The Inspector Walter Darriteau Murder Mysteries - Books 1-4 by David Carter (best finance books of all time .txt) 📕

riche Russians who smiled down at him, but couldn’t speak or understand a word of English.

Ten minutes later Melanie came out of the hairdressers and stood before him and said, ‘Well, what do you think?’

Luke’s eyes widened and he jumped up and grabbed her and kissed her lips and blonde hair and whispered, ‘You look fantastic. Come on!’ and he grabbed her hand and tugged her back toward the hotel.

‘I thought we were going for a trip on the lagoon.’

‘Bugger the lagoon!’

‘Luke!’ she protested, ‘I was looking forward to that.’

‘I have something far more important that you can look forward to, come on!’ and he dragged her home toward their suite, and that amazing big bed.

Fourteen

Walter stood up and called across the room, ‘Listen up everyone!’ The hum of conversation died away and they all turned and stared at Darriteau. ‘Better! Time to focus. Jeffrey Player, murdered, shot dead in the Ship pub, Friday night.’ Walter nodded to Karen who was standing by the info board. She nodded back and smiled at the gang and pointed at the smiling picture of Jeff Player, the photograph supplied that morning by his sniffling mother.

Walter began again. ‘The attempted murder of Neil Swaythling between the lockups,’ Karen pointed to Neil’s pic. ‘We now believe the killing of Player was a mistake, an accident. We think the killer was gunning for Neil. The unfortunate Player just happened to get in the way.’

No one disagreed with that.

‘Neil is housed in a safe place,’ Walter’s deep and lugubrious voice filled the room. He had managed to keep the young Swaythling’s whereabouts secret to only three people, himself, Karen, and the boss, Mrs West. He’d done that because he was still worried there could be a mole in the house, some idiot prepared to sell info to the press, or anyone else who waved a bunch of banknotes. It had happened before and Walter wasn’t taking any risks. ‘He’ll remain out of sight until the killer has been apprehended. As you know, the murderer believes his last strike was successful, that’s what the press believes too, so let’s keep it that way. Anyone found releasing anything different will be disciplined, and if I have my way, fired,’ and he glanced at Mrs West, as if seeking support. Most of those present did so too. She sensed her moment.

‘Make no mistake about it,’ she said. ‘Anyone releasing information on this sensitive matter could be endangering Neil Swaythling’s life, in the event of Neil being murdered, anyone doing so could be charged as an accessory to murder.’

In her strident and unattractive voice she’d made her point.

Walter bobbed his head and said, ‘Thank you, ma’am.’

Mrs West stared out at her charges. She found it hard to imagine that any one of them had sold actual intelligence for cash, but Walter believed it, and that was enough for her to take it seriously. Walter was talking again.

‘This is an accurate picture of the killer.’

Karen pointed at the pic and smiled at her audience much like a porter might at an art auction.

‘Neil Swaythling saw the killer up close and personal and he says this is an accurate likeness, so we know it to be true. We believe the killer is local, Neil said his accent was definitely local, so he shouldn’t be that hard to find.’

‘Maybe he’s fled the area,’ said Hector Browne.

Detective Constable Hector Browne was the newcomer on the team. He had been fast-tracked from university and made no secret of the fact that he was aiming for big things in crime detection. He was six feet tall, thin as a rake; boasted wavy dark reddish hair, neatly side parted, and wore heavy spectacles that he said he didn’t really need. Everyone was wary of Hector Browne; but they always were with strangers.

Walter bobbed his head and pressed on.

‘Yes, that’s possible, though we have been watching ports and airports, but even if he has, it’s maybe temporary. If he’s local, it’s likely he’ll soon be back. There are three big questions here. One, why was he trying to kill Neil Swaythling, what is the motive? Two, who is he, and three, where is he now?’ Walter motioned across at Karen and she took up the story.

‘Neil Swaythling’s father is Gerry Swaythling, the owner of Swaythling Construction. For those of you that don’t know, Swaythling Construction is a very successful builder of super-luxury homes. We are talking of dealing with the mega rich here. Some years ago Swaythling had a partner called Munro Ford, but they fell out big time and Munro was ruined. I am expecting to trace his address later today and when we do we shall pay him a visit.’

‘So what are you saying?’ interrupted Hector. ‘That Munro is trying to kill the son to get back at the father?’

‘Could be,’ said Karen. ‘We don’t yet have anything better.’

‘So this killer guy is a hired gun doing it for money?’

‘That’s possible,’ said Walter.

‘Geez, it sounds more like Chicago than Chester,’ said Hector. ‘Are you sure you guys are not getting carried away?’

Walter glared at Hector, as did everyone else. Didn’t appreciate his bumptious tone. Perhaps he needed bringing down a peg or two, and quickly.

‘If you don’t think it’s possible, wonderboy,’ muttered Gibbons, ‘have you got anything better?’

‘Could be any number of things,’ said Hector, cockily, acutely aware he was basking in the not altogether unwanted spotlight.

‘Such as?’ said Karen.

‘Maybe Neil stole the killer’s girlfriend. Neil’s a handsome guy, maybe the killer got annoyed and tried to kill him.’

‘So why did he shoot the wrong man?’ asked Walter.

‘Ah yes, hadn’t thought of that.’

‘Geez,’ said Gibbons. ‘We are wasting our time here, Guv.’

Walter nodded at the crowd and began again, as Hector temporarily faded into the background.

‘Ten, maybe fifteen years ago, when the bust up at Swaythling occurred, the business almost went bankrupt. They needed a big loan to climb out of the black hole. There was a recession on at the time...’

‘When isn’t there?’ muttered