Dread and Water by Douglas Clark

Author:Douglas Clark [Clark, Douglas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Endeavour Media
Published: 2019-01-02T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

Masters parted from Crome outside the front door of the old house. He had seen Brant lurking, at a discreet distance, as he and the Director had walked back from the Group Six laboratory. Now he turned in the direction of the Sergeant, who hurried towards him.

“Something to tell me, Brant?”

“Yes, Chief. Miss Dexter remembered who made that bet with Silk.”

Brant seemed slightly uneasy in the telling, and Masters had a momentary pang of remorse at using the growing friendship between Brant and Cynthia for such purposes. It was this feeling that dictated his next question.

“She told you willingly?”

Brant reddened. “No, Chief. But she told me.”

“Who was it?”

“Winter.”

“Let’s get it straight, Sergeant. Miss Dexter told you that Winter bet Silk that he, Silk, couldn’t get up a particular climb alone?”

“It was a race for a bottle of whisky, Chief. Winter was to walk up, Silk was to climb. Whoever got to the top first won.”

“I see. That marches.”

“Beg your pardon, Chief?”

“Nothing. Just thinking aloud. What’s the matter with you, Sergeant? You look a bit pained about something? Was Miss Dexter difficult?”

“Not exactly, Chief. She didn’t like it, of course.”

“And?”

“Well, Chief, she wants me to go out to dinner with her tonight.”

Masters realised that the news pleased him. Obviously no irreparable harm had been done to the relationship between the sergeant and his lady scientist.

“I don’t see why that should upset you.”

“You mean it’s all right for me to go?”

Masters looked straight at Brant. “Sergeant, you’re a grown man …”

“But the case, Chief!”

Masters felt for his tobacco tin. “The unwelcome and tiresome duty of accompanying Miss Dexter to dinner is in the furtherance of our investigation, which means you may use the car. I’m awfully sorry you’ve had this rather dull chore thrust on you, Brant, but there you are! And please remember, as I said, you are a grown man, and within reason, you do as you like. The only limitation on whatever action you take—ever—is that you need to be in a position to give a good reason for taking it if asked for one later.”

“Thanks, Chief.”

“Is she personable, your Miss Dexter?”

“I think you’d find her … yes, Chief, she’s great.”

“Good. I’d like to meet her some time. Where are the DI and Hill?”

“I saw Hill a few minutes ago. He said they’d sorted out a list of climbing club members as long as your arm and were interviewing them one by one.”

“In that case, I’ll leave them to it. There’s a library in the house. I’m going in there.”

“What about me, Chief?”

“See if you can help the DI.”

As he and Crome had not encountered Doctor Clay on the way back from Group Six, Masters was hoping she would still be in the library. If she were, it might be a convenient time and place for having a chat with her. He asked the guard in the hall for the library and was directed upstairs to the northern wing, where a number of former bedrooms had been converted into a library.

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