Mydworth Mysteries - The Wrong Man (A Cosy Historical Mystery Series Book 7) by Costello Matthew & Richards Neil

Author:Costello, Matthew & Richards, Neil [Costello, Matthew & Richards, Neil]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9783732569595
Publisher: Bastei Entertainment
Published: 2021-01-29T06:00:00+00:00

11. The Moments Before a Murder

Harry thought that whatever Will knew about the next minutes – the next hour – might be key to understanding Ben’s murder.

“I gather you left before Ben and Ollie?” he said.

Will nodded. “Once I’d bought the round, and the two of them were more or less back to normal, I felt, well, my work was done. Had a big trip coming up next day, so an early night suited me. I also thought, once the pub closed, Ben would go his way, Ollie his.”

“And what state were they in then?”

“Not too far gone. When I left, at least. But, word is, when Oliver finally walked out, he looked wobbly as hell. Must have been hitting the stuff hard. Maybe you heard that too?”

Harry didn’t indicate one way or the other. He saw Kat had her eyes fixed on the man.

“Apparently Ollie staggered out first, ready to sail home. Ben lingered a bit.”

“That’s odd,” Kat said.

Will cocked his head in her direction.

“Odd, Lady Mortimer?”

“Yes. Oliver Brown leaves ahead of Ben. Heads home. And yet he doesn’t get home until sometime later.”

Will frowned, as if not understanding the implications.

“Plenty of time in fact,” Kat added, “for Oliver to go down to Slip-Knot Alley, find a place to hide, and just wait for Ben. And there you are.”

Harry saw Will lick his lips at the unsavoury logic of it all.

“I for one never believed that. I think he fell down, dozed a bit then dragged himself home.”

“Maybe,” Kat said with no real assurance.

“Just one final thing, Will. One last question.”

“Of course.”

“Why did you lie to the police? Why give Oliver a false alibi?”

*

Harry watched as Will looked away, the mood on his face unreadable.

Taking his time, Harry thought.

“When I moved to this village, all those months ago, I didn’t really know anyone.” He nodded to the bar. “Then I started coming here, meeting the regulars. Kind of place where you can be left to your own devices, or not. But you know pubs... Well, Sir Harry, maybe you don’t.”

Harry turned to Kat, smiled.

“Oh, no worries on that account.”

Will laughed.

“So, I met Ben. And then, through Ben, Ollie. Seemed to me at first rather a strange pair to be pals.”

Kat leaned forward at that.

“What do you mean? Strange?”

“Well, Ben had – you know – made something of himself. Basically, he ran that little electrical shop for the owner. He often said to me he hoped that it might become his business one day, if things went well.”

“And Ollie?” Kat asked.

“Nice chap. I mean, a jolly good sort. ‘Salt of the earth’, is the expression I’d use. Hard working lad. But – see – that’s just the thing. I doubt Ollie had any real aspirations... or hopes.”

“A mismatch you think?” Harry said.

“To a stranger like me, when I first got here? Yes. But then, I got to know them and I realised. They had history. Grew up together. Worked together as lads. And that’s the important thing when it comes to being pals.

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