to shake his head and show a few more teeth. ‘You’re mental, you know that?’
    â€˜Barking,’ Thorne said. ‘Completely off my trolley. But let’s see just how mad I am, shall we? I mean, let’s think for a minute about how this might have panned out. I’m guessing that Alan found out what his dearly beloved was up to. Overheard her on the phone or talking in her sleep, it doesn’t really matter. Then he comes to you before you get a chance to do what she’s paid you for and makes you a better offer.’
    Monahan looked at Anna, nodded towards Thorne. ‘Who did you piss off to get stuck with him ?’
    â€˜So, you had to find someone to take his place,’ Thorne said. ‘Did you do that or did Alan find someone? Had to be someone roughly the same height and general appearance, I suppose. Not that it really mattered by the time you’d finished with him.’
    Monahan was still looking at Anna. ‘Seriously, love, you want to put in for a transfer.’
    â€˜Thanks, I’ll bear it in mind,’ she said. ‘Now tell us who you got to replace Alan Langford in that car.’
    Thorne turned, ready with another hard stare of admonishment. Then he saw the look on Anna’s face, and Monahan’s reaction to her simple, straightforward question, and decided to save it for later.
    Monahan composed himself. Took a deep breath. ‘Alan Langford is dead, OK? Jesus, why do you think I’m in here? His missus paid me to get rid of him and I did what I was good at back then. Fair enough?’
    â€˜Well, it would be,’ Thorne said. ‘If I hadn’t just seen a photo of Mr Langford looking ever so well.’ Monahan swallowed and looked away. ‘He’s alive and kicking, Paul, and we all know it.’
    â€˜So, no need for any more bullshit,’ Anna said.
    Thorne nodded, sat back. ‘Yep, that’s another one on the out, getting himself a very nice suntan while you’re rotting in here, the colour of a manky spud. I mean, we’ve got to presume he’s been making it worth your while all these years, you saying nothing. Something nice to look forward to when you come out, I shouldn’t wonder. And he’s probably taking care of your nearest and dearest, right? Keeping up the mortgage payments, all that.’
    â€˜This is stupid,’ Monahan said quietly. ‘ You’re the ones who are bullshitting.’
    â€˜Has it really been worth it, though?’ Thorne almost sounded as if he meant it. ‘I mean, you’ve already been in here a good long while, no matter how much you might cop for when you get out.’
    Monahan stared above their heads, chewed at something.
    â€˜You’ve got a son, haven’t you?’ Anna asked.
    Thorne took the cue without a beat. ‘What is he now, mid-twenties?’
    â€˜Be nice to get out that bit sooner and see him,’ Anna said. ‘Don’t you reckon?’
    Monahan reddened, and as his hands tightened around