A "Plot Twist" Kind Of Love (Closed)

“Any time.” he assured, forgetting where they were for a moment. Until the cab stopped and the driver spoke up. Lars glared a little at the driver for both interrupting them and the look he was giving them.

“Here. Let me.” he insisted, pulling out his wallet and paying the driver before Anna did. Besides, with all the trouble she had to deal with, he knew she needed to save her money for more important stuff.

Anna sat upright, causing Larson's arm to drop from around her shoulders. She didn't notice the look he gave the driver as she dug for her wallet. But by the time she'd found it, Lars had already paid the man. Anna looked over at him and playfully smacked his arm. "You didn't have to do that. I can pay for a cab ride," she quipped lightly, waiting for him to get out so she could follow.

“I know that.” Lars laughed as she slapped his arm. “But if we want this to be quick, then I was just faster on the draw.” he teased as he climbed out of the cab, offering his hand to help her. He wasn't going to say that her money was better spent on herself and Daisy. Especially when Harry was causing trouble and having bailiffs show up at the house.

Anna rolled her eyes. "Yes, well next time, I will be faster," she cooed, sliding across the seats and slipping her hand into his so he could help her stand. She shut the door behind her. "Thank you," she murmured once she was out of the cab driver's earshot. "Let's get going. I don't want to be here longer than we have to be."

“We’ll see.” Lars quipped once more before she shut the door. “It's no trouble.” he assured as they walked towards the building. “Right. Let’s see what information we can get out of Mr. Grey.” he said, only using the “we” because he would be nearby. Considering Nathan’s objection to them working together, he wasn't sure if he would be allowed to sit in on the questioning other than being on the other side of the glass and taking notes.

"Yes," Anna remarked. "I should think you'll be let in with me," she added as if reading his thoughts. "I can't imagine why they wouldn't let you unless Nathan's already called down to Alistair, which I don't think he's done." She leaned a bit closer and lowered her voice to a whisper. "I think Nathan's scared of him," she hissed, referring to Alistair Winter, the Detective Superintendent (DSI) and head of the Murder Squad.

She strode confidently into the building where a security officer nodded to her. "Morning, Anna," he greeted simply. "Are you on the schedule today?"

Anna pressed her lips into a smile and nodded. "Yes. I'm here with my colleague Larson Carter for Kevin Grey's interview."

The official checked his paper. "Yes. Kevin Grey. The interview is to start at 15:40." He chuckled. "Always on time, Anna."

She kept up her polite smile. "I try. Could you please show us to the interview room?"

"Certainly," the officer agreed. "Follow me." Anna did just that as he led the way through the halls of the precinct back to the row of interrogation rooms. He stopped outside the door, but before he opened it, Anna could already hear voices talking inside.

A woman was speaking: "…and DS Chohan are interviewing the suspect Kevin Grey at 15:35 on April the 3rd. Noting that the suspect has agreed to be interviewed without having a lawyer present."

Anna frowned as a deep male voice spoke next. "Can we hurry this up?"

A third voice, also male. "Why's that? Have you got somewhere to be?" Hearing the third voice, Anna drew in a sharp breath. She knew that voice anywhere. But why was he here? Interviewing her client.

The guard knocked on the door before opening it. Anna composed herself and stepped into the room. Sitting at the table on a side all by himself was Kevin Grey. He was a burly sort of man, but also younger in appearance than Anna had thought him to be. He had sandy hair that draped over his forehead and dark clothes.

Anna took a shallow breath, hoping Larson was there behind her as she spoke with confidence she didn't feel. "Mr. Grey, I'm here to represent you."

The man furrowed his brow and looked her up and down in confusion. "Who are you?"

"Your solicitor," Anna answered.

Across from Kevin Grey was an Indian woman with wide brown eyes – Anna recognized DS Suri Chohan from previous meetings – and… Harry. Of all people. Harry. Seeing Anna, he instantly stood up while Suri spoke to the recording device on the table, "Interview suspended 15:36."

