The Hero's Fall (DCI Cook Thriller Series Book 14) Phillip Strang (microsoft ebook reader .TXT) 📖

‘Get out, now.’

Maddox Timberley sat quietly in a chair; she was crying.

Chapter 16

With calm restored in the hotel suite, Wendy phoned Larry, briefly explained the situation and told him to get over to the hotel.

Isaac had been informed of developments, not entirely comfortable with the situation, but willing to let his sergeant continue, his inspector supporting her.

Wendy and Larry, on his arrival, went into another room. Wendy admitted she had said and done things, not because she had wanted to, but because it was necessary.

‘Drugs?’ Larry asked.

‘More than marijuana, although they may belong to the boyfriend,’ Wendy said. ‘No point in wasting our time on a search. We’re here for murder and the truth. This relationship with Simmons is all-important.’

‘Maddox, are you ready?’ Wendy said.

‘I should have a lawyer with me.’

It was the woman’s prerogative; neither Wendy nor Larry could refuse.

‘Anyone in particular?’

‘I have a friend. I trust him.’

‘Lover?’

‘No. Sergeant, you’ve got it all wrong. I’m not like that.’

Wendy said nothing.

‘We’ll reconvene down at Challis Street, make it official,’ Larry said.

‘Not there. I don’t want to be seen, my image.’

‘You’re hardly the virgin queen,’ Wendy said. ‘I thought there was no such thing as bad publicity.’

‘Everyone thinks I’m on the rebound from Angus, that I’m heartbroken, finding solace in the arms of another man.’

‘Aren’t you?’ Wendy said.

‘I loved Angus, always will.’

‘Here or the police station?’ Larry said.

‘Here is fine. I’ve broken no law.’

‘We’ll see,’ Wendy said, pulling out a drawer next to the drink cabinet, recognising the packaging, not needing to sniff or to inspect, knowing that the contents were illicit. An arrest could be made, which she had no intention of pursuing.

Larry phoned room service, asked for tea and coffee, along with a selection of sandwiches. ‘You’re not picking up the tab, are you?’ he said to Maddox.

‘Not for here.’

‘Who is?’

‘Fame has its benefits.’

‘It's strange,’ Wendy said, ‘that you, Maddox Timberley, who has all the attributes and the opportunities, should sell yourself as a slut, whereas Deborah Hampton, who you believe insulted you, we’ve found to be estimable.’

‘If I am what you believe of me, then why are you here? Why do you think I can help?’

‘It’s not only you,’ Larry said. ‘You’re not the only person leading a double life.’

‘Double life? What does that mean? I don’t understand.’

A knock at the door. A man, dressed in a suit, pushing a trolley. ‘Afternoon tea for three,’ he said.

‘Put it there,’ Maddox said, indicating a place next to her.

‘Is that all, madam?’

‘It is, thank you.’

The man lingered. Larry, not used to such places, put his hand in his pocket, withdrew a five-pound note and slipped it to the man.

In return, a slight bow and the man disappeared as quickly as he had come.

‘What entitles you to such luxury?’ Wendy asked.

‘It’s my fifteen minutes of fame, and if I play it right, a lot longer.’

‘And it’s that important?’

‘We grew up poor, not dirt poor, food on the table, a stable home, but back then, plain Freda Sidebottom, a gangly child with braces on her teeth, knock knees and a speech impediment. This is what I wanted; I always have. I’ll do anything to keep it.’

‘Including screwing whoever, even murder?’ Wendy asked.

Larry leant over, helped himself to a sandwich. ‘No cucumber? I thought it was compulsory in the best hotels.’ He was concerned that Wendy was allowing her angst to intrude on her professional duty. He looked over at his sergeant and lowered his head slightly, hoping that she got the message to lower the tone and use subtlety, not the bull in the china shop approach.

‘Tell us, Maddox,’ Larry continued, helping himself to another sandwich. Whatever it was in the last one, it was tasty, and he was hungry. ‘In your own time, about you and Angus, and how come we find you here in the lap of luxury, a man in your bed?’

‘My career was stalling before Angus’s accident; there are always younger, skinnier, prettier girls coming through all the time. I’d been one of them once, but I was on the way out. It had been great, travelling the world, the fashion houses, the expensive clothes, parties, and I had a few more years left, but I wasn’t getting paid as much, and I knew that one day the phone would stop ringing. Angus’s death, I had to seize the opportunity.’

‘Lines of cocaine, a perk?’ Wendy asked as she grabbed the last sandwich.

‘I wasn’t addicted. My mum is teetotal; my father would have a couple of pints on a Friday night in the pub on the way home. I didn’t even smoke until I was seventeen, and then only to look cool, to fit in with the gang.’

‘Gang?’ Larry said.

‘Not the type of gang you’re thinking of. Just a group from school, hitting puberty, getting through it, experimenting.’

‘Sex?’

‘I wasn’t any worse than the other girls. It was cigarettes I didn’t like. I tried marijuana once, thought it was okay, take it or leave it. Anyway, the gangly girl’s filling out, the teeth are straight, no braces by then, and I’m working in a takeaway joint of a night time, at college during the day, studying economics. I had never given my looks a thought, although I could see that men were often giving me the eye.’

‘What age were you?’

‘I was close to nineteen.’

‘Still a virgin?’

‘If you call a fumble in the dark, sex, then no. But only once or twice, no one in particular. Just feeling our way, as I said before.’

‘The fast-food joint?’ Larry said.

‘I’m at the counter. It was a quiet night, not much happening, and there’s this man,