The Final Score: A Murder Ledger Mystery (Book 3) (The Murder Ledger Mysteries) by P. L. Handley

Author:P. L. Handley [Handley, P. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Elwood Publishing
Published: 2023-10-19T00:00:00+00:00

Alun looked up to see the streetlight above his head flicker into life. Shortly afterwards, another one came on and, after that, another. It was a strange sensation, watching the streetlamps coming on for the night. He had always been curious as to when this daily transition occurred, and, until now, the man had never been around to witness it.

The sun had dipped well below the rooftops of Pengower’s high street and was clearly signalling for its artificial replacements to take over for the night. The nervous accountant adjusted the collar on his evening shirt and made the short journey to Bryn Melyn Street. It had been hard to decide the appropriate clothing for an evening at a private men’s club, and he would have much rather have slipped into his pyjamas.

The roads were deathly quiet, as they usually were on a Thursday night. Once this lone wanderer had turned the final corner, he saw the rundown exterior of what used to be a local tavern. These days, it appeared largely disused with one of the windows completely boarded up.

Alun checked his business card for a third time to make sure he had the right place. There was little sign of life from the outside, and it did not seem like a likely location for a weekly social meeting. The front door did not appear to have been replaced since the days it had been used to welcome droves of thirsty punters and was in worse shape than the surrounding black and white timber framing from a Tudor-revival era that had long gone.

The visitor knocked against the solid piece of oak, hoping that the great door would not collapse on top of him and crush him like an insect. He was met with a stone-cold silence.

After another knock, and yet another long pause, Alun was filled with an unexpected feeling of relief. Perhaps this decrepit Victorian building was not the right place after all, and he would have to return home for that missed cup of cocoa.

To his sudden disappointment, the door slid open a fraction, and a pair of suspicious eyes scanned him up and down.

“Password,” said a deep voice.

Oh, yes, Alun thought. He had forgotten about the password.

“Woof-woof? Oh, wait, no — kitty-kitty! That was it — kitty-kitty!”

The figure in the narrow gap let out a disapproving grunt. Eventually, the door swung open to reveal a tall man with an enormous beard. His broad shoulders and giant neck muscles were enough to rival a fierce guard dog, and his forearms resembled those of a famous cartoon sailor man.

“Trevor?” Alun asked.

“Oh, evening, Alun,” said the booming voice. “Try not to use my real name out here on the street, though, if you don’t mind?”

The accountant’s former client, and currently a local insurance salesman, allowed him to enter.

Alun made his way inside and was surprised to find that the former lounge area was indeed full of people. With the windows all blacked out, there was an array of makeshift lighting all hung along the ceiling, and the old bar had been revived with trays of canned drinks.

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