MURDER IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE an addictive crime mystery full of twists by LEWIS ROY

Author:LEWIS, ROY
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books crime thriller mystery and suspense
Published: 2022-05-11T00:00:00+00:00

2

When the news broke that the FCAI were to join with the Department of Museums and Antiquities in the further excavation of the Fordbridge site a press conference was called and reporters arrived from several of the nationals, in addition to the feature writers from the local newspapers. The conference was held in a local hotel in Morpeth and both Dr Mwate from the university and Dr Charles Midgley from the Gosforth forensic science laboratories were introduced to the gathering by Karen Stannard.

Joe Holderness turned up also. He sat at the back of the room beside Arnold, listening intently to the presentation. As questions were fired at the three fronting the conference he seemed somewhat uncomfortable. He turned his craggy face towards Arnold and scowled uncertainly. ‘I didn’t realize the dig was going to raise such interest,’ he said, leaning forward with his patched elbows on his knees. ‘And to a businessman like me, time is money. You know how it is . . . things are difficult. But maybe, well maybe you can sort of lose sight of the big picture.’

Arnold nodded, aware of the reluctant indecision in the builder’s tone. ‘I quite understand. The FCAI support will help us, though. We are going to be pushed to finish against your deadline, of course, but . . .’

‘Aye, well,’ Holderness shifted in his seat uncomfortably, ‘maybe I was being a bit . . . hasty when I gave you that deadline. And things never go entirely to plan in the building industry anyway. Materials, contracts, schedules . . . we’ve had a few hold-ups of our own along the line, and . . .’ His wary eyes flickered over the gathering of reporters. ‘This is going to get pretty big coverage, you reckon?’

‘Bigger than we had anticipated,’ Arnold agreed. ‘But it is an important site.’

Holderness lowered his head, considering. ‘Of course, the FCAI will be getting some publicity out of this, their first support in the UK, I hear.’

‘That’s right.’

Holderness sighed. ‘There’ll be hoardings going up with their name on, as well as reports in the nationals . . . You know, Mr Landon, maybe I was a bit too hasty, last time we met.’ His glance shifted to Arnold, flickered around the room again. ‘Maybe I could hold off for a bit longer.’

Arnold smiled. ‘That would be good, Mr Holderness. Of course, if it would help we could make mention of that today, and I could ensure that any public hoarding displays would have the name of your firm alongside our department and the FCAI, to show how co-operative and public-spirited you’ve been . . .’

The Yorkshireman looked at him with shrewd eyes. They understood each other. ‘Aye. I think that would be most satisfactory.’

Arnold took a pen out of his pocket, tore a sheet from one of the pads that had been placed on the tables and made his way towards the front of the room. Karen Stannard watched him come. She frowned, concerned that he might be trying to upstage her.

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