Bill and the Mary Ann Shaughnessy by Catherine Cookson

Author:Catherine Cookson [Cookson, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780385401630
Google: H3KUAAAACAAJ
Goodreads: 3107922
Publisher: Corgi
Published: 1992-07-15T04:58:16+00:00

The Inspector was addressing himself to Mr Taggart, saying, ‘That seemed our main hope, that he was with his mother. You are sure, sir, that he isn’t?’

‘Positive, positive.’ Mr Taggart shook his head vigorously, then ran his hand round his pale worried face. ‘Anyway, she’s coming here. She should arrive somewhere around six.’

‘She told you, you say, that she put her address on the letter?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then he could still be on his way to her.’

‘It doesn’t take nearly two days to get to East Croydon.’

‘No, no, you’re right there.’ The Inspector nodded slowly. ‘But a lot of things can happen to a young boy to delay him.’

‘I don’t think my son would go to his mother without my permission.’

‘You don’t know what young boys will do when they are emotionally disturbed. As you said yourself, sir, he was upset at his mother’s absence.’ The Inspector now turned to Jonathan and for a third time in the last half an hour he said, ‘Now think again. Tell me exactly what he said before he left the boat.’

Jonathan bit on his lip and the Inspector put in quickly, ‘Yes, I know you’ve told me everything you can remember, but there’s often some little thing that escapes the memory and it could turn out to be of great assistance to us…just think.’

‘Well,’ said Jonathan once again; ‘he said, “If I’m not back on time mind, don’t you leave the fat chop for me,” and then he looked at Malcolm and said, “And don’t forget, galley boy, to take the eyes out of the spuds. They watched my every bite yesterday.”’

Malcolm nodded in confirmation, and not even the policeman smiled now as he had done when he first heard it.

The Inspector put his head on one side and looked down at Bill, and reaching over Malcolm’s knee he rubbed Bill’s muzzle, then remarked casually, ‘You caused a bit of a rumpus up at The Royal Oak I hear. Gave some folks a laugh, but not everybody…Your trip has been quite eventful, hasn’t it?’ The Inspector’s head was turned to the side now and his eyes were resting on Jonathan. ‘Being moored near the reed cutter when it started up; and before that gallivanting down the river in the middle of the night…’

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