The Vicar's Confession by Phillip Strang

Author:Phillip Strang [Strang, Phillip]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-05-26T22:00:00+00:00

***

Frank Vaughan sat in Homicide. He had survived the initial enquiry into Andreas Maybury, had not been killed as Alan Taverne had, nor compromised as Bertie Wentworth had been. But it had come at a cost – regional stations on the periphery of the main action.

‘What do you want, Chief Inspector?’ Isaac asked.

‘I heard that you’d solved the woman’s murder.’

‘We did. It’s been widely reported.’

‘And that you are not certain that Hepworth killed Maybury?’

Either the man was obtuse, or else it was for a purpose, Isaac thought.

‘Hepworth killed Maybury. Of that, we are certain, although the reason for your visit today is suspicious.’

‘I took advantage of one of Maybury’s women,’ Vaughan said. ‘I know I denied it, but you’re not going to give up with this one. It would look bad if you found out from someone else.’

‘From whom?”

‘Tinto knows.’

‘How? It was before his time.’

‘Four years ago, it wasn’t.’

‘You met with Andreas?’

‘It was a bad time for me. My wife had moved out, not because I was putting it about, but I was at work more than I was at home. She couldn’t take the isolation, my coming home late of a night, not wanting to talk. You know what it’s like.’

Isaac did. ‘And?’ he said.

‘I phoned Andreas, more for old times’ sake, asked if he could get me into one of his members-only clubs, to have a drink, break the monotony of an empty house. As I said, a bad time, and Andreas, he’s friendly, invites me down.’

‘You weren’t suspicious?’

‘It was me that asked him, but after six months of looking at four walls of a night, I needed a change of scenery.’

‘You went to the club; what happened?’

‘A few drinks, a few chats, nothing untoward. After about three hours, I start talking to a woman. She’s classy, speaks well, interested in my life story. That night, she stays with me at Maybury’s house. I had twigged it after a while at the club, but I thought, what does it matter. If Maybury does me a favour, I’ve nothing he wants. It’s what happens when you’re down; you start to believe whatever you want, even your ravings.

‘The next day, after she’s gone, there’s Andreas. He’s agreeable, asked me how the night was, and would I like to make it a regular occurrence. I told him straight that I hadn’t agreed with Wentworth, but I had gone along with his investigation’s whitewash, even told him I had protected myself against harm. Andreas shows me some photos. It’s me and the woman in bed, the same as with Wentworth. I’m cornered and in trouble, not sure what to do.’

‘Do you need a lawyer?’ Isaac asked.

‘I’ve not finished. I told Andreas that he’d got photos, but the most he can do is embarrass me since I’m single. I bluffed him.’

‘His reaction?’

‘He called in Tinto, told him what was going on, and how I wasn’t playing ball.’

‘After that?’

‘Nothing. I went back home, worried about it for a few days, and then got on with life.

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