THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE MURDER an addictive crime mystery full of twists (Eric Ward Mystery Book 13) by ROY LEWIS

Author:ROY LEWIS [LEWIS, ROY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books crime thriller and mystery
Published: 2020-10-13T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

‘They say I’m not allowed to go back to Ireland,’ Paddy Fenton complained.

‘You’re remanded on bail,’ Eric reminded him.

‘I had nothing to do with that bugger Charlton’s killing,’ the farmer insisted, glaring at Eric as though challenging him to say otherwise.

‘I don’t think they’ve got a strong case. You wouldn’t be here in my office if they did. But I get the feeling they have more than they’re telling us at the moment. In the same way, I think you’ve got more to tell. Paddy, I ask you again. Is there anything you’re holding back on me? I need to know. If they throw something new at us, I’m going to find it that much more difficult to counter if you’ve not been straight with me.’

Paddy Fenton shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He was uneasy, his eyes avoiding Eric’s. Through the closed door Eric could hear Susie Cartwright banging files about on her desk. She often expressed her disapproval of the kind of clients he took. Like his ex-wife, she held the view that he could do better, away from the Quayside. Eric sometimes thought the same, when he met reluctant walls of silence, of the kind Paddy Fenton seemed to be erecting. He shook his head, grunted in exasperation. ‘Well, if you’ve nothing to add—’

‘I didn’t meet Charlton at the market, like I said,’ Fenton suddenly blurted out.

‘How do you mean?’

‘Well, I was introduced to him at the market,’ Fenton admitted with marked reluctance, ‘but we kind of didn’t do the deal there. And I did know his name . . . and I did have some idea of what was going to happen. When he made me the offer, he wanted me to be there but I felt I was better out of it, back in Kilkenny with my wife, giving the sister-in-law support. And I needed the money. The bloody cheques from DEFRA . . .’

‘You’d better give me all the details, Paddy,’ Eric said quietly, settling back in his chair.

Paddy Fenton wriggled uncomfortably, rubbed one eyebrow with his left hand. ‘It was Joe Robson who introduced me to Charlton. Said he had a proposal that might interest me. We had a bit of a chat there and then but he was a bit vague, was Charlton, and so I arranged to meet him later. I went along to a pub — the Golden Fleece, it was — and we had a couple of drinks but I was wary, didn’t trust him, you know? He told me all he wanted was to hire my barn for slaughtering, and that there was an extra fifty a day if I was prepared to help out with the work but it was clear to me it was all a bit iffy, and I told him I didn’t want to know any more. To be sure, at the same time I didn’t like him, didn’t trust him, so when he left I sort of followed him for a while.’

‘Where did he go to? Did you follow in a car?’

Fenton shook his head.

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