A Match Made for Murder Iona Whishaw (pride and prejudice read .TXT) š
- Author: Iona Whishaw
Book online Ā«A Match Made for Murder Iona Whishaw (pride and prejudice read .TXT) šĀ». Author Iona Whishaw
On the right-hand side he wrote WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT b. WATTS. Here he laid out, in point form, his home life, his workā including his demotion, which he had kept from his wife. He sketched out nights away, the argument at work with Finch, and his reputation for pursuing young girls before the war: Tina, his wife, possibly a woman connected to Finch.
Across the bottom third of the page he drew a line and under it wrote NOT KNOWN and listed the location of keys, the reason for the position of the car at the ferry turnoff, the passenger, the reason for the argument with Finch, and who had emptied his wallet.
Staring at the lists, he wondered how the right and left columns were related. It was possible that it really was just Wattsās unlucky day, Ames thought. He was happily on his way to a tryst with someone, picked someone up, had a heart attack, and was robbed and left for dead. He put his pencil down. Two possibilities presented themselves: Watts was going somewhere with a woman and began to experience the heart attack. The woman, instead of trying to help him, took advantage of the situationāstole his wallet and locked him in the car so he wouldnāt give chase. Not exactly murder, but was there a statute somewhere about not offering aid? Or Watts was alone in the car and on the way to meet someone and had the heart attack; a passing hitchhiker, or motorist for that matter, stopped, saw Watts was dead, helped himself to the wallet and keys, and drove off.
He added to the NOT KNOWN section: āHow much money did he have on him, and where the hell was he going?ā He threw his pencil on the table, watched it bounce and roll off the desk, and, cursing, went to retrieve it.
āChasing mice, Ames?ā Sergeant OāBrien had appeared in his doorway and was watching with interest as Ames scrabbled under his desk where his pencil had rolled.
Ames pulled himself out cautiously to avoid hitting his head, stood up dusting his knees, and said with defiant dignity, āYes, Sergeant OāBrien?ā It was unusual for the desk sergeant to haul his considerable frame up the stairs.
āDo you have a moment, Sarge?ā
āHave a seat,ā Ames said, waving his hand graciously at a chair that looked a bit small for his colleague.
OāBrien sank gratefully onto the chair and then pulled it forward. āItās about the young darkie.ā
Ames could detect no animus. āYou mean Constable Terrell,ā he said firmly.
āYes. Itās just that the other lads, well, I mean, he keeps himself to himself, if you see what I mean.ā
āNot entirely. Are you saying they donāt like him?ā
āNo. Not exactly. But he doesnāt help by being a loner. He doesnāt, you know, shoot the breeze and the like, like the rest of them.ā
Ames looked at OāBrien, feeling a little at sea. āPerhaps heās just hesitant. He is new. Has anyone asked him for a beer? Heās a vet. So is Pritchard, isnāt he? They could go to the Legion.ā
OāBrien looked noncommittal. āPeople say things, you know, out and about.ā
āFor Godās sake, OāBrien, what people? What things?ā
āYou know. They ask about people on the force. Sometimes on the phone I get, ādonāt send the darkie.ā Like that.ā
āSo youāre telling me that the men donāt ask him to join them after work because people might disapprove? Iām not surprised heās standoffish. What do you think he hears from people when he does go out?ā
āI hadnāt thought of that.ā
āNo. I suppose not. How are people going to get used to the idea if we canāt even stand by our own? And while weāre at it, what do you think the inspector would think about it?ā
OāBrien, who had never addressed Ames with any real deference before, heaved himself off the chair and said mildly, āYou do have a point, Sarge.ā
Ames watched OāBrien clomping out the door and shook his head, exhaling a long breath. If there was ever a time he could use the steadying thoughts of Inspector Darling, this was it.
āSergeant.ā
Ames heard Terrellās greeting to OāBrien just outside in the hall and winced. Terrell must have overheard part of the conversation.
āSir?ā Terrell said with a quick knock at the door. āPaper will print our request to the public for information.
āExcellent. Next stop, the rail yard. Letās see if we can track down Craig Finch.ā He stood up, drumming his fingers lightly on his desk, and cleared his throat. āIām sorry about what you might have just heard, Constable.ā
Terrell shook his head. āDonāt trouble yourself, sir. Iāve heard worse. And for what itās worth I thought you handled it well.ā
āNo, he hasnāt been at work,ā the foreman said when they asked after Finch. āInfluenza, he says. Between Watts dying and Finch on the sick list, Iām pretty short-handed. Mind you, I donāt need anyone spreading germs around here, but he couldnāt get back fast enough for me.ā The foreman lit a cigarette, apparently deciding to extend the break provided by Ames and Terrell turning up.
āWas he at work on Tuesday?ā Ames asked. He wasnāt sure how relevant this question was as it seemed to him highly unlikely Finch was going anywhere with a man whom he appeared to hate.
The foreman shook his head. āDonāt think so. No, because I was short that day as well.ā
āOne of your men said thereād been an argument between Watts and Finch. Did you hear it?ā Ames asked.
āHeard about it. Something to do with a woman. Now, I found that surprising. Finch is a married man with kids in high school. Watts is married too, for that matter. All I heard is one
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