"You're early," Anna remarked as Harry approached her. "You started early."

"I need to talk to you," he said, walking past her and Larson and out into the hallway.

Lars chuckled a little at her guess, and nodded. “Knowing Nathan, I’m not surprised. Alistair doesn't like people “meddling” in his work or investigations.” he said with a coy smirk.

When they approached the security guard, he just nodded in greeting as Anna introduced him and followed her to the interview. Though he raised a brow when he heard the DS already starting the questioning of Anna’s client. “Oh, bloody hell.” he muttered as he recognized Harry’s voice in the room.

Lars entered the interrogation with a mostly blank, professional expression, except for the disappointment at the situation and some anger over the fact that Harry was even here.

“Well, you're in luck, Harry.” he quipped. “We have four minutes before our interview is supposed to start. But talk quickly.” he said, unable to resist the jab at the timing. “Mr. Grey, as a consultant to your solicitor, I advise you not to say anything until we return.”

Anna returned his smirk. "I'm aware," she replied with an amused tone. Though the DSI wasn't particularly fond of Harry, he and Anna were somewhat good friends. And as Larson voiced what she was thinking, Anna steeled herself. "My thoughts exactly," she muttered before the door opened and they were within earshot of Harry, Suri, and Kevin Grey.

"We weren't aware Mr. Grey would be having representation," Suri began calmly. “He previously agreed to be interviewed without having a lawyer present-"

Harry abruptly cut her off. “Stand down, Suri, I've got this," he said. Though a distinctive frown appeared on his face at Larson's remark. "Larson," he greeted very shortly before stepping past Anna and motioning for her to follow him into the hall. His frown creased deeper at Larson's words. "'We'?" he asked curtly. "I'm sorry, I should have been clearer. I need to speak with Anna privately."

Anna pressed her lips tightly together before turning to Larson, placing a gentle hand on his arm, and murmuring in a strikingly calm voice, "Go and sit down. I'll be back in a minute."

“Yes, you should have been.” Lars barely held back from glaring at Harry but nodded at Anna’s assurance. “We’ll wait for you.” he sighed, relenting the stalemate for now before he took a seat next to Mr. Grey.

He leaned back in his chair, preparing to take his own notes despite DS Chohan had been recording. But he had always found it better to have a spare in case something got… misplaced. Especially on a case like this one.

Anna watched Larson, able to tell from his sigh how much he didn't appreciate Harry's conduct. To be fair, Anna didn't either. She was just much more used to it. Her eyes followed him for a moment as she sat down before she stepped back out the door and into the hall, where Harry was waiting for her with an incredulous expression.

“Who sent you?” he demanded.

“My firm,” Anna answered simply. It was the truth

“What are you doing?”

“My job. Can we just be professional about this?” Anna asked, glancing back in the room briefly before looking at Harry again.

“We’re still a married couple, remember?” Harry pointed out expectantly. “We both can’t work on this case.”

“Well, then why don’t you go home?” Anna suggested shortly, turning and heading back into the room.

Breaking all the rules, Harry reentered the room as well and sat down again beside Suri. The DS's eyes widened a bit, knowing the relationship Anna and Harry had, but she looked skeptical to say anything.

Lars perked up a little when Anna came back into the room, deliberately ignoring Harry for now. Though he knew that having both of them in the room would also cause a professional problem. Maybe I can use this to convince Nathan to let me stay… Or he already knows about this and was hoping to use this against Anna…

“Perfect timing.” he smirked, glancing at his watch before looking at Suri. “Since we’re all here, I think we can start now.”

Anna seated herself in between Larson and Grey. The former, she noticed, perked up when she reentered the interrogation room, and the latter spared her little more than a glance out of the corner of his eye and a frown. Harry was seated directly across from her, and Suri was across from Grey.

