Free Cold Death by S. Y. Robins Page A

kind of cellar?” Hannah spat, rage coursing through her veins now. How dare he do this to her? He knew what she’d been through. She had always liked the Chamberlains.
    “I couldn’t have you going round trying to find out what happened to him, spreading your version of his reputation. I’ve been looking into him for a while. You must have known the kinds of things he was into, there’s no way you were that naïve.” Mr. Chamberlain spoke, matching Hannah in anger.
    “What things? I wanted to bring justice to Jay’s death and his faceless, cowardly murderer. Was it you, Mr. Chamberlain? Did you kill him? Hannah demanded.
    “Yes. Yes and I’d do it again!” Mr. Chamberlain cried. “Jay was a terrible, evil man. Alfie used to show me these pills he had. I didn’t want to interfere; most kids don’t show their parents anything, I was proud of Alfie for being able to come to me. I didn’t do anything at first; I was just happy he was happy, especially after hating the skin he was in for so long. The pills began to consume him; Alfie needed more. His regular dose never seemed to be enough, he even began to shake if he didn’t have his pills.” 
    Hannah grew silent, recognizing pain and blame in Mr. Chamberlain’s voice. She recognised it because she had felt it herself when Alfie died; she could see that he wished he had said and done more.
    “I knew he was taking too many. I knew it. But I couldn’t do anything. What could I do? I began to watch Jay myself. It wasn’t just steroids this guy dealt. He was a big-time drug dealer; he had kids on every corner selling cocaine and marijuana. I knew he was nasty. Here he was, ruining my son’s life and tearing other families apart, by turning sons, brothers and cousins into drug addicts and dealers. That’s why he insisted on knowing everyone’s name; he made sure he knew everyone around him to protect himself.” He paused, giving Hannah time to think.
    Was this true? It made sense; he did always know everyone around him, made an effort to learn everyone’s name and background. Hannah felt physically sick; she had not known her boyfriend at all. She thought he was innocent; a blameless victim in a savage stabbing. Nobody deserved to get their life taken away, but Jay was not the innocent man she thought he was.
    “Span, I’m sorry. But I’m going to have to kill you too. You know too much. My wife is already a wreck; she’s lost her only son. Our lives have been torn apart. I don’t think she can face a jailed husband too. I’ll be quick; I promise.” Mr. Chamberlain edged towards Hannah; sorrow etched over his face.
    “No!” Hannah cried. “Please tell me more about Jay? I didn’t know any of this; I can’t believe we’re talking about the same person. Please? As my last wish? My life has been torn apart too,” she pleaded, scared for her own life. She wanted Mr. Chamberlain to keep talking so she could think; there must be some way out of here. What would her beloved detectives do?
    “Span, are you sure? Either way it will end the same, knowing might make this all hurt more. I wish you didn’t poke your nose in. I wish you didn’t look. You were running around; questions were being raised, and I can’t have people point fingers at me; I just can’t.” Mr. Chamberlain looked genuinely sorry. Hannah almost pitied him before remembering he was going to kill her.
    “How do you know all this? What else did he do? What did he do with the money?” Hannah asked wildly. If this man had a shred of compassion left; Hannah was going to try and talk herself free. It was the only option she had left. She was nervous, but it had to work, there was no other choice.
    “I posed as a supplier; I sold Jay the supply of drugs Alfie had built up. I wanted to see if he would buy it. He did. He got rid of the money through laundering,” Mr. Chamberlain said with exhaustion. “He was laundering money through the shop; I can’t see any other way he was