A Necessary End by Anthea Fraser

Author:Anthea Fraser [Fraser, Anthea]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biographies & Memoirs, True Crime, Murder & Mayhem, Literature & Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Thrillers & Suspense, Suspense
ISBN: 9780708915554
Publisher: Endeavour Press
Published: 1986-12-01T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

The receptionist looked up as they walked into the hall. It wasn’t the girl they’d seen previously.

‘Good afternoon, can I help you?’

Webb produced his card. ‘We’d like a word with one of your chefs, please. Monsieur — Bouvier, is it?’

‘Yes, of course. Would you like to go to the kitchen, or shall I send for him?’

Webb glanced round the reception area and the lounge beyond. It was deserted. ‘It would be easier to talk here.’

‘Certainly. I won’t keep you a moment.’

Jackson looked about him. The hotel was furnished like a country house. There were landscape paintings on the walls and the furniture, though elegant and decorative, looked comfortable. ‘Plush, isn’t it?’ he said.

‘It should be. People think nothing of driving out from London, never mind Bath or Gloucester, for the pleasure of eating here. The M4 upset the farmers, but it was the making of this place.’

The pastry chef was coming warily towards them. He was a small man and to Jackson seemed typically French. He had dark hair, mostly hidden under his tall hat, large brown eyes like an unhappy spaniel and a comically drooping moustache. Had he been playing the part on stage, he couldn’t have been more in character.

‘Messieurs?’

‘Good afternoon, Chef. There’s a point in your statement we’d like to check, please. You informed us that Mr Henry Pendrick spent Wednesday afternoon under your supervision.’

‘Oui. That is correct.’

‘The whole afternoon?’

‘Not entirely, monsieur. He was for a while with his father.’ The chef had the usual Gallic difficulty with his ‘th’. ‘His father?’ Webb frowned. ‘Are you sure?’

A shrug. ‘Well, monsieur, I assumed — ’

‘Why did you assume, Chef?’

‘Because Monsieur Henri tell me he go out for a while. And when later I go to speak wiz Monsieur Pendrick, he is not there. Two, three times I return and still his office is empty. So I assume he is gone out with Monsieur Henri.’

‘You’re saying,’ Webb said slowly, ‘that Mr Pendrick senior was not in his office on Wednesday afternoon?’

‘Oh, assuredly he was there at one time. But not, as you say, the ’ole afternoon.’

‘What time was it that you looked for him?’

Bouvier raised his shoulders. ‘At five, again at the quarter, and at almost six o’clock.’

‘I see. And when did Mr Henry Pendrick leave you?’

‘At four, I think. He had done what was required. I did not expect his return.’

‘Thank you, Chef. You’ve been very helpful.’

‘De rien, monsieur.’

He walked quickly away and Webb and Jackson followed more slowly.

‘We’ll have a word with Mr Pendrick now,’ Webb told the receptionist.

‘Shall I see — ?’

‘Never mind, we know the way.’

The door was heavy, of polished mahogany. Webb knocked firmly and Pendrick’s voice called, ‘Come.’ Jackson grinned to himself and followed his superior into the room. It was large and attractively decorated, more like a study than an office, with easy chairs and a drinks cabinet. During the interviews on Saturday, the Governor had been behind the desk. Now, Pendrick was seated there, but he rose as they went in.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.