The Dockland Murder by Mike Hollow

Author:Mike Hollow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2021-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

To walk along the quayside on the southern side of the Royal Albert Dock was like taking a stroll through an ants’ nest. Scores of men, all seemingly clad in the same battered old black jacket, trousers and boots, with a waistcoat, tie and cap, moved rapidly and purposefully this way and that, pushing barrows and trolleys, spearing sacks with the vicious-looking docker’s hook that each of them carried, stacking crates, coiling ropes, all in apparently random patterns and yet equally all with a sense of hidden order. Above their heads, crane jibs swung swaying pallets of goods out of ships’ holds and towards the waiting dockers, each load a perilous threat to the unwary. As Jago picked his way carefully through this organised human chaos, he could not help but note the contrast with the atmosphere in DI Burton’s office. Detectives all had their own way of getting the job done, of course – Jago’s own experience of working with DDI Soper was evidence enough of that – but what he found strange about Burton was his apparent indifference. Perhaps, just this once, Soper was right: somehow Jago had managed to put Burton’s nose out of joint. If that was the case, he thought, the offence was unintended, so he’d just have to put up with it – and so would Burton.

‘Excuse me, guv’nor,’ said Cradock, hopping over a trailing rope to come alongside him.

‘Yes, Peter?’

‘I wasn’t sure whether you were thinking, sir.’

‘I’m always thinking, Peter. What do you do when you’re walking through a dock?’

‘I think too, sir. In fact, that’s what I was just about to say – I’ve been thinking.’

‘I’m glad to hear it. About what?’

‘About these burglaries. Well, about the one at Major Danbury’s house, actually. It’s what you were saying back there about men working in the docks nicking stuff, and what DI Burton said about that Charlie Bell character – that he’s a bit of a hothead, no time for rich people or bosses.’

‘I’m with you so far. So what’s your theory?’

‘Well, Bell works in the docks, and he knows Danbury through the Home Guard, so he probably knows where he lives and might even have been there. He’d also know when Danbury was on duty, and if he managed somehow to find out when Mrs Danbury and her daughter were working on the mobile canteen, he’d know when the house was empty. And it was what Bell said when you mentioned Robin Hood – he said we could do with a few more like him, didn’t he? Do you think he could’ve done it, maybe to get even with Danbury for something, or just to get a bit of cash?’

‘So he sees himself as a latter-day Robin Hood, eh? Well, he doesn’t dress in Lincoln green, but he does have a rather natty Errol Flynn moustache. Let’s keep an eye out for him on our way down to the Magnolia – he might be working somewhere down this side. It could be interesting to have a word with him, and I’d like to see his reaction if we show him this.

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