Death Do Us Part: A page-turning crime thriller with a stunning twist (DI Chilcott Book 2) by James D Mortain

Author:James D Mortain [Mortain, James D]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781916008465
Publisher: Manvers Publishing
Published: 2021-06-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

They arrived at Portishead Marina just shy of lunchtime. DC Allen had located AWoL to be in a dry dock at a Salcombe sailing boat brokers. Unfortunately, it was still going through a deep cleaning process before re-ownership; however, Nathan Parsons and team were en route to examine what was left. This time, Chilcott was with three other detectives in a show of force and a display of determination. They had a solid game plan; who would speak to whom, what they would ask and how overtly they would go about it. The midday sun was beating down on the glassy-calm waters, and the marina was alive with the joyous weekend activity of sailors and visitors alike. Yet the tall mast of Baxter’s yacht cast an ominous shadow over all others on jetty seven.

As the detectives went about their enquiries, Chilcott revisited the marina control centre.

‘Thanks for allowing us onto your marina again,’ Chilcott said to Simon Dupont-Avery. ‘I do appreciate your support and cooperation during this investigation. I know it’s not a good look for your patrons and visitors to have such a police presence.’

‘That’s fine,’ Dupont-Avery replied. ‘I need to know if we have bad apples in the barrel.’

‘That’s a good analogy,’ Chilcott commented as he looked down towards jetty seven. ‘I might use that myself. Has Baxter submitted any further requests to leave the marina?’

‘Not yet, but time is running out for him if he plans to catch today’s tide.’

‘What’s the window of opportunity?’.

‘Tidal clearance is between 18.10 and 21.50.’

‘And what about tomorrow?’

‘You can roughly add an hour each day, give or take ten minutes.’

‘Have you seen him today?’

‘Yes. He used the laundry room early this morning and was waiting in the café.’

‘What time was that?’

‘I was in a six this morning because we had early departures, so, I would estimate, I saw Walter at around six-thirty, perhaps six-forty this morning.’

‘Is that normal to use the laundry at that time, do you know?’

‘There’s certainly nothing abnormal about it.’

‘How frequently would your customers normally use the laundry facilities?’

‘How long is a piece of string, Detective?’

Chilcott bobbed his head.

‘Just how long is all this going to continue?’ Dupont-Avery asked. ‘I mean, the police activity on the jetty?’

Chilcott walked back over to the window. ‘How long is the proverbial piece of string, Mr Dupont-Avery?’

‘I’m serious. I know you need to do your jobs, but this is bringing undue negative attention to our small community. It’s not just those on the water. It’s the homeowners overlooking the marina as well. All the police and news reporter activity, well, it’s creating a bad taste.’

‘I appreciate it’s not what you’re used to, and believe me, we’d like this to be over as quickly as you, but it’s rarely that straightforward.’

‘Couldn’t you keep him away, give him some sort of curfew not to return?’

‘No. This is his home, and as such, he’s entitled to live here.’

‘There must be something you can do? This whole situation is causing considerable unrest.’

‘If I had my way,

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