The story sounded so unreal, and yet it wasn't as though Barnaby was in any position to refute it. Still, hearing Kotetsu explain that even Barnaby had once turned against him was almost too much. He would never suspect his partner of murder. Kotetsu had many faults, certainly, but he simply wasn't that kind of man.

If he didn't even remember Kotetsu, however, and the evidence pointed toward him as the killer, then Barnaby was well aware of how he would have responded to the man accused of murdering Samantha.

"I'm glad you're all right too," Barnaby quietly said after a long moment. He sounded composed for now, but tears were starting to sting at his eyes, and he still couldn't quite fight the anxiety and grief mounting in the pit of his stomach. "Who could even do all of that, though? A NEXT?"

Barnaby's voice was starting to crack.