Murder on Milverton Square (The Milverton Mysteries Book 1) by G B Ralph

Author:G B Ralph [Ralph, G B]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: G B Ralph
Published: 2022-11-07T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Addison had made it halfway to the front door on his way back through the pub, past an already rowdy table of middle-aged men, when another of their contemporaries stepped in from the street. The man’s entrance was met with a loud ‘Kenny boy’, ‘If it isn’t Kenace the Menace’, and a ‘Lord Bryant of Milverton’ from the table he’d just passed.

Addison slowed his pace, considering the man. Late fifties, or early sixties perhaps, with tanned, weatherbeaten skin and slicked back, thinning dark grey hair. He lifted a hand in acknowledgement of the loud lot across the room before approaching the bar. He had the look of someone who’d spent much of his life outdoors, but who now prided himself on attending meetings, making deals, and all-round being an important man of business. He wore shiny black shoes, boot-cut jeans and a polo shirt that could’ve done with being a size larger. All up, the after-hours attire of a wheeler-dealer who knew what he wanted and expected to get it. He was the type Mr Norman would have relished setting off. Though, perhaps that would’ve been too easy…

Addison felt confident in his reading of the man, backed up by what he’d heard from Mrs Watts about his interactions with her late business partner. It might not take much to fire up the man in front of him, but Addison reckoned he’d be a straightforward type, so he changed course and went straight in.

‘Ken Bryant, is it?’

‘Aye, it is. And who are you?’

‘Addison Harper,’ he said, one elbow on the bar, the other hand out. Ken took it, wary, but he wasn’t about to leave someone in the pub hanging. ‘I’m new in Milverton, just here for a few days to sort out my great-uncle’s estate.’

‘That old Herb’s place you’re talking about, then?’ Ken appeared most interested to hear that. ‘Just the other side of town from mine?’

‘That’s the one.’ He didn’t know where Ken’s place was, but better to keep the conversation rolling. It made sense if the man was on that side of town, closer to the gorge itself, impacted by plans for the proposed new road, as Susan Watts had suggested.

‘I’m still getting my feet under me here – did I hear you were caught up with this new gorge road? Are you campaigning to keep the old saddle road?’ He worried it might be a bit much, that he’d come in too hot, but Addison knew this guy’s type. Ken wouldn’t be able to help himself from setting the record straight and getting in a healthy dose of mansplaining while he was at it.

Ken scoffed, catching Harry’s eye and nodding to one of the taps, before returning his attention to Addison. ‘That old goat track? No, it was never meant to take that kind of traffic and it’s falling to bits. Not up to the task. But it’s all we’ve got with the old gorge road shut for good. Oh no, we need that new road, that’s for sure.

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