The Excluded Exile (A Nick Williams Mystery Book 12) by Butterfield Frank W

Author:Butterfield, Frank W. [Butterfield, Frank W.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2017-06-29T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

2 George Road

Friday, February 25, 1955

Around a quarter past 7 in the evening

"Are you sure you're OK with this?" That was Carter. We were both standing by the door.

Even though we had Tom's story about where he'd been, I wanted to go to the Long Bar and see if we could find Jimmy Branch. We'd had a light supper of more sandwiches and beer that Murphy had picked up at the local pub.

"We'll be fine, boyo." That was Captain O'Reilly.

I said, "I'd really rather you two came with us."

He shook his head. "No, thank you. I'll not step foot in that place again. Getting thrown out once was enough for me."

Murphy nodded in agreement. "Besides, we need to be here in case that father comes back."

Carter sighed. "But what if he's the killer?"

Murphy walked up to Carter and looked up at him. "You want me to show you how I deal with men who get in my way?"

Carter backed up a couple of steps and held out his hands. "No, Mr. Murphy. I believe you."

O'Reilly and I laughed. But Murphy didn't.

"Fine," I said, "We're leaving. Call the police station if anything happens. I left the number by the phone."

Murphy turned on me. His eyes were blazing. "Get the fuck outta here." He stared at me hard. He was clenching both his fists.

I backed up. "Fine."

He relaxed all over and smiled. "Now do you believe me?"

Carter reached over and grabbed me by the arm, pulling me through the door as he said, "We both believe you. And we're leaving. Now." Pushing me down the stairs in the rain, he said, "That was the scariest thing I've ever seen."

I said, "Sure the hell was," as I opened the door to the Holden and let Carter get in so he could scoot over to the driver's side. Once I was in and the door was closed, he started the engine, put the thing in reverse, and got us out of there and fast.

. . .

As we were driving along, I said, "Did you notice that other Holden was gone when we got back from the police station?"

"Yeah." He was keeping his eyes on the road. The going was slow. We were in a line of cars that were creeping along the water-covered road.

"I'm pretty sure I know who was in it."

"Who?" asked Carter.

"Wilkerson. That ass of a manager at the hotel."

"How do you figure?"

"Think about it. How did he know about that house being for lease? He said he had a friend who lived nearby. That must be this Jimmy Branch. Wilkerson must have seen that Branch had company so he waited in his car until the visitors left."

"Now who's stretching things?" The car skidded for a moment. I grabbed the dashboard as Carter turned into the skid and the wheels straightened out.

"I know it's a stretch. But I have a feeling he has something to do with all this."

Carter said, "Well, let's find out what this Jimmy knows first. One thing at a time.

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