The female detective hesitated a moment, glancing warily between Harry and Anna. Then, she reached out and pressed down on the button for the recording device and spoke clearly. "Interview resumed at 15:38. Solicitors Anna Clayton and Larson Carter are both now present. DI Clayton and DS Chohan still presiding."

Almost immediately, Harry began his work. "Who told you that Freddie Lau had killed Kayleigh? Why else would you have murdered him? You thought that Freddie had taken the life of the woman you loved."

Anna took a deep, slow inhale. That was the motive anyone with a brain would assume Grey had. It seemed almost obvious.

"I know Freddie didn't do it. I did."

Immediately, Anna's mouth dropped open. What?

Harry's reaction was only a second slower. "Sorry?"

"I'm pleading guilty to both murders, Your Honor," Grey said shortly.

"We're not charging you for Kayleigh's murder," Suri cut in. "Why are you lying?"

Grey said nothing more, sitting still and silent as if he hadn't just dropped a bombshell on the room. His confession left Anna unable to hide her surprise. Now she was defending a client who had confessed to two murders, one of which he wasn't even being currently charged for. But her question shifted to why. Why had Grey killed both Freddie Lau and Kayleigh Fenchurch if indeed he had done it? And if he didn't, why was he lying, as Suri had asked?

Lars nearly snapped his pencil at Mr. Grey’s announcement in initial shock before frowning thoughtfully. He leaned forward slightly and looked at the defendant. He wanted to ask questions but he didn't want to incriminate the man especially without knowing the whole story.

The obvious possibility was that Freddie Lau and Kayleigh were having an affair and Kevin Grey found out about it. But that still didn't make sense to him. Though he suspected that Harry would take the easy bait. Another reason he came up with was that Kevin was being threatened into this confession. By who? He only had a vague idea but he wasn't going to jump the gun.

He quickly scribbled a couple of notes on a separate piece of paper, outlining his theories. But stayed quiet for now.

Anna noted Larson's movement, and she glanced over at him. What were they getting themselves into? With a confession like that, how were they supposed to defend him? He'd be convicted so easily that Anna would barely have a chance to blink.

"Why are you lying?" Suri asked again, her normally soft brown eyes sharpening as they studied Kevin Grey.

"I'm not lying," he finally replied, staring evenly at the table in front of him. "I murdered both of them."

A flicker of uncertainty reflected on Anna's face. She could hear Larson beside her writing urgently to get his thoughts down. Before she could stop herself, she looked over at Suri and indicated the recording device. "I'm sorry, but could my consultant and I have a moment alone with our client, please?"

Suri again hesitated, but she spoke into the device yet again. "Interview suspended 15:41." With that, she rose to her feet, gave Anna a brief kind smile, and left with Harry following behind her. Anna returned the expression. She'd always liked Suri, though she wasn't sure how the woman had the patience to deal with Harry's impulsiveness and rash decision-making while at work.

Once the door was shut, Anna turned to Kevin Grey, a softer expression on her face. "Kevin?"

He glanced up at her, still not speaking as he crossed his arms firmly over his chest.

Anna looked back at Larson. "Penny for your thoughts," she whispered.

Lars sighed, relieved that they had a moment to talk to Kevin alone for a while, and shrugged at Anna’s question. “I don't want to give him any ideas to lie but…” he said, angling the paper just enough to show her his ideas of a possible affair between the two decedents or how Kevin was being threatened by someone to take the blame.

Admittedly, his shorthand more resembled chicken scratch but after working with Anna for so long, he was almost sure that she would be able to read it.

Then he looked over at Anna’s client. “How long were you and Kayleigh in a relationship?” he asked.

Anna lifted her chin and glanced down at his handwriting. She often teased him that his writing was like a new language, but now certainly wasn't the time for a witty quip.

It took her a moment to decipher a few of his words, but she was able to determine what he'd written. An affair… or threatened… She arched her eyebrows a bit, but that was the only reaction she afforded herself. If her client had been coerced into lying, though, she wondered who would be the person behind it. And what they might stand to gain.

