‘Why’s that?’ Larry said.
‘I’ll tell you,’ Fred said. ‘The man doesn’t frighten me, not any more. And besides, what can he do? I’m getting old, so is my wife. The man might be a vicious gangster, but I’ve known him all my life.’
‘How do you know him?’
‘He’s my cousin, younger than me by a few years.’
‘It won’t stop him,’ the barman said.
‘Family is all-important to him. We’re related on our mothers’ side. As children, we had time for each other, played in the street sometimes, went to the cinema together.’
‘What’s your background, Fred?’ Larry asked.
‘The same as Jacob’s. Kept my nose clean, did an honest job for a fair salary. I’m not ambitious, not like my cousin.’
‘Your cousin's name?’
‘I thought we’d dealt with that. Don’t you know the villains around here?’
‘I know the name of one.’
‘Hamish McIntyre, that’s who you want. If Jacob isn’t around, talk to him. Don’t mention my name, that’s all.’
‘I thought you weren’t frightened of him.’
‘He wouldn’t harm me, not seriously. He could put me in hospital for a few days, though. I prefer to keep away from those places.’
‘It’s over to you,’ Larry said, looking at the barman. ‘Fred’s in the firing line. Whatever I learn here will reflect back on him. Now, what was Palmer asking?’
‘He was looking for a woman.’
‘And?’
‘A woman with a butterfly tattooed on her right arm, on the inside near the wrist. Leave me out of this and let me go back to selling drinks. Jacob didn’t want to be involved, neither do I.’
Larry left the pub; his beer remained untouched.
Chapter 31
Wendy found out where Wolfenden lived, a remarkably pleasant house. Even though he had led a quiet life, never rising to any significant seniority in the factory where he had worked, he had obviously been a frugal man: never spending a lot of money, saving it where he could.
‘It doesn’t bode well,’ Isaac said. It was the regular early-morning meeting. As they were integral to the investigation, Jim Greenwood and Wally Vincent were dialled in.
‘So where is Palmer?’ Larry said.
‘What do we have on Hamish McIntyre? Has the man been up to his old tricks?’
‘We’ve had no reports of him leaving his place, and we know that his daughter’s there a lot of the time. Thick as thieves, those two.’
‘An apt term,’ Wendy said.
‘If Palmer had gotten too close, McIntyre would have acted, which appears to be the case,’ Larry said.
I’d agree with you on that,’ Isaac said.’ And Jacob Wolfenden’s missing as well.’
‘Which means the body count is no longer three; it’s five. Does Chief Superintendent Goddard know yet?’
‘He’s been updated. He’s not happy about it, but there’s not much he can do, other than pressuring us to do better.’
‘Better? We’re doing all we can.’
What did the barman say, Larry?’
‘He thought that Wolfenden was keeping a watch on Palmer.’
‘His car has been found but not the man.’
Where is it now?’
‘It’s been impounded,’ Wendy said.
‘The hotel?’
‘The man was helped out of the hotel by two other men. We got that much from the woman on reception, not that she wanted to be involved.’
‘The hotel?’ Bridget said.
‘Palmer could have afforded better.’
‘Let’s assume that Wolfenden followed Palmer out to the hotel.’
‘So why was he following him?’ Wendy said.
‘Keeping your nose clean sometimes means that you’re pushed into a corner,’ Larry said. ‘Wolfenden was not a strong-willed character; honest and decent, but not the sort of person to stand up to anyone. He could have been threatened, not sure how to react.’
‘Badly,’ Wendy said. ‘He would have taken the easier option.’
‘Which means?’
‘If McIntyre pressured him, he’d follow.’
‘Follow who? Palmer or McIntyre.’
‘Do we know how McIntyre found out about Bob Palmer?’
‘I’ve given it some thought,’ Larry said. ‘The barman said that Wolfenden was upset, shaking like a leaf after Palmer had accosted him in the street. After he had calmed down, he made a phone call.’
‘McIntyre?’
‘It’s possible. I ran it past the barman now that he’s willing to talk.’
‘Change of heart?’
‘The man’s not too fussy as to who goes in the pub. Underage drinkers, after-hours drink fests, God knows what else. I showed him a photo of Armstrong. He confirmed the man had been in one time, had looked around, said little and had left.’
‘Wolfenden’s phone records, Bridget?’ Isaac said.
‘I’ve not got the number.’
‘According to Fred Wilkinson, McIntyre had grown up in the area. Both Wolfenden and Wilkinson knew the man well. It could have been purely social if he had phoned him, but that seems unlikely,’ Larry said.’
‘Why would he do that?’ Bridget said.
‘You’re either on McIntyre’s side, or you’re not. Wolfenden would have known that. He made a choice. Let the man know before he found out that Palmer had been speaking to him. It would save himself explaining later to a man who wouldn’t have been listening.’
‘The hotel, the two men holding the third,’ Isaac said. ‘What do we know about them?’
‘Nothing that helps,’ Wendy said. ‘I followed up with the woman. She said she hadn’t seen much, but then she probably turns a blind eye to a lot of things.’
‘Prostitution?’
‘It goes on there, I’m sure of it. The woman tried to emphasise that it was an excellent hotel, no trouble, good food, but I went up to Palmer’s room, found his keys and his belongings, not that he had many. He had paid in advance, and if he wasn’t there, no need to clean the room or change the sheets.’
‘She was unable to identify either of the two men?’
‘She probably didn’t see them, not that closely; too busy watching the television
