That was from a conversation between Watson, in jail for the murders, and his father, Chris, this morning after news broke that the book Elementary endorsed the conviction against him.
Chris Watson said he rang his son, as he did most days and they discussed the new book. Watson's reaction "was from what he's heard about what was in the book".
Wishart's book was written since November after he received a copy of the police investigation file containing thousands of documents never made public. It claims Scott Watson was a violent man who did not act alone and was seen off-loading the bodies of Hope and Smart in Picton.
Chris Watson was reading the book when contacted by the New Zealand Herald this afternoon, having bought a copy in his hometown of Picton. He confirmed the existence of transcripts in the book taken from a police listening device which recorded family discussion after the focus shifted to Scott Watson.
Among the discussions recorded was one which appeared to show Scott Watson talking with his family about having the head of the police investigation, retired Deputy Commissioner Rob Pope, killed.
Scott Watson: "Nice to just get rid of Pope. Surely there [inaudible] f***er around that'll do it."
Chris Watson: "It costs five grand."
Ben Watson: "Yeah."
Scott Watson: "Is that all it costs?"
Chris Watson: "To have it happen."
Scott Watson: "It's f**k all. It's probably double for a detective."
Chris Watson said Wishart had miscast the transcripts in a way which didn't reflect the actual conversations and were light banter by a family under pressure.
"The whole thing was a joke at the time. It's not serious stuff."
Chris Watson said his initial impressions of the book - and he was only part way through it when interviewed - was it was a compilation of cherry-picked negative statements. "He's picked out the worst bits he can find and is painting the picture he wants."
He said many of the statements he had seen so far had not been tested in court or found credible enough for police inclusion in the prosecution.
As for claims of an accomplice, Chris Watson said it was ridiculous. "I don't think secrets get kept that well."
Chris Watson also said he had noted some of those referred to by Wishart had died, including the witness who was said to have confessed. "He's using a lot of dead people."
He said the campaign to have Watson freed and declared wrongly convicted continued.
"We're used to it," he said of the portrayal of Watson in the book.
"We take it on the nose. It'll be business as usual tomorrow."