"Plausible," she murmured in return before looking back at her client just in time to hear him mutter something. "What?" she asked, inclining her head subtly in a non-threatening motion.

Kevin scoffed under his breath and repeated himself. "A year."

Lars nodded at her response and gave a thoughtful hum at Kevin’s answer. “That's a long time to be with someone.” he said gently. “I’m sure you had your fair share of problems. Were you two living together?” he asked, just trying to get the man to talk. If they could learn more about his relationship with Kayleigh then he and Anna could better represent Kevin. Perhaps even find out the truth.

"Yeah," Kevin admitted with his gaze still fixed on the same spot on the table.

Anna sighed quietly. She tried to think and come up with a question or something to sound helpful. "I'm aware that you are currently unemployed. What was Kayleigh's occupation?"

Kevin's eyes darkened, and he spat out a response so quick and quiet Anna couldn't catch it.

"What?" she asked frowning slightly.

"A stripper," Kevin repeated, tightening his crossed arms.

Anna inhaled slowly. What if Harry knew? He'd likely question the possibility of an affair, getting too close with a client, or something like that.

Lars professionally hid a wince at the man’s venomous reply to Anna’s question. That is definitely not helping the man’s case… he sighed. I'm not even going to pretend to be surprised if she danced at Lau’s casino.

“And you were against it. Did Kaleigh know your opinion?” he asked, a part of him almost hoping to get more of a rise out of Kevin. Sometimes when a client gets emotional, the truth slips out.

"No," Kevin countered sharply.

Almost immediately, Anna frowned with confusion. "No, she didn't know? Or–"

"No, I wasn't against it," the man growled, finally looking up and over at them. "How many more questions are you going to ask? I killed both of them – Kayleigh and Freddie. Now shove it."

Anna's mouth dropped open, but she shut it soon after.

Lars tried not to glare as Kevin directed his attitude towards Anna. “We will ask you as many questions as necessary.” he interrupted. “Now, you say that you were not against her profession. I find that hard to believe of anyone in a relationship that lasted as long as yours did.” he pointed out, his voice somewhere between sharp and too slick. “You didn't mind that she would take off her clothes for complete strangers? That she would dance suggestively for them? Practically naked?” he asked, looking directly at Kevin. “Did she put her job before your relationship? Did she dress more modestly in front of you? Perhaps she never showed you anything and Freddie Lau saw everything.”

"No, I didn't mind," Kevin snapped, looking past Anna completely now to argue with Larson. "I already said I didn't! And Freddie Lau never saw anything! You don't know what you're talking about.”

Anna reached out and gently placed her hand on the man's arm. "Mr. Grey, please. My consultant and I are trying to figure out how to best represent you. The police only have your confession. Their entire case is non-existent without it." She lowered her voice, speaking gently to help coax the answers out of him. One that would be of use. "I think there's something you're not telling me about all this. Talk to us. We can help you."

Suddenly, Kevin's face became guarded again, just as it had before. "No one can help me," he muttered, shifting his gaze back to Anna before turning and facing the table again. Anna's hand dropped back into her lap. "Not now."

Anna frowned and inclined her head. "What do you mean?" she asked, but then the door opened again, cutting off whatever answer Grey might have given. She sighed sharply. Of course, right when she and Larson might have been making headway…

"Are you quite done yet?" Harry asked, stepping in with narrowed eyes. "It doesn't look like you've made that much more progress."

Lars managed to keep a neutral expression at Kevin’s reaction, but he was glad that briefly making himself the “enemy” gave Anna the chance to be the good one. But his annoyance could not be hidden as Harry barged in.

“Harry, your timing could not be better if you were deliberately trying to sabotage our work.” he groaned, but resisted from asking if he always had this problem to avoid embarrassing his friend. Hopefully, the others would assume that he was just referencing the fact that Harry started the interview early and without Anna being present.

