No Vacation From Murder (Pollard & Toye Investigations Book 6) by Elizabeth Lemarchand

Author:Elizabeth Lemarchand [Lemarchand, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sapere Books
Published: 2018-12-04T22:00:00+00:00

9.

Here a little, and there a little.

Isaiah. Chapter 28 verse 10

The Horner Hotel, Crowncliff, correctly conveyed the impression that the guiding principle behind its construction had been to cater for as many inmates as possible with the minimum of labour. It was an uncompromising cube of white stucco, chromium and glass, in a recently developed area on the outskirts of the town.

On arrival Pollard and Toye found immediate evidence of a Horner Discovery Fortnight in full swing. The available parking space was crowded with cars, most of which had recently experienced rough going. As Toye edged his way into a gap, a party emerged from the hotel armed with prawning nets, glass jars and notebooks. Its members were brick red from sunburn, and wore sunglasses and sexually indistinguishable clothing. Arguing animatedly among themselves, they set off in the direction of the shore. Another group stood silently round a car, contemplating a small object on its roof. As Pollard and Toye walked past, a man with a beard picked the object up reverently between finger and thumb.

‘Indisputably an artefact,’ he boomed.

Inside the hotel the foyer was lined with notice boards mounted on stands. Two of these supported a huge large-scale map of the locality. Others proffered information about lectures, discussion groups, expeditions, film shows, and local attractions ranging from church services of all denominations to pop concerts. There were hastily scribbled items under LOST and FOUND. Two notices in heavy black type urged Fortnighters to be on time for meals, and to park their cars with consideration for others. After a thoughtful survey Toye remarked that it wasn’t his idea of a holiday.

There were distant sounds of a single voice raised didactically, and the clattering of crockery, but no sign of life or of any means of summoning attention.

‘We’d better try a spot of discovery ourselves,’ Pollard said, heading for a corridor.

As he spoke a door opened, and a man appeared who came quickly forward on sighting them.

‘Sorry!’ he exclaimed. ‘Superintendent Pollard, isn’t it? I hope you haven’t been hanging around long. I’m Jay.’

‘Good morning,’ Pollard replied. ‘No, we’ve only just arrived. It’s an inconvenient visit, I’m afraid. There seems to be a good deal going on.’

‘It hasn’t been too difficult to switch things round so that you can meet the four of us who were at Kittitoe,’ Michael Jay told him. ‘Shall we go along to my office?’

The improvised office was business-like, but with welcoming touches of fresh flowers and gay posters. As the three men sat round a table neatly stacked with files and folders, it occurred to Pollard that the room reflected its tenant. The Fortnight’s Director was comfortably solid in build, with a pleasant face, but his competence and authority was also apparent.

Having declined refreshment, Pollard came straight to the point.

‘Mrs Makepeace,’ he opened, ‘told me that it was on your advice that she made a statement to me about Mr Boothby.’

‘That is correct,’ Michael Jay answered. ‘I want to say, though, that knowing Geoff Boothby as I do, I find any idea of him being involved in a murder sheer fantasy.

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