Body Line by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

Author:Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Severn House Publishers Ltd
Published: 0100-12-31T22:00:00+00:00

ELEVEN

Penguin Gavotte

Frith was looking troubled and anxious, but as soon as Slider appeared he chose indignant as his motif du jour.

‘Look, what the hell’s going on? I’ve got a business to run. I can’t keep running back and forth to Shepherd’s Bush. What is it you want that’s so urgent?’

Slider tried direct for his. ‘Your fingerprints.’

Frith’s hairline slid back. ‘What? You’re joking! My fingerprints? For Christ’s sake, you can’t really think I had anything to do with David’s death. Why on earth would I kill him?’

‘You didn’t like him,’ Atherton answered over Slider’s shoulder.

Frith only looked angrier. ‘What was there to like? He was a smarmy womanizer who made Amanda’s life miserable, but it’s murder we’re talking about. You don’t just murder someone because you don’t like them. Ordinary people don’t kill other people anyway. What world are you people living in? I wouldn’t murder my worst enemy, let alone—’ He ran a distracted hand backwards through his hair. ‘I mean, come on! This is not the Wild West.’

‘We want your fingerprints in order to eliminate you from our enquiries,’ Slider said, cutting through the whirlwind.

‘Oh.’ Frith jolted like a man who has gone up the step that isn’t there. He took a beat to think, and then came back with a revival of resentment. ‘I don’t understand why you should ever have considered me anyway. What did I ever do to have the police on my back for this preposterous notion?’

Preposterous. Slider liked it. A bit of hedgication never done no one no ’arm, he thought. ‘There were some superficial reasons for taking you into consideration,’ he said, the still, small voice of calm. ‘At the beginning of an investigation like this we have to take the broadest view and gradually whittle it down. I’m sorry you have been inconvenienced, but your fingerprints should settle the matter and we won’t need to bother you again.’

‘I’ve a good mind to refuse,’ Frith said sulkily. ‘The idea that you should ever have considered me . . . What were these “superficial reasons”?’

‘I’m afraid I can’t go into that at present.’

‘And you’ve caused me no end of trouble. People in Sarratt are looking at me sideways, I have three cancellations, and – what the hell did you say to Amanda? She’s been giving me the silent treatment, looking at me as if—’ Something occurred to him. ‘You didn’t tell her about Sue?’

‘No,’ said Slider. ‘We haven’t spoken to her since you last came in. But before that we had asked her to confirm what time you left in the morning on Monday, because you had told your employees you were working from home and then going to an appointment.’

‘You told her that? Oh God!’ He buried his face in his hands. ‘No wonder she’s so frosty with me,’ he said, muffled. ‘What a mess!’

Slider was interested. ‘You mean she hasn’t spoken to you about that? About your whereabouts on Monday?’

Frith shook his head. ‘Biding her time,’ he mourned. ‘She’ll hold back until she’s ready, and then pounce.

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