Harry's eyes narrowed immediately at Larson's comment. "I have a job of my own that I'm trying to do here, Mr. Carter," he shot back, but before either of them could say anything else, Anna rose to her feet to intervene.

"Yes, I believe we're done for now," she replied simply and evenly, betraying no emotion in front of her former husband. "This interview can be picked up at a later date, once my consultant and I have had proper time to meet with our client beforehand."

Without waiting for Harry to counter her, she stepped towards the door to leave, looking back at Kevin. "Thank you, Mr. Grey," she said kindly. "We'll be in touch soon. And I'd like to remind you that you do have the privilege against self-incrimination. The right to remain silent in any further interviews or other questioning procedures." She offered a small, reassuring smile to her client before motioning for Larson to follow her out the door.

Lars sighed as he gathered his papers, grateful for Anna’s intervention before he and Harry could make themselves look even more foolish.

“Don't let anyone bully you.” he added as he stood and followed his friend out of the room. He knew he should just ignore Harry but as he passed, he couldn't help bumping his shoulder against the others and a mutter of “Lestrade,” escaped his lips. But he didn't stop walking, leaving the detective in the doorway.

Harry's eyes narrowed at the mutter, and he would've said something sharply in reply if Anna hadn't been there too. Instead, he began instructing the officers outside of Grey's door that the man could be taken back to Whitecross Prison.

When Anna strode past Harry, she seemed to be quite confident. Really, she discreetly was holding her breath as she passed so she wouldn't have to smell his cologne and refused to look at him. Even though they weren't yet outside, she slipped her arms through the sleeves of her coat, and once it was on, she hugged it around her.

Once they were far away enough from Harry, she turned to Larson and offered a small smile. "I'm sorry," she apologized, reaching up to gently tug her honey-colored hair out from the collar of her coat.

“You don't have to apologize for anything.” Lars assured with a gentle smile. “If anyone should apologize, it should be him. The man should know how to do his job properly instead of fudging everything up like that.” he teased, though his complaint was still valid.

He shook his head, pushing away any more thoughts about Harry, and put his jacket back on. “Either way… Where did you want to go for lunch?” he asked, changing the topic. “We can talk more about the case without so many eager listeners.” he chuckled.

Anna shook her head slightly. "He shouldn't have even been in there. The fact that he and I were both in that room could ruin this entire case. And it is my fault, Larson. Harry only did what he did to try and get at me." She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath and determinedly adding, "It won't happen again."

She led the way outside and looked over at him with a small smile beginning to show on her face again. "Trust me, there are already many less eager listeners now that we're out of that building," she remarked with a grin. "Though, are you sure you'd like me to pick? I won't be taking criticism if you agree and then don't like my selection."

“I know. I know.” Lars nodded, gently placing his hand on her shoulder. “But I still don’t think it's your fault and he didn't need to behave that way. Harry could have at least pretended to be professional.” he sighed. “Don't worry.”

He laughed a little when she started to relax as they left the station. “Yes, I’m sure. I think I already have a pretty good guess what you're going to choose anyway.” he teased, reminding her how long they had been friends. “But I actually wanted to ask you if… do you think we should mention this to Nathan? I think there's a chance that telling him might help convince him to let me stay on the case with you.” he explained. “It might have been a simple communication error or someone read “Clayton” on the paperwork and mistakenly assigned either you or Harry to this case.”

Anna sighed and admittedly relaxed a bit at the touch on her shoulder. She glanced back at him and smiled. "Thank you, Lars," she remarked. "You're right. I was just trying not to overreact. With Harry… that can be difficult."

The woman rolled her eyes. "There's no way you could guess what I'd choose! Am I really that predictable?" she asked incredulously.

Anna let his words sink in for a moment. She sighed quietly and glanced over. "Why not?" she stated finally. "Excuse me, but he was being a bloody prick this morning. I don't see any good reason why we can't work together on this case. Or, if they keep Harry on and do away with me, we can work together on whatever they give us next."