Inspector Hadley by Peter James Child

Author:Peter James Child
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Benbow Publications

CHAPTER 14

Inspector Palmer was at his desk reading a report when the detectives arrived in his office. He looked up and said, ‘ah, evening Jim, any news yet?’

‘Evening, Jack… possibly something… but I was about to ask you the same.’

‘Nothing to report so far I’m afraid, it seems that none of the neighbours saw or heard anything last night except one lady who thinks she heard a large coach pull up outside Mallory’s lodgings sometime after ten o’clock.’

‘Did she say anything else?’

‘No, Jim,’

‘Well we have two suspects who might be the culprits.’

‘Ah, so some progress then,’ said Palmer with a smile.

‘Yes, it appears that few hours last night Charles Latimer was unaccounted for, which would have given him time to murder the reporters and he has now left London for his Father’s country house in Dorset.’

‘Running away… it’s always the sign of guilt, Jim.’

‘Yes, usually it is, and we have an MP who has already taken flight to the north by train after I questioned him in the Commons earlier.’

‘Are you following up these suspects tonight?’

‘Yes, Jack, I’ve telegraphed Dorset Police and asked them to question Latimer and hold him if there is any doubts regarding his whereabouts on the night in question.’

‘And what about the MP?’

‘We think he’s returned to his home near Bridgnorth… but we don’t know for sure so one of my Sergeants will take the first train up there tomorrow morning.’

‘Ah… Shropshire in the summer… how nice… so which lucky man is going, Jim?’

‘I’m still deciding, Jack,’ replied Hadley with a smile.

‘Well that’ll keep both of them on tenterhooks until the morning,’ said Palmer and they all laughed.

‘Too true, Jack… now we’re off to the Pub to see the ladies and hear their news…if any… would you care to join us for a pint or two?’

‘Yes… why not?’

The detectives walked the short distance to the Kings Head in the warm evening and heard the un-tuned piano being played loudly well before they reached the crowded Pub. They pushed their way through the noisy drinkers to the bar where Vera and the girls were doing their best to serve everyone at once.

‘A pint of Guinness, Jack?’

‘Please, Jim.’

‘And the usual for you two?’

‘Please, sir,’ replied Cooper and Talbot nodded as Vera noticed them at the end of the bar. She gave a nod to Hadley before taking payment from a large scruffy man and ringing it up in the till. Smiling, she came over to them and asked wearily, ‘yes, gents?’

‘A pint of Guinness and three pints of stout please, Vera.’

‘Right, guv’nor.’

‘You’re busier than usual tonight, Vera,’ said Hadley as she began to pull the Guinness pump slowly.

‘It’s never blimmin quiet in here these days, guv’nor… I think it’s all the foreigners and country folk,’ she replied as she placed the Guinness on the wet counter.

Hadley raised his eyebrows, sighed and said, ‘don’t we know it, Vera.’ She nodded as she pumped the foaming stout into three glasses and lined them up on the counter.

‘That’ll be one and sixpence altogether please, guv’nor,’ said Vera and Cooper paid her.

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