Game Of Bliss

(46)

"Kai! Someone's here for you," Elspeth calls through the house, cautiously eyeing up the coppers that were stood at the front door.

"Elsie, do you mind helping Flo in the kitchen?" Malachi says, and she nods, looking between Mal and the coppers before walking away.

"How may I help you gentlemen?" Malachi asks, leaning against the doorframe, folding his arms over his chest.

"We need to bring you in for questioning, Mr Welch," an officer replies.

"Regarding what?" Malachi shrugs.

"Regarding the disappearance of Jenson King, sir," the same copper states.

"That doesn't seem like a nice way to spend my evening," Malachi remarks.

"It'd be easier for everyone if you came with us now, otherwise we'll return with a warrant for your arrest and it won't matter that there is a young child in the house when we place you in those cuffs," he warns, "just a few questions, no accusations."

"Okay," Mal agrees, "just give me two seconds."

Malachi turns away from them, walking into the kitchen where Elspeth was jumping up at Eldon, trying to retrieve a cookie from his hand as Flo leant against the side laughing at their antics.

"I've got to go down to the police station for a few hours," Malachi states.

"What? Why?" Florence questions.

"They need to ask me some questions," Malachi sighs, "I'll be back early hours of the morning probably."

"Do you want me to come with you?" Eldon offers, and Mal shakes his head, "I'll be fine, just save me a cookie, yeah?"

"Of course," Elspeth smiles softly, rushing to give him a hug, "I'll see you tomorrow."

-

"You were the last person to see Jenson King," Moss says.

"I thought I was here for questioning? That sounded like a statement," Malachi responds.

"Were you the last person to see Mr King?" Moss rephrases, and Mal shrugs, "was I? How could I possibly know that?"

"A witness says you went into his office with him and that's the last time he was seen, is that true?" Moss asks.

"Compound question, sneaky," Mal chuckles, "it's correct that I went into his office with him, and once again, how is anyone but Mr King meant to know the last person whom he saw?"

"How long were you in his office?"

"Half a minute," Mal shrugs.

"What did you do for that half a minute?" Moss inquires.

"He gave me a new chalk for the snooker table," Malachi replies.

"You went all the way to his office for some chalk?"

"He was one of my mothers friends, thought there'd be no harm in dropping by to say hello," Malachi responds, "I spent most of my childhood in his pub."

"In that time did Mr King mention he might be going away? Or if anybody was after him?" Moss questions.

"No," Malachi states.

"To both questions?"

"Yes," Mal nods, "it was just small talk, you know? The casual how are you doing and all that malarkey."

"And that only took half a minute?" Moss hums.

"Approximately, yes," Malachi replies.

"He did not walk out of that room after you left, and has not been seen since, you understand how suspicious that is, yes?" Moss states.