A Dark Steel Death by Chris Nickson

Author:Chris Nickson [Nickson, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 2022-05-19T00:00:00+00:00

SEVENTEEN

A nervous, uniformed special constable was waiting outside his office when Harper arrived in the morning. As soon as he saw the new chief constable, he straightened his back and saluted.

‘Good morning,’ Harper said. ‘You look like a man bearing news for me.’

‘Superintendent Ash wanted you to know that Albert Armstrong showed up at home, sir. His aunt discovered him this morning. We’re bringing him in.’

‘Thank you.’

He tried to swallow, but his throat was tight. A few more minutes and they’d know the truth.

One hour, then a second. He pretended to work, but however many times he read a page, nothing sank into his brain. He was waiting for the telephone to ring.

In the end it wasn’t a call, but Dixon entering his office, the cuff of his left sleeve empty where the hand had gone at the start of the war.

‘Well?’ Harper asked. No need to ask why he’d come.

‘You won’t credit it, but Armstrong’s not our man, sir.’ He spoke the words as if he couldn’t quite believe them himself.

Harper let out a low breath. That explained the reticence he’d felt. But if it wasn’t Armstrong, then who was the sniper? ‘What did he have to say for himself?’

‘He rode up to Masham to stay with a comrade he served with in France. Another one who’d been invalided out. Didn’t even know there had been any shootings here.’

‘Have we corroborated it?’

‘Yes, sir. The local bobby paid a call. All above board.’

‘Why did he go without telling anyone?’

‘He claims the idea came over him while he was out and he decided to do it.’ Dixon pursed his lips. ‘He seems like an odd duck that way, sir. Half the time he isn’t really here at all. Set off for the Dales on a whim on that bike.’

A shell-shocked man. Who could tell what he was thinking?

‘What made him come back?’

A shrug. ‘He felt ready, he said.’

‘We had reports of a man near the Kirkstall shooting with a long package on his back.’

Dixon shook his head. ‘Armstrong says he hasn’t handled a rifle since France. They scare him. And he doesn’t own a fishing rod. His aunt confirmed that.’

‘Are we one hundred per cent certain?’ Harper asked.

‘I am. But you’d need to ask the super, sir. It’s his decision.’

‘If he’s satisfied, you can let Armstrong go.’

‘Very good, sir. And we’re about ready to release Best.’

Back to square bloody one yet again. Every time they’d had someone in their sights, they’d been wrong. But this time … this time. It felt as if they’d been chasing Armstrong forever. And it had come to nothing. Crumbled in their hands.

‘Fenton and Larkin are going back over every scrap of paper that we have,’ Ash said. ‘Walsh is up at the barracks and Dixon is having a last crack at Best. Not as our sniper, but he’s hiding something.’

‘I want him questioned again. Be relentless.’ He felt the frustration boil up inside. ‘At this point I don’t bloody care how you do it. We need some proper answers.

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