Blue Moon by Patricia H. Squire

Author:Patricia H. Squire
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Criume and mystery
Publisher: Troubador Publishing
Published: 2023-01-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

‘So,’ Matt leaned back from his desk as he eyed his partner, ‘did you turn up anything useful on Abbott, Green or Wood?’

‘Not really. Green worked for a plumbing fittings manufacturer. Joined at twenty-three and spent the rest of his entire working life there.’

‘Unusual.’

‘Yes. Anyway, he worked on the distribution side in their central warehouse. Apparently a very reliable employee, he rose to be assistant manager and retired with a healthy pension and a chunk of company stock he had purchased over the years. He always seems to have been a natural loner.’

‘Ever married?’

‘Yes, for over thirty years. She died several years before he retired. No children. In fact, no immediate or close family. Some remote cousins, but they don’t seem to keep in touch.’

‘Rather sad.’

‘You’d think so, but most of the people I spoke to said that was how he liked it. And he wasn’t one for joining groups. To the contrary, his living at Blue Moon is probably the most social time of his life. And even there he is considered by both staff and fellow residents as a loner.’

‘Nothing much there to point to him as either the pusher-downstairs or smotherer.’

‘Do you want his name on the board moved to the “Not possible” list?’

Matt thought. ‘No. Leave him where he is at the moment. We’ve got nothing to completely rule him out.’

‘Right. Then there’s Oswald Abbott, invariably called Wally, and Albert West, known as Al. In the main they seem to keep to each other’s company, probably because they have very similar backgrounds and therefore understand each other. They both had very successful high-flying careers – most of which they spent as directors or chief executives of several household-name companies. They had crossed paths during their careers but only really became friends when they both hove to at the Blue Moon. I gather they play chess, go for long tramps in the woods and are fairly regular patrons at the Dog & Duck. Neither are prone to waste words. In fact, taciturn was used to describe them.’

‘So they’re pretty much outsiders too?’

‘Yes, but not so much as Green. Abbott and West seem to be quite popular amongst the others. Considered to be amusing – when something happens they can produce a dry comment which dispels any tension. Also, they’re kind, even to those they don’t take to.’

Matt looked quizzical.

‘For instance, Rose Johns joined their table for a meal with neither making any demur. I also understand that after one of those residents’ meetings when Rose had laid into Alice Littleton, both Al and Wally stood up for her.’

‘I see. Again, not really the sort to go about killing people.’

‘Not really. Shall I leave them on the “Possible” list?’

‘Yes. For the time being at least.’ Matt shuffled some papers. ‘As for Peter Francis, he didn’t have a great education. Left school with no certificates. Worked on building sites where he obviously picked up various skills as, when he retired, he was a deputy site manager. He worked for various companies but interestingly was never out of work.

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