Gently With Love by Hunter Alan

Gently With Love by Hunter Alan

Author:Hunter, Alan [Hunter, Alan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery
ISBN: 9781472108807
Amazon: B00GHK75CI
Goodreads: 21015642
Publisher: C & R Crime
Published: 1975-01-01T08:00:00+00:00


CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

I RANG THE bell and the constable entered to escort Earle back to his cell. When Sinclair reappeared he was carrying a fresh tray on which was a pot of tea. I made to vacate the comfortable chair, but he nodded me to keep seated. He poured the tea, sat, and lit his pipe; there was a lurking gleam in his eye.

‘That was a most perceptive session you just had.’

I sipped my tea and said nothing. It had never occurred to me that my interview with Earle would not be eavesdropped. Between the office and reception there was a hatch; I had watched it silently, imperceptibly open. It had remained ajar about half an inch and I thought that once I had heard the scuffle of a pencil. Then it had as silently closed again when I pressed the button on the desk. The next thing that happened to Earle after I left would be a rigorous amending of his statement.

‘Aye,’ Sinclair mused. ‘A Judas he calls you. That was an unkind thing to be saying. And you twisting his arm out of pure benevolence. I fear the laddie has an uncharitable nature.’

‘I trust your monitoring arrangement was adequate.’

‘I heard every word.’ Sinclair drew on his pipe. ‘And may I say it was an object lesson. It deserved to be recorded for the edification of the ignorant. But your theory’s gone, man. You could not fetch in the knife. We are no further forward than when I last sat here. I will allow that you drew out more detail, but that’s just embroidery without the knife.’

I sipped tea. ‘The knife came in later.’

‘Aye, I was certain you would say so. But there again we have a hypothesis in no way supported by a fact.’

‘You still believe that Sambrooke is lying?’

His eyes twinkled. ‘I have not said that. And if you will have the precise truth of the matter, I have not much doubted the laddie from the start.’

I stared. ‘You didn’t give that impression.’

His big mouth hoisted into a grin. ‘I was not exactly for putting my cards on the table – not till I had seen what the Englishman was up to.’

I sipped more tea. ‘And now you know it?’

‘Now I know it I’m placed in a queer sort of quandary. I have a notion that you could be a great help to me. But I’m not that sure of the wisdom of asking you.’

‘You mean you don’t trust me.’

‘Ach no, I would not put it just like that!’

‘But I do have bias.’

‘I ken you’re a policeman. I can count upon you on the article of duty.’

He puffed solemnly, and I sipped. I thought I could guess what he was after. He removed his pipe a couple of times, but then replaced it and continued smoking. At last he reached for his neglected cup and took a long, cautious sip.

‘How well do you know these Mackenzies? I’m thinking you will not have seen so much of them.’

‘I knew the son, Colin.



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