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

The doors were locked. Maybe not such a surprise, in the twenty-first century. So many schools and churches were no longer operating an open door policy, with constant worries over theft and security. On the wire reinforced glass window within the double doors was a handwritten note.

Will all visitors please ring the bell and wait.

Walter rang the bell, and waited.

A couple of minutes later a frumpy middle-aged woman came to the door. She half smiled, opened up and said, ‘Can I help you?’

Karen flashed ID and did the intros.

‘We just need a quick word with Iain Donaldson, nothing important, just routine.’

‘You’ve picked a good time, he’s on his lunch, I’ll show you through.’

They went along a long corridor, turned right, another twenty yards or so, or was it metres these days, thought Walter, and knocked on a door on the left, and opened up without waiting to be invited.

There was just the one person in the office, studying a quality newspaper, whilst munching on a decent looking beef sandwich. He glanced up at the unusual visitors.

‘Iain,’ said Miss Frumpiness. ‘These two people would like a quick word, they are police officers, I have seen their ID.’

‘Police?’ said Iain. Standing up. Slim guy, short dark hair, noted Karen, six feet’ish. ‘Nothing wrong is there?’

‘Well, yes and no,’ said Walter, pulling out a canvas and tubular steel chair, and sitting down, as Karen studied the information on the notice board. ‘It’s about Belinda Cooper.’

‘Bel? What about her?’

‘She’s been murdered.’

‘What!’

‘It’s true, I am afraid. And you knew her well, I believe?’

‘Yes, I did, we were.... for a short while....’

‘Lovers?’ suggested Karen.

Iain nodded and said, ‘Yes, I had hoped that it might have gone on from there.’

‘But she met Gareth Williams and promptly finished with you,’ said Walter. ‘That must have been hard.’

‘Now hold on a minute....’

Karen jumped in. ‘Where were you between midnight and 2am on....’ and she gave the date of death.

‘At home in bed.’

‘And where is home?’

‘I have a new flat in the city,’ and he gave an address and it wasn’t a million miles from Karen’s pad.

‘Can anyone confirm that?’ asked Walter.

‘Thankfully, yes. My new fiancé, I only proposed to her two weeks ago. She was with me.’

‘And your fiancé’s name is....’ said Walter, pen at the ready.

‘Andrea Dennehey.’

‘Thanks for that,’ said Walter. ‘We have it on good authority that Belinda Cooper only ever had five boyfriends.’

‘She was indeed very selective,’ said Donaldson, happy to give himself a backhanded compliment. ‘I can’t believe she’s dead. It’s a big shock.’

Walter gave the guy a moment. ‘You, Gareth, a guy called Ronny Speight, a bloke named Marcus, who apparently turned out to be bi-sexual.’

‘Was he! I didn’t know that.’

‘Nothing to worry about,’ said Karen. ‘So I’m told. Blood tests aplenty. All in the clear.’

‘So who was mister number five?’ asked Walter.

Iain shook his head and said, ‘Search me. I’ve no idea.’

‘Do you know anyone who might have wanted to harm Miss Cooper?’

‘Certainly not. She was a very likeable person, and a popular woman too, I’d still be with her now, but for....’

‘Quite,’ said Walter. ‘Do you know a girl called Ellie Wright?’

‘No. Should I?’

‘No matter. What size shoes do you take?’

‘Ten, why?’

‘Do you drive a car?’ asked Karen.

‘Course I do, who doesn’t?’

‘Model?’

‘New Cayton Cerisa, got a better job here, thought I’d get a better car. Andrea loves it.’

‘Did you kill Belinda Cooper?’ asked Karen.

‘Course not! What do you take me for?’

‘I’d rather you didn’t leave town,’ said Walter.

‘I have no intention of leaving town.’

‘That’s good. Thank you for your help.’

THEY RETREATED TO THE door and down the corridors and through the main doors and out into the dank November air, and back to the car.

Sitting quiet for a moment, Karen said, ‘That’s interesting.’

‘What is?’

‘I know Andrea Dennehey.’

‘Do you? How?’

‘I charged her when you were away on that canal boat holiday.’

‘I didn’t think I’d heard the name before. Charged her with what?’

‘That’s the interesting thing, Guv.’

‘Go on.’

‘Affray, and GBH.’

Twenty-Six

Earlier that morning DCs Darren Gibson and Hector Browne paid another visit to Michael Flanagan’s modern townhouse in Christleton. They half expected to find him out and away at work, but he was there, and not in the best of moods.

‘Don’t you people ever leave hardworking folk alone?’

‘Just a few more questions, nothing too demanding,’ said Gibbons smiling, hoping to win the guy over.

‘Can we come in?’ added Hector. ‘You don’t want the whole world to know your business.’

Flanagan scowled and stood to one side and the detectives went inside.

‘No work today?’ said Gibbons.

‘Everyone is entitled to a day off.’

Gibbons sat down and glanced around.

Hector stood in the lounge doorway, observing.

‘Nice place you have.’

‘Do we have to go into all that again? What exactly do you want?’

‘You’re tagged?’ said Gibbons.

‘I am,’ and he lifted his trouser bottoms a tad, revealing the technology.

‘We don’t think it’s working,’ said Hector.

‘What gave you that idea?’

‘Just a theory that Hector has.’

‘Well, it’s news to me, no one has said anything.’

Hector wandered into the small kitchen, took a look around.

‘Do you have a computer?’ asked Gibbons.

‘Yeah, course I do, who doesn’t?’

‘And I’ll bet you’re something of a whiz on it?’

Flanagan grinned, happy to accept a compliment.

‘I guess. I know a bit, that’s for sure,’ and he glanced over his shoulder and saw that Hector was missing. ‘What’s he doing in there?’

‘Just getting a glass of water, I should think. He suffers from dry throat syndrome. Have you cracked the coding on the tag?’

‘What?’

Hector returned and said, ‘You heard him, Michael. We think you are one clever bastard when it comes to computers, and you’ve cracked the coding on the tag, enabling you to take it off without central control realising it.’

‘I wish.’

‘Did you go out last night?’ asked Gibbons.

‘Course not, you can check.’

‘Ah, but can we though?’ said Hector. ‘That’s the whole point.’

‘Not sure I understand what you are getting at.’

‘Did you go out on the night of....’ said Gibbons, adding the date of the Belinda Cooper murder.

‘Ah! I see. I get