liked the man, and he didn’t intend to be hypocritical about it now, but the tragedy and despair of the act pierced his dislike to some extent. Nobody should be reduced to that. “Were you putting pressure on him, Barry?”
“What do you mean?”
“I think you know what I mean. Putting pressure on him to become your man, to do you the odd favor or two, make sure we looked the other way when you set up your little scams in North Yorkshire.”
“Why would I want to do that?”
“You tell me.”
“I wouldn’t.”
“But that’s what your meeting was about, wasn’t it? That’s why he walked out before you really got started, isn’t it? What were you using, Barry? Was it Emily? Do you have photographs? Did you threaten him that you could take her back anytime you wanted?”
Clough sighed and rolled his eyes at Gallagher.
“I think you’ve already exhausted this line of questioning,” Gallagher said. “As you are well aware, my client could have had nothing to do with Mr. Riddle’s unfortunate death, even if it hadn’t been suicide. He has the best of all alibis: he was in your cells.”
“Your client might have been one of the chief factors that drove the chief constable over the edge.”
“You can’t prove that,” said Gallagher. “And even if you could, it hardly constitutes an indictable offense. Stick to the facts, Chief Inspector. Move on.”
Banks was loath to give up and move on, but Gallagher was probably right. It would take a hell of a lot more than he had to persuade the CPS to even look at the possibility of prosecuting someone for complicity in the suicide of another. If Banks remembered his criminal law correctly, complicity could mean aiding, abetting, counseling or procuring another’s suicide, and there was no evidence that Clough, even though he might have been trying to blackmail Riddle, had done any of those things. He was simply the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Banks moved on. “Remember we were talking yesterday about Charlie Courage and Andrew Handley?”
“Vaguely.”
“That both were killed by shotgun blasts, and both were found in rural areas some distance from their homes.”
“I believe I asked what that had to do with me at the time, and now I’m asking again.”
“Just this,” said Banks, pausing and opening the file folder he had brought in with him. “While you’ve been enjoying our hospitality downstairs, we’ve been very busy indeed, and our forensics men have been able to match the tire tracks at the two scenes.”
“I’m impressed,” said Clough, raising an eyebrow. “The wonders of modern science.”
“There’s even better to come. On further investigation, they were able to match the tracks found at the scene of the two murders to a cream Citroen owned by a Mr. Jamie Gilbert. One of your employees, yes?”
“Jamie? You already know that.”
“And it also turns out that one of Charlie Courage’s neighbors recognized the photograph of Jamie Gilbert our officer showed her. Jamie was
“They must be mistaken.”
“Who?”
“Your scientists. This witness.”
Banks shook his head. “Afraid not. Not only do the tires match, but we were also able to find hair samples and minute traces of blood we believe belong to either Charlie Courage or Andrew Handley in the car. Jamie was careless. He didn’t clean it out thoroughly enough. The samples are being checked for DNA now.”
“I don’t know what to say,” said Clough. “I’m shocked. Stunned, even. And I thought I knew Jamie.”
“Evidently not. Anyway, Mr. Gilbert is in custody back in London at the moment. He’ll no doubt be telling the interviewing officers down there exactly what happened.”
“Jamie won’t…”
“Jamie won’t
Clough smiled. “I was just about to say that Jamie won’t be saying anything. You don’t know him as well as I do. He’s not the type.”
“But you said just now that you only
“An alleged murderer,” Simon Gallagher chipped in.
“My apologies,” Banks went on. “An alleged murderer.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Do you have any idea
“None at all.”
“Did he even know Charlie Courage?”
“I don’t know who he hangs about with in his spare time.”
“But he works for you.”
“
“He worked for you at the time of the murders. He was your chief enforcer. And he
“Jamie was my administrative assistant. I already told you that.”
“What did he administer for you? Punishment?”
“He handled my business affairs.”
“Just exactly what might those be?”
“For crying out loud!” Clough looked at Gallagher. “Can’t you get him to stop this? It’s like an old LP with the bloody needle stuck.”
“Legitimate questions, Barry. Legitimate questions.”
Clough glared at Gallagher, who turned to Banks. “Get to the point quickly, Chief Inspector. We’re all running out of time and patience here.”
“Not me,” said Banks. “Barry, is it true you were fired as a roadie for bootlegging the band’s live performances?”
Clough faltered, clearly not expecting the question. “What the hell has that got to do with anything?”
“Just answer my question, please.”
“It was years ago. There were no charges or anything.”
“But you do have a history in bootlegging?”
“It was a mistake.”
“Well, pirating is big business these days. Movies, computer software, games. Big business. Maybe not as big here as it is in the Far East or eastern Europe, but big enough to provide maximum profits for minimum risks. Just the kind of business venture that interests you, isn’t it, Barry?”
“Chief Inspector!”
“Sorry, Mr. Gallagher. Slip of the tongue.” Banks could see Kevin Templeton trying to stifle his grin. “You’ve already admitted you know Gregory Manners, haven’t you?” Banks pressed on.
“I’ve admitted no such thing.”
“Mr. Manners has a conviction for smuggling. Customs and Excise had their eyes on him for a while.”
“What’s that got to do with me?”
“They had their eyes on you, too.”
“Well, if they’d seen anything they’d have arrested me, wouldn’t they?”
“You’re obviously a very careful man. It’s odd, though, isn’t it?”
“What is?”
“So many of your friends and employees being criminals. Jamie Gilbert. Andrew Handley. Gregory Manners. Charlie Courage.”
“I told you, I’ve never heard of a Gregory Manners or a Charlie Courage.”
“Of course not. My mistake. The others, though.”
