‘You’re a hard woman,’ Wendy said. They were both seated in the kitchen. Wendy knew that Shirley O’Rourke cheated on her taxes, paid her staff the minimum, almost certainly was involved in insurance fraud, theft if she could get away with it. However, the woman had a disarming honesty about her. For the first time, Wendy found her company amenable, and as for the lazy husband, both women had something in common.
‘I’m not hard. I was involved in a cut-throat business. There’s always someone trying to undercut you.’
Chapter 13
A man notoriously difficult to get hold of, Phillip Loeb made himself available when he was informed that a Detective Chief Inspector Isaac Cook from Homicide was outside his office.
‘Come in, Inspector,’ Loeb said, his hand extended. ‘What can I do for you?’
It was not often that Isaac left the confines of London, but Loeb ran his shopping empire from Brighton, a seaside resort to the south of London. The man, not unknown to Isaac, not unknown to the majority of the population, had built up a chain of electrical goods stores throughout the country, thirty-five in total. Isaac had checked him out on the internet. How he had arrived in the country, a penniless refugee, a child, seventy years previously, and with time and an education, he had built up an impressive portfolio of real estate and stores. He was also known to be semi-reclusive, and not willing to venture far from his home if it could be avoided.
‘We’re investigating the murder of three persons.’
‘Is it anything to do with me?’
‘Indirectly.’
‘You’d better explain. Do I need my lawyer for this?’
‘I don’t think so. You’re not implicated, other than through one of your employees.’
Both of the men were seated in comfortable leather chairs in Loeb’s office, a view out towards the sea and the pier. Out on the water, someone was windsurfing. Loeb’s personal assistant brought in a pot of tea with two cups and some biscuits. The PA gave Isaac a smile as she left, which he returned. He had been too long on his own, and the woman was attractive. He wanted to talk to her further, but first he had to deal with the reason he had driven down to Brighton.
‘You are aware of the murder of Jeremy Brice’s daughter, Amelia?’ Isaac said.
‘Brice, I’ve met the man, and yes, I’m aware. Tragic.’
‘Another woman was murdered at the same time.’
‘A cleaner at the house.’
‘Yes, that’s correct. You are more aware than most people of the facts.’
‘I like to keep in touch with current affairs. How does this affect me?’
‘The other woman, Christine Devon. She came from Trinidad, and she was doing it tough: three children, one running with a gang, the other two hardworking and honest.’
‘No money?’
‘Not a lot.’
‘You’ve still not explained what this has to do with me.’
‘The woman has been murdered; her youngest son has subsequently died.’
‘How?’
‘He was killed by one of the gangs in the area.’
‘And he was a gang member?’
‘He was, but he cheated them. He was only fifteen.’
‘The other children?’
‘The eldest son, Billy, is nineteen. The daughter, Charisa, is eighteen. Both of them are honest. Billy works for you, and Charisa, the more educated, is still in college.’
‘What do you want from me?’
‘The youngest son, Samuel, stole money from his gang, or maybe it’s a made-up story. The truth is not important. Billy is being threatened to reimburse the stolen money. He’s already been severely beaten, and they’ve threatened to take his sister as payment in lieu.’
‘As a hostage, or something worse?’
‘Something worse. These are dangerous men.’
‘I’ve experienced dangerous men, but that was a long time ago.’
‘These men will take the young woman, no doubt abuse her.’
‘And you want me to make up the money owing?’
‘That wasn’t my reason for coming to see you.’
‘What do you want then?’
‘Billy, he works in your store in Bayswater; he has been attempting to get the money they want. Please remember that Billy is not a thief, and he is a man with a good moral base.’
‘Has he been stealing from me?’
‘Yes.’
‘You’re a police officer, why are you concerned about him?’
‘I don’t want another murder.’
‘It’s more than that.’
‘I grew up near to where they lived. I know the lure of the gangs. Some of my friends became involved, some of them still are, and some are dead. I just don’t want Billy Devon to end up the same way, and Charisa, the daughter, needs to be protected.’
‘You’ve taken a risk coming here today, haven’t you? I could have him charged with theft.’
‘I checked on the internet. You’re known for your charitable causes. I believed that I was on safe ground with you.’
‘You are. What do you want from me?’
‘Billy’s manager will soon find out about the thefts. He needs to be pulled out of the store. Charisa needs protection.’
‘And the money that’s been stolen?’
‘It’s about eight thousand pounds,’ Isaac said.
‘And how much more does he need to pay off this gang?’
‘Twenty-six thousand pounds and accumulating, but I’m not suggesting that it’s paid. Once they know they can get that much money, they’ll increase the pressure on Billy Devon to give more.’
‘I came across these types of people when I first went into business in this country.’
‘I’m not advocating violence,’ Isaac said.
‘Nor am I, not at this time.’
‘In the past?’
‘It was before your time.’
Phillip Loeb called in his personal assistant. ‘Ann, DCI Cook will give you some details and a plan of action. You are to act on them immediately, is that understood?’
‘Yes, Mr Loeb.’
‘Inspector, you were right in coming here today. Courageous even.’
‘I don’t think
