The Inspector Walter Darriteau Murder Mysteries - Books 1-4 David Carter (autobiographies to read txt) 📖

young men at least, and he needs catching. Don’t you agree?’

‘Couldn’t agree more, Mister Darriteau, naughty boys always need disciplining. There’s nothing wrong with a good smack.’

‘Do you know who the killer is?’

‘Ooh Mister Darriteau, even if we did, which we don’t, we have never been grasses, as you well know, sorry and all that, but we can’t help you there.’

‘It’s not grassing, it’s a public duty,’ said Karen.

Langley didn’t comment. The sons suddenly looked angry.

The cheek of the little bitch to correct their father in front of them.

Walter spoke again.

‘There is a line of thinking that says that you could have a big grudge against Gerry Swaythling, that you might want to hurt him, and his business, or his family.’

‘If somebody would care to utter those thoughts in public I would take great pleasure in suing the backside off them.’

‘Did you pay the young man to shoot Neil Swaythling?’ persisted Walter.

‘Oh come on, Darriteau, that is pathetic, if I did such a thing, which I did not, I am hardly likely to admit it to you, now am I?’

‘Conspiracy to murder carries a very long sentence,’ said Karen. ‘At your age you’d probably never get out alive.’

Langley pointed the pen across the desk. The blonde bird was beginning to annoy him.

‘That, missy prissy policewoman, sounds too close to a threat for my liking. I’d be very careful if I were you.’

‘We are trying hard to stop anyone else getting hurt,’ said Walter.

‘So you say, though I can’t say as I like how you are going about it.’

‘All I am saying, Langley, is that if you are not involved, and I take your word on that, maybe you might get to know who is. All we need is a name.’

‘I could give you any number of names of people I don’t like, and you could go out and hassle them, and, I’ll be honest with you, that would amuse us.’

‘You could do that, Langley, but that’s not your style.’

Langley nodded his agreement.

‘Then I am sorry, but I can’t help.’

‘Does Gerry Swaythling still owe you money, still paying off the debt?’

‘We seem to be going around in circles, Inspector. I have no comment to make on that at all.’

‘We will find out in the end, Langley.’

Langley sat back in his chair and sighed.

Didn’t say a thing.

Karen and Walter glanced at one another. It seemed the meeting was done.

Walter said, ‘Thank you, you know where I am if you hear anything.’

‘Good day,’ said Langley, and one of the boys showed them out, patting Karen’s backside as she went out through the front door. She turned sharply about to remonstrate but he’d already closed the door in her face.

‘What did you make of that?’ she said, back in the car.

‘Not here,’ he said. ‘Drive will you; go down by the canal.’

SHE DROVE DOWN TO TELFORD’S Quay and parked up and switched off the engine and repeated her question.

‘Much as I expected. I didn’t imagine he’d tell us much.’

‘Do you think he lent Swaythling the money?’

‘Oh yes. There wouldn’t be many candidates who could have done so back then. He would surely have been one of them, either in whole or in part.’

‘Do you think he’s been repaid?’

‘That’s the old thing with illegal lenders, isn’t it? The debt is rarely, if ever, paid off in full. The interest keeps piling up, and the lender doesn’t want it to end. It’s possible that Swaythling is still paying, it’s possible that he’ll always be paying.’

‘Do you think it’s possible that Wells has an interest in the Swaythling Construction business?’

‘If there are still payments being made, then one way or another, he does. The question is, has Swaythling fallen behind with those payments, or maybe stopped making them altogether, and is that the real reason why Wells, or one of his agents, has taken a pot-shot at Neil?’

‘It was interesting that Wells said that Neil was holed up somewhere. Was that just a guess?’

‘Flying a kite, I should say,’ and then Walter reminded Karen of the possibility of a mole. It had happened before, and he asked her if she thought it might be Gibbons.

‘I wouldn’t have thought so, Guv, but who knows?’

‘Precisely.’

‘Come on; let’s get back to the station. I have that awkward little meeting with Mrs West to look forward to, and then after that, maybe we should review everything to date.’

‘Sure, Guv,’ and she started the car and headed back toward base.

Nineteen

Jimmy Mitchell tried Luke’s mobile again. He’d been trying to get hold of him for a few days. This time the call was answered. ‘Hey up, my man,’ said Luke. ‘I’ve been thinking about you.’

‘Thought you were never coming back, I’ve been trying to reach you for a while, how did the holiday go?’

‘Brilliant, gave that blonde wench a holiday she will never forget. Polished the old fella senseless, you know how it is.’

‘Good for you, now forget about her and what’s in your trousers, and let’s talk business, assuming you still are in business?’

‘Could be. Have you had any hassle?’

‘None at all, things have gone very quiet.’

‘That’s what I like to hear. Do we need to meet?’

‘Yes we do. Can you be at the usual place at two tomorrow?’

‘Don’t see why not.’

‘I’ll see you there.’

Jimmy rang off while across the city Luke punched in Sahira’s number.

‘Hi Luke,’ she said sweetly.

‘How are you, my darling?’

‘I’m good. Been thinking about you. Thought you must be due back around now.’

‘Oh yes, honey, I’m back, and I’m so looking forward to seeing you.’

‘That’s good to know. When?’

‘I’ve booked a room at the Red Rose Motel, same name as usual, same room as usual. I’ve a short business meet at two tomorrow, and I’ll see you there at three.’

‘Oh, Luke, I don’t think I can make it, family ties and all that, you know how it is.’

‘No, no, no! I’m not having that! You get your black arse down there! I’ll expect to see you naked and waiting, understand?’

Sahira sighed and took a