The Dragon Man (A Hal Challis Investigation) by Disher Garry

Author:Disher, Garry [Disher, Garry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781569478059
Publisher: Soho Press
Published: 2005-07-01T04:00:00+00:00

Sixteen

Sutton was in the Displan room telephoning Vicki Mudge with the news that her Pajero had been found. “Unfortunately it’s been destroyed. Abandoned and then burnt.”

A strange gasp in the woman’s voice—almost of relief, Sutton thought—covered immediately by a cough: “Burnt? Oh dear.”

“You might like to inform your insurance company. Meanwhile we’ll be investigating this pretty thoroughly. We think the men who stole your Pajero yesterday were responsible for a pretty vicious aggravated burglary earlier.”

And that’s how he learned that Vicki Mudge was not the owner of the Pajero but the sister of the owner. The owner’s name was Lance Ledwich and he lived on the other side of the Seaview Estate. Cosy, Sutton thought.

When Challis came in, he said, “Boss, we need to take another look at Ledwich.”

“Convince me.”

“He lied to us. He owns a Mitsubishi Pajero, only he kept it at his sister’s house, not all that far from where he lives.”

“Why didn’t your DMV check turn it up?”

“Registration had lapsed, boss.”

“Go on.”

“It’s the Pajero stolen after that ag burg yesterday. The one that was torched last night.”

“You think he arranged to have it destroyed?”

“It’s possible, but I think it was just bad luck.”

“Good luck for us, perhaps, except that as evidence it’s worthless now that it’s been destroyed. What about the sister?”

“Name’s Vicki Mudge.”

“She known to us?”

“Her husband is, Paddy, sexual assault.”

Challis went very still and alert suddenly. “They’re working together.”

Sutton shook his head. “Paddy’s been in Thailand since late November.”

“Check it out.”

“I will,” Sutton said. “The thing is, boss, yesterday when I questioned Vicki Mudge she seemed pretty edgy, and just now, when I said the Pajero had been burnt, she sounded relieved, then edgy again when I said there’d be a thorough investigation. That’s when she came clean about who owned the Pajero.”

“She knows something’s up, and she’s protecting her own skin.”

“Could be.”

“All right, talk to Ledwich again.”

“I’d like to take that new female constable with me.”

“Why?”

“She’s cluey.”

“Fine,” Challis said.

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