anything?'
'We'll give it a try but I wouldn't think so, not unless they've been convicted in the last ten years.' She spoke into the phone again, giving both names, then hung up. 'He'll call back in a couple of minutes with a yea or a nay.' She pondered for a moment. 'We have a sister company of inquiry agents who can find out anything you want to know-bank account details, family details, employment and car history, even medical and social service records-but, as most of that information's privileged, the costs are higher, to cover the company's risk. I know for a fact that Mr. Trevelyan can't afford it, but if either of you can, it might be worth a try.'
'How much?' asked George.
'Upward of five hundred pounds.'
George pulled a face. 'Is it ethical?'
Jonathan exchanged another amused glance with Sasha. 'Absolutely not,' he said. 'I should think it breaches every privacy law that's ever been written ... but
'What about your debts?'
He bared his teeth at her. 'Don't keep reminding me.'
'
She broke off as the mobile rang and Sasha put it to her ear. 'Yup,' she said, 'go ahead.' She wrote fast in shorthand across her pad. 'Got that. What about Michael Hopkinson? OK ... thanks.' She laid the phone on the table. 'Nothing on Hopkinson, but three years ago the Metropolitan Police was ordered to pay Nicholas Hurst two hundred thousand in compensation for brain damage, wrongful arrest, wrongful imprisonment and loss of earnings. At the time of his injuries he was managing a William Hill betting shop in the East End. He was in and out of hospital for three years and returned to Bournemouth in 2001 when the compensation came through. Last known address-' she raised her head-'the Crown and Feathers, Friar Road, Highdown.'
'Good lord!' exclaimed George. 'How very incestuous it all is. Do you realize that if Mike was Micky Hopkinson, then she's been married to all three of them at one time or another? Why aren't the men jealous of each other?'
'Because they have no more feelings for Louise than they do for each other,' said Jonathan.
'There used to be a law that said wives couldn't testify against their husbands,' put in Sasha. 'I don't know when it was repealed, but perhaps they think it still applies.'
Jonathan shook his head. 'They're a tribe,' he said. 'Marriage is just a device to keep Louise within the fold.' He paused. 'The interesting question is why she goes along with it ... unless she has more to gain than they have.'
'Like what?'
'Security?' he suggested. 'It's a primary tribal instinct.'
From: Sasha Spencer [[email protected]]
Sent: Wed. 5/21/03 1002
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: Report on Roy Trent, Crown and Feathers, Friar Road, Highdown
Dear George and Jonathan
Re: the report from Bentham Inquiry Agents
Bentham's agent has given me a verbal account of his investigation into Roy Trent. Copies of the full report will be posted on to you as soon as they're ready, but in the meantime the following is a summary of his findings:
1. Roy Trent has ownership of the pub until his death. His first wife, Robyn Hapgood, was the daughter of the previous owner. She OD'd on heroin in 1988, leaving the property to Trent for his lifetime, and after that to their son, Peter (12 years old at the time of her death). The property's heavily mortgaged-possibly to pay inheritance tax at the time of Robyn's father's death (1984)-but Trent keeps up the repayments. The debts will be cleared in 2009.
2. Peter Hapgood, now aged 28, has a criminal record and a history of drug abuse. He was first sentenced in 1994 and is currently in the second year of a 5-year term for aggravated burglary.
3. Trent has received numerous offers on the pub and has rejected them all. It is not clear why as he has
4. He married Louise Burton a.k.a. Daisy Burton a.k.a. Priscilla Hopkinson in 1992.
5. Michael Hopkinson OD'd in 1986 after several terms in prison. He and Louise married in 1974 (she was 17). She became chronically drug-addicted (heroin/crack cocaine) and maintained her own and her husband's addictions through prostitution.
6. Following their marriage, Trent made some attempts to wean her off drugs (e.g. obtained a placement in a rehab center where she lasted 6 weeks before relapsing). One source, not corroborated, says she had an affair with Peter while he was under his father's roof. The same source suggests it was Louise who got the boy (a) addicted and (b) into crime to supply them both.
7. Trent offered Nicholas 'Colley' Fletcher Hurst free accommodation in 2000 and applied for a 'quickie' divorce which came through in June 2001.
8. Louise began an affair with Nicholas while he was at the Crown and Feathers and they moved into rented accommodation on Sandbanks in August 2001. Hurst's compensation came through in October 2001 and he and Louise married in November 2001. Louise has been 'clean' since she hooked up with Hurst.
9. Louise continues to be a regular visitor to the pub.
10. Trent is well regarded by the local community (cf. George's initial impressions). The consensus view is that he has not jumped on the 'leisure bandwagon' but continues to provide a service for the poor of Highdown who can't afford expensive prices. He has a reputation for being anti-drugs.
