“A good idea, Neil,” said Luke. “It’s been a long week.”
The team shut down their computers and headed for the lift.
As their four cars queued to join the Friday afternoon traffic, Gus Freeman collected his tickets from Reception at London Road.
Gus saw Suzie getting into her car when he returned outside.
“Hi Gus,” she said. “What brings you here at this time of day?”
Gus waved the Ryanair tickets and told her he would miss out on the things they had planned for Saturday.
“Never mind,” said Suzie. “I’m sure you’ll make it up to me. Follow me home and tell me all about it.”
As Gus and Suzie drove out of Devizes towards Urchfont, a message appeared in Alex Hardy’s inbox. It was from Bronwen Griffiths.
When they reached the bungalow, Gus told Suzie what he’d learned and who he’d met.
“Give me Vicky Bennison’s number,” said Suzie. “I’ll give her a ring next week.”
Gus fished a scrap of paper he’d brought with him from his shirt pocket.
“I know you’ll do your best,” he grinned.
“Was Rachel Cummins pleased to see you again?” asked Suzie.
“I got that impression, yes, but my focus was on the case, as always, darling,” said Gus.
“Do you want to discuss the case and which way you think it will go?”
“No fear,” said Gus, “I won’t have a clue until I’m face-to-face with Wallace tomorrow.”
“In that case, let’s prepare a meal together and then get ready for our night out,”
Suzie drove them to the Waggon & Horses, despite Gus insisting that he should be the designated driver to keep their story straight.
“I’m not drinking, Gus,” she said, “but you can drive us home if it makes you feel better.”
Neil and Melody were already in the quiet bar when Gus walked through the door at nine.
“The taxi was early, guv,” said Neil.
“Only because Neil asked for one to get us here for half-past eight,” said Melody.
Suzie sat with Melody to ask how the pregnancy was going. Neil joined Gus at the bar.
“I won’t steal her thunder, guv, but Blessing has news that came to light after you left.”
“They’ve found Lord Lucan?” asked Gus.
“Not yet, guv. Talk of the devil, here’s Blessing now. Is that Divya? Nobody said she was a beauty.”
“Good evening, guv,” said Blessing. “I found a piece of information that might come in useful tomorrow. Carl Wallace served time at Leyhill. Divya is going to check those photos you showed Rachel this afternoon to see where he was at the time.”
“I’ll give you the locations on Monday morning, Mr Freeman,” said Divya.
“It’s Gus, when we’re socialising, Divya. Thanks. Do we think that Wallace was closer to Trowle Common in 2012 than a hundred miles away in Surrey, Blessing?”
“It’s entirely possible, guv. You should ask Carl whether he flew from Bristol when he fled after the murder.”
Alex and the others piled through the door in the next few minutes. Gus kept buying drinks and chatting with his team members and their partners. They had soon caught up on all the latest gossip. The next hour saw them run through the highlights of the last couple of cases they had completed.
Suzie watched Gus and knew what was going on. The lights were on, but there was nobody home. He was already interrogating Carl Wallace and uncovering those final few pieces of the jigsaw.
When the landlord reminded them that he had to close the bar despite their day jobs, the remaining team members started to make their way home. Blessing and Divya had headed out before eleven. Neil and Melody were last to leave, of course. Luke and Nicky hung around to keep them company on the grass verge outside.
Alex and Lydia set off for Chippenham after Gus reminded Alex to set the alarm.
“Everyone had a good time,” said Suzie as Gus drove them back to Urchfont. “Do you want me to tell you what happened?”
“I can multi-task,” said Gus.
EPILOGUE
Saturday, 18th August 2018
Alex arrived on the dot at seven o’clock. Gus was waiting at the front door with his passport and their tickets. They were travelling light. If they couldn’t get a plane back tonight, they’d rough it at the airport until the morning. How long it took to get things sorted depended on Carl Wallace.
After a typical budget airline flight, they arrived in Malaga.
“Where to now, guv?” asked Alex as they negotiated customs.
“A taxi to Soho Bahia, Alex. The bar where Carl works is called El Gato.”
Alex found the taxi rank when they left the airport building.
Fifteen minutes later, they stood on the steps leading up to the bar.
Gus looked behind him. There they were. Geoff hadn’t failed him. A blue-and-white patrol car pulled up by the kerb, and two armed officers got out and joined them.
Carl Wallace stood at the end of the bar with a tray of drinks when he spotted the four men heading inside. Alex wondered whether he was going to make a run for it. He needn’t have worried. Carl asked another member of staff to take the drinks to a table on the patio.
“I knew someone would come to see me eventually,” he said.
The local policia delivered Carl to the nearby station while Gus and Alex followed.
“This could be easy,” said Alex. “Carl sounds as if he’s been rehearsing his confession every day since he flew out.”
“We’ll see,” said Gus.
Their hosts were familiar with various international agencies' processes when apprehending criminals on the Spanish mainland. Gus couldn’t fault the interview room set up. The place was warmer than most he’d been in over the years, but everything else looked the same.
The two officers led Carl Wallace into the room and seated him opposite Gus and Alex.
