Free Mummy's Favourite by Sarah Flint

something damning now that he’s got off with nearly killing me, you never know?’
    Hunter squeezed her shoulder, the small gesture taking her by surprise. ‘Come on then, let’s go. Either way, it’s a win-win situation for us.’
    *
    Maybe it was the way Keith Hubbard’s mouth fell open with surprise or maybe it was the way Annabel Leigh-Matthews pursed hers in ill-contained anger that tickled Charlie, but whichever it was, the small contingent filing into the interview room now were not amused.
    â€˜Do you think this is appropriate?’ the solicitor was exclaiming, her eyes flicking between Hunter, arms folded across his chest and Charlie sat demurely and firmly in the seat next to the tape machine.
    â€˜I think it’s very appropriate,’ Hunter replied, making it absolutely clear there was no possibility of a change of heart. ‘DC Stafford and I probably have more knowledge of your client than the rest of the station put together and she will be staying here to observe and assist me.’
    â€˜But…’
    â€˜No buts. There is nowhere in our codes of practice that stipulate you have a say in which police officers are present for an interview and, as I’m sure you are well aware, just as Mr Hubbard Keith is no longer a defendant, so too is DC Stafford here no longer a victim and I, no longer a witness. The CPS saw to that!’
    â€˜But my client might not wish…’
    â€˜Your client might well not wish to have DC Stafford or myself present or to answer any questions. He may not wish to have been arrested and be waiting for an interview, but he has, and now he and you will just have to get on with it. He’s had his rights and entitlements and he’s had a full consultation with you, so now…’ Hunter shut the door firmly behind them, turning to indicate in which seats he wanted them. ‘Shall we get on with it?’
    Charlie stifled a grin at his words, delivered as they were, with the appropriate amount of authority and malevolent pleasure. Hunter was not one to be messed with, but the gleam in his eyes said it all. He’d engineered the interview just as carefully as he’d arranged the arrest. Having her in the room was a master stroke. Hubbard clearly hated women and she had previous for getting under his skin. Her presence was sure to antagonize him immensely.
    â€˜Well I’d like to register my disapproval of not only you interviewing my client, but also your choice of witnessing officer.’ Annabel Leigh-Matthews sounded whiney.
    â€˜Disapproval registered. Now shall we get on?’ Hunter remarked flippantly.
    While Hunter went through the preliminaries, Charlie took the chance to have a good look at Hubbard again. He had been watching the battle between his solicitor and Hunter with amusement. She had seen the smirk widen across his face as Ms Leigh-Matthews had initiated the spat, clearly believing she would get her way, his way, as she always seemed to manage. She was good, Charlie had to admit it, but this time she had met her match and had succeeded in nothing more than
registering her disapproval.
Hubbard had not been pleased to lose. He was clearly used to getting his way too and his smirk transformed into a menacing glare as it became obvious the interview would not be on their terms.
    He was leaning back on his chair now, with the front two legs lifted high, swaying back and forth as he breathed. His demeanour was surly and he was unwilling to speak up for the tape, his voice little more than a deep growl. His hair had been cropped short recently, his beard and moustache were gone and all that remained was a shadow of stubble which seemed to grow thicker and darker by the hour. He’d looked well-groomed in court but in the confines of the small room he now looked pure thug, crooked nose, cauliflower ear, his menace highlighted by the scars which now showed through the stubbly covering of hair on his