James sat back and folded his arms. “I tell you what I’ll do, Mr Longhurst. I’ll speak to one of the detectives involved in the case and explain the situation to them and see what they have to say. I can assure you none of my former colleagues want to involve anyone who is innocent. So if you are telling the truth you have nothing to fear. You’ve given me the date and location of the incident at the auction. I’ll get back to you as soon as I have some news.”
James left Robin’s shop. He could see the man was clearly upset but he needed to check out the story.
Chapter Forty-Two
When he won the £168 million on Lotto the one indulgence James had allowed himself was to buy a brand new Ferrari 488GTB. The trip down to London had given him a chance to get the car out of the garage. It was the first time he had been out in it for more than three months.
He was on the last stretch of motorway about ten miles from home when his mobile rang. He used the hands-free to answer.
“Hi, James. It’s Eden. You’re not going to believe this but I just received a call from Kevin O’Connor. He wants to talk about what he calls ‘the hotel matter’. When I explained about your involvement he said he remembered you and he wants to meet and have a chat. What do you think? Would you meet him?”
“Don’t see why not. If he’s got something to say, it should be worth listening. Do you want to arrange it and get back to me? I should be back in Trentbridge in around ten minutes.
While you’re on the phone I need you to check something out for me. It regards the antique dealer Robin Longhurst.”
He gave Eden the date and location and the details he had been given by Robin.
“I know a detective sergeant at Chiswick. I’ll have a word with him and check out the details and get back to you later.”
He had been home for just over an hour and the buzzer on the microwave indicated his coq au vin for one was ready when his mobile rang.
“Hi, Eden.”
“Hi, James. I’ve had a productive time. The stabbing Robin Longhurst mentioned. He’s out of the frame on that one. They caught the perp. He’s been inside for the past two years serving a life sentence. They found CCTV.
From what he told me, it shows the stabbing and the killer running off. It also shows Longhurst trying to help the victim as he described. From what they told me, on the quiet it looks like it was a cock-up on their part. Apparently, when they found the guy responsibly someone tried to get in touch with Mr Longhurst to let him know but it appears he was on holiday at the time and then nobody got back to him.
So it seems he was never informed he was no longer a suspect in the case. He said from what he recalls they got in touch with Winston-Moore who said he would tell his friend about it. I assume he was referring to Robin Longhurst. I’ve just spoken with Mr Longhurst and told him. He said Winston-Moore had never passed on the message but then why would he if he was getting paid every month.
Also, I’ve spoken to Kevin O’Connor. If you’re free he’ll meet you in the bar of the Albion. He said he would be there until ten tonight if you can make it.”
“Not a problem. I’m just about to eat and then I’d planned to do some paperwork but that can wait. Tell him I’ll be there in an hour or so. No indication of what he wants to talk about?”
“You know him. I don’t think you’d get him to talk unless he really wanted to.”
“I’ll let you know what he has to say.”
An hour and a half later James walked into the Albion hotel and through to the bar. It looked quieter than the last few days. All the curiosity seekers interested in the murder had disappeared. He noticed Kevin O’Connor.
“Hello, Kevin. Long-time no see. How’s Sadie?”
“Hello, Mr Sheldon. She’s good. You certainly look better than the last time I saw you. You were sitting in a doorway on Sidney Street begging for loose change. Then I heard your luck changed.”
“I wouldn’t call it luck. I’d gladly return every penny for a few days of having my family back.”
“You know me, Mr Sheldon. Not much upsets me but if anyone ever caused harm to my family I’d hunt them down to the ends of the earth. So I can understand where you’re coming from. Family is everything.”
After Kevin came back with the drinks, the two men walked over to the table in the corner that had just been vacated by three ladies who looked like they were heading off on a stag night.
“I know you’re not the filth anymore and I have respect for Mr Gold. He’s firm but fair. So I want to tell the pair of you something. You can believe me or not but it’s the god’s honest truth.”
“I’m listening, Kevin.”
“I have your word this is all off the record?”
“Yes, Kevin. I’m not wired or recording this and I’m no longer a police officer so anything you say is off the record.”
“Okay. I’ll admit I was in the Greek restaurant and overheard the art dealer boasting about the painting he conned out of the old dear and I’ll admit I thought about, shall we say, relieving him of it. But on the night I’d planned to nab it something went
