The Athena Syndicate by Charles Mossop

Author:Charles Mossop
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: china in the 1930s, detective comes out of retirement to solve the murder of his nephew, discovery of an international criminal organization, flashback to bronze age china, flashback to collapse of the third reich and post war germany, murder mystery set in london england, theft and smuggling of art and antiquities
Publisher: BWL Publishing Inc.

* * *

“So,” said Superintendent Stuart, morosely, “you really think this old Chinese bone thing is somehow significant, do you?”

Foy had stopped by the super’s office to provide an update, but Stuart was evidently in no mood for speculation.

“It may be,” Foy said, his tone carefully neutral. He had no desire to commit himself. “I don’t know yet.”

“I don’t see how it could be,” Stuart said, skepticism writ large on his face.

“I’m not sure myself,” Foy admitted, “but I’m looking at everything that comes along and ruling out nothing for the time being.”

“And has Mahajan got anywhere with Barrow’s stolen car? That sounds like a wild goose chase to me. The thing’s been well investigated already. I think you’re wasting her time.”

Stuart’s arrogant dismissiveness infuriated Foy. He’s bent on belittling everything I’m doing, he thought. He’d rather see me discredited than catch the killer. Suppressing the urge to strike back, he decided he would answer the question and ignore the rest.

He said, “Not yet, no.”

“So why d’you think there’s a connection between it and Preston’s murder? I can’t see one.”

“I don’t know that there is a connection,” said Foy, as calmly as he could. “That’s what I’m trying to establish, one way or the other.”

“All right, all right,” said Stuart, with an elaborate sigh. “Go on then, get on with it, and be sure you keep me fully informed.”

Foy left Stuart’s office, feeling the superintendent’s malevolent eyes boring into his back as he went, and squeezed himself into his own cubbyhole where he reviewed the notes of Stuart’s interview with Michael Barrow. He had done this several times already, but he tended to work on the principle that there was always the chance something had gone unnoticed. There could be a point missed, a question unasked, some follow-up overlooked, or a small thing which might prove significant beyond its size. He was pondering it when Neeta Mahajan tapped on the door and entered, wearing a purple dress and looking as stunning as ever.

“I tracked down the witness, sir. His name is Brian Shaw, and he says he’s pretty certain he did see a blue van leaving the vicinity of the burning car and going at a good clip.”

“The file doesn’t say much about that,” said Foy. “What else did he say? Does he remember anything about the van? Make, model, that sort of thing?”

“He doesn’t know anything like that, I’m afraid.”

Foy muttered, “Damn.”

“But I’ll do a follow-up. He hasn’t been interviewed in a long time. He might recall something now he’d not mentioned first time around.”

“Good,” said Foy.

Neeta went her graceful way, and Foy returned to the file on Barrow’s interview. Barrow had no form, not even a parking ticket, but as he scrolled through the report, Foy came across something that needed checking, something which should have been seen before. It was exactly the sort of thing he was looking for.

“Sloppy work, Superintendent Stuart,” he said, under his breath.

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