Honour and Obey: A Gripping Detective Mystery by Carter Solomon

Author:Carter, Solomon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Great Leap
Published: 2024-02-12T00:00:00+00:00

Eleven

The course of a murder investigation rarely ran smooth. Contrary to the TV dramas and Hollywood movies, there were frequent meetings, dreary updates to impatient superiors, paperwork, endless emails, and plenty of phone calls and waiting for results. This was the work that Hogarth least enjoyed. And aside from his meetings with DCI Melford and other senior officers, this was also the work Hogarth could afford to pass to his colleagues. Seniority had some benefits. He delegated the phone calls to Kaplan, particularly those dealing with Crime Scene. He let Palmer handle the follow up questions with Ed Quentin. Hogarth hadn’t failed to notice that the big man’s eyes always seemed a little keener whenever Palmer had entered the lab, lately. The thought made Hogarth smile. He knew Palmer had far better taste, or at least he hoped so.

After a short meeting with Melford, appraising him of their current suspects and the running man Squirmy Robert Jessop, Hogarth excused himself from the office. Jessop’s unknown whereabouts gave him an excuse to go out and speak to some of the uniforms. It also meant a much-needed escape from the office. Hogarth took his jacket, grabbed his keys, and wasted no time in getting away. By the time he was back in his car it was already late afternoon. The chance of much more progress that day was fast running out, but Hogarth remained hopeful that he could push things along himself if needed. Elbow grease and chutzpah were useful when procedure and routine ran dry.

Two miles away, as Southend Sea front began to buzz with day trippers, workshy drinkers and ne’er-do-wells, the Butterfly Bar was beginning to welcome new customers - only some of whom were after a drink. The working girls gathered at their usual clutch of tables at the back, chatting with the kind of nervous energy that always came ahead of a busy evening. Six weeks in, Gretchen’s girls knew most of what Southend had to offer, but there was always the risk of worse to come. While the women seated at the back tables waited for their first clients to approach, two women standing the very back were busy studying the newly arrived drinkers at the bar. Honour, tilted her head towards Livvie, dispensing wisdom to the young woman at her side.

“That one,” she said whispering. “The one dressed in overalls. The painter and decorator. I’ve seen him in here the other day. He’s not done this before. He’s working up the courage to ask. If he asks me, I’d say no.”

“Why?” asked Livvie.

“He’s basically a Labourer, Liv. Probably not a wealthy guy. He won’t be back very often. Less chance of a tip, too. But see the other bloke?” she said, a sparkle appearing in her eye as she sized up a tall man dressed in a suit. The man had glanced towards them twice already. “He’s money. And he’s interested.”

“They’re both money as far as I’m concerned,” Livvie replied.

“Maybe. But he’s a good bet. If it looks like he’s going to approach the others you need to cut in before he gets there.

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