Web of Lies by Sally Rigby (best book club books of all time .txt) 📕

risky. And I would’ve been proved right because now he’s gone, along with his business and our hundred thousand pounds. What if he’d taken our entire savings, where would that have left us? We’re lucky to have the business and enough to cover our losses.’

Seb stiffened beside Birdie. She was sure Tony had given Witherspoon two hundred grand, and judging by Seb’s reaction she was right.

‘What else could I do, Pauline, he was my oldest friend?’

‘A fair-weather friend, if you ask me. He rarely came to see you and when we went out with him and his wife, it was all him him him. He wasn’t interested in anything you were doing. Do you remember the time we had a problem with some shares we bought? We went to him and he said he couldn’t help us, even though he had all the right contacts. Wouldn’t help, more like.’

‘He had his reasons.’

‘Hmmph.’ She folded her arms tightly across her chest.

‘He came to me and I was in the position of being able to help, but there’s no point in rehashing it now. It’s over.’ He turned from his wife to address Seb. ‘If you’ve come across a case of blackmail why are you still investigating? Shouldn’t you be going to the police?’

‘Actually, I am the police,’ Birdie said.

His eyes widened. ‘So, now it’s a police matter. Does that mean you definitely think it wasn’t suicide?’ he asked her.

‘That’s not what I said. I’m here to help Seb with the investigation and now we’ve uncovered one case of blackmail we need to find out if it was a one-off or something Donald Witherspoon regularly engaged in, before we make any decisions regarding the verdict,’ Birdie said.

‘I can’t help you …’ He started coughing. ‘Could you get me a glass of water, Pauline? I’ve got a tickle.’ He continued coughing, unable to talk.

‘I’ll be back in a minute,’ she said, jumping up from the sofa and hurrying out of the door.

Once she’d left the room, his coughing subsided. ‘I don’t want you talking about these things in front of my wife, she’s upset enough as it is about the money we’ve lost. Not to mention, as I’m sure you’ve worked out, she doesn’t know how much I lent Donald.’

‘I sense there’s something else you’d like to tell me,’ Seb said, leaning forward in his chair.

Was he being blackmailed, too?

‘There is, but not here. Meet me later at the Fox and Hounds in Great Bowden. Come alone, I don’t want the police involved.’

‘I’m not here in my capacity as an officer, as I’ve already told you,’ Birdie said.

‘I don’t care. If you want to know more, make it just you,’ he said, staring directly at Seb.

‘That’s fine,’ Seb said, nodding. ‘What time shall we meet?’

Yates looked at his watch. ‘Give me an hour. I’ll make up an excuse to go out. But—’ He clamped his mouth shut as there were footsteps on the floor outside the room.

‘Here’s your water,’ Pauline said, walking in.

‘Thanks,’ he said, taking a sip from the glass she’d handed him.

‘We’ll be going,’ Seb said, standing.

Birdie did the same.

‘I’m sorry we can’t help you further,’ Tony said. ‘Donald was a good friend, and I helped him out because he was desperate. I’m sorry to learn about the blackmail, but there was nothing like that between us.’

‘Thank you for your time and assistance, we appreciate it,’ Seb said.

‘I’ll see you out,’ Pauline said.

They followed her to the door and left.

‘Very interesting,’ Birdie said once they were back in the car and driving down the road. ‘I bet he was being blackmailed and his wife doesn’t know. And, by the way, he was scared of her. It was written in his eyes.’

‘That makes two of them,’ Seb said.

Birdie frowned. ‘Two of who?’

‘Edgar and Tony are both wary of their wives.’

‘Do you think it’s connected? Did Donald blackmail them because he saw them both as soft targets?’

‘Maybe. I’ll know more once I’ve met with Tony.’

‘I’m not happy with you going alone. What if he’s the one who arranged for you to be attacked and knowing I won’t be with you he sends someone along to finish you off?’ She shuddered at the thought.

‘That makes no sense, because not only does he know that you’re aware of the meeting, but he knows your occupation. I don’t believe it’s going to be a dangerous situation. I’ll be perfectly safe.’

‘Says the man with a smashed in face. Do you think he could’ve sent those guys to beat you up? Because I do.’

He gave a sigh. ‘I don’t know. Anything is possible, but the fact that he wants to meet in a pub fairly close to where he lives doesn’t seem like someone wanting to silence me. Plus, if he’d have wanted to do that, he’d need to silence you as well, yet he didn’t want you there. I genuinely don’t believe he’s out to get me.’

‘Even so, it would be good to have me close by. What if I stay in the car and wait for you outside? If you’re not out by a certain time, or you don’t send a text letting me know you’re okay, I’ll come in looking for you.’

‘I’m perfectly capable of going to meet him alone. I’m feeling a lot better.’

‘That’s not what I mean. This is just a precaution. Anyway, how can you go on your own if you can’t yet drive?’

‘I’m sure driving won’t be an issue now. We’ll go back to Heygate Street, so you can collect your car, and then I’ll drive to Great Bowden to meet Tony.’

‘Only if you’re a hundred per cent sure because I really don’t mind waiting in the car while you meet him.’ It was his decision, but she really wished he’d change his mind.

‘Don’t you have work to do?’

‘Yes. I suppose I should go in, or Sarge will start breathing down my neck again. Although as far as he’s concerned, I’m still investigating the mugging. Which reminds me, I still haven’t