“The boys and me, we might have been in the Five Bells. We had some work over that way during the day but when we left everyone was in the pub and the car park is on the side of the pub. How could anyone in there have seen us?”
Just then, Sadie brought over the drinks and placed them in front of the two detectives and a cup of tea in front of Kevin. He reached over and picked up the sugar bowl and poured three teaspoons into his cup and stirred it.
“Thank you, Sadie,” said Eden.
“Thank you, Mrs O’Connor,” said Tracy.
“Glad you asked. There was a man in the car park. He had just made a call on his mobile and was about to get out of his car when he witnessed what happened. He’s given us a clear description of the three men.”
“Has he now. Well, it wasn’t us. It must have been three other people who look like us.”
“Yes. We considered that. But we’ve taken statements from people who were drinking in the pub. Not the landlord. He’s had an instant bout of memory loss it appears. But people drinking with the schoolteacher have come forward.”
Eden had made the remarks about the landlord because he knew if he had told Kevin it wouldn’t be long before the man got a visit that could result in him ending up in the same hospital as Barry Turner. Best to keep him out of it. His statement had been off the record anyway.
“As I said. It wasn’t us. Do I need to call my lawyer?”
“I haven’t finished yet, Kevin. There are other matters. Next we come to the subject of some fake twenty-pound notes that three people matching the description of you and the boys used to pay for a meal at the Greek Taverna. This occurred on the same night. And the three men entered the restaurant approximately thirty minutes after the previous incident. And according to our calculations the journey time from the pub to the restaurant is about twenty-five minutes and then a couple of minutes’ walking time to the restaurant from the nearest car park.”
“Blimey. These lookalikes of ours certainly get around. I hope you catch them.”
“Very funny, Kevin. But I haven’t finished.”
“Now we come to another serious matter. In the restaurant and seated close to the three men who passed the fake twenty-pound notes were two other gentlemen. One in his fifties and one in his twenties. It appears the older man was boasting to the young man about a valuable painting he had recently purchased for a fraction of its true value. The younger of the two men was himself a waiter and realised from his experience that their conversation was of great interest to the older man of the three. Then lo and behold, the next night the older man is found stabbed to death and the highly valuable painting has disappeared. Our experts say it is worth around a quarter of a million. On the black market I expect you’d get, what, sixty grand for it?”
“The black market. What would I know about such a thing, Mr Gold?”
“What would you know? Rumour has it your ancestors invented it.”
“Very droll. Have you considered a career change? You could do well as a comedian when you lose your job as a detective.”
“Come on, Kevin. All these cases are linked to you, Lennox and Tyson. You know it and I know it. These events started on the same day, and we know you were at the centre.”
“By the sound of it, last Wednesday wasn’t my lucky day. I’m glad I didn’t buy a lottery ticket. I’d have been wasting my money. Look, Mr Gold. You might think you know. But proving it is something different. If you had hard evidence against me I’d be at the station now.”
“Oh you would be but I’ve asked the custody sergeant to decorate the cell and put up balloons before we bring you in. And the canteen says it’ll take a little bit of time to chill the champagne we’ll be drinking when we charge you.”
Eden could see Sadie hovering. He picked up his empty cup and held it towards her. “Thank you, Sadie. That was a lovely cuppa as usual.”
Tracy passed her cup as well, mouthing “thank you” as she did. Sadie walked over to the sink and thoroughly washed both cups, dried them and put them in the cupboard. The entire kitchen was spick and span again. Apart from Kevin’s cup which he had yet to finish.
“Look, Kevin. You have a beautiful place here. All neat and tidy. I wouldn’t want to send in the PC plod gang. I could imagine Sadie would be in tears after they had been over the place with their size eleven boots.”
“Ain’t gonna happen, Mr Gold. My lawyer would have a field day. With the compensation I’d get from you we could do the place up and afford an extension. Now, if there’s nothing else?”
“That’s all for now Kevin. But I’ll be back.”
“That’s good, Mr Gold. You sound like Arnold Schwarzerwatzit. Sadie, show our guests out.”
“Bye, Kevin. Thanks again for the tea, Sadie.”
Eden and Tracy stood by their car.
“That was fun,” said Tracy.
“Past experience has taught me to keep it light hearted with people like Kevin. Go in all hard or high and mighty and you get nowhere. Not that we got a lot out of him but if we leave it a day or two and come back I find he usually opens up a little. With him it’s a game of cat and mouse. He may look rough but his brain is as sharp as a razor and as cunning as a fox. Never underestimate him – or Sadie. She’s just as intelligent, even if she
