Gently 21 - Gently in Trees by Alan Hunter

Author:Alan Hunter
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781472108791
Publisher: Constable & Robinson
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

OVER A CUP of tea in bed the next morning, Gently reviewed that snap decision. Had he talked himself into it a little, in the way he had handled the Turner interrogation? He examined each stage of the questioning critically. No, he had reserved his judgement till the end. At no point had he allowed himself to treat Turner as any other than an urgent suspect. If the evidence of the fingerprints had been positive he would have accepted it and begun the marathon process of cracking Turner; it was not till then, till the prints failed to match, that he had permitted the judgement suddenly to click. So why now was he querying it, checking it through cautiously, wondering if he was quite so certain this morning?

Turner had received his release in silent stupor, as though unable to grasp what was being said to him. Gently had handed him over to Keynes, who had returned to wait for him after accompanying Sergeant Shadwell to the search of Deerview Cottage. If Keynes was surprised, he had concealed it. This was what he had been expecting, his smile seemed to say. Gently had had his turn with Turner, as with the others, and now they could all call it a day. A bit of obligatory routine . . . and of course, Gently would kindly release the car?

And Gently had released it, just like that, as though agreeably confirming the Keynes script: the car having been minutely scrutinized in the meantime, and samples taken from the tyres and underbody. The two of them had then driven away, using the rear access to avoid the reporters, with Turner sitting dazedly beside Keynes, and Keynes waving cheerily to Gently and Metfield.

A tactical mistake? Gently poured more tea from the Sun’s generous plated teapot. No . . . in some way it was right. It fitted the style which the case was insensibly developing. The case needed rope, room to breathe . . . a decisive move at this point would be a mistake.

He checked his watch, then lifted the phone. After a few more sips he was through to Lyons. Lyons had been to Brighton the previous day and had returned convinced that Walling’s alibi was faked.

‘This Vivian Chance is a proper nana, sir. He’s been done a couple of times for soliciting. One involved a kid under age. I doubt if counsel would risk calling him.’

‘What’s his story, then?’

‘Nothing he can prove. He has a flat in a block facing the front. Separate entrance in a side-road. Lock-up garage at the rear.’

‘Still, what’s he saying?’

‘Same tale as Walling, sir. That Walling was there when he says he was. Arrived Saturday lunchtime, left at seven-thirty on Sunday.’

‘And didn’t leave the flat all that time?’

‘Yes, sir. They went for a drive on Sunday. Into Lewes then down to Eastbourne, and a picnic on the downs at Beachy Head.’

‘But no witnesses.’

‘None, sir. Unless they were spotted at Beachy Head. But it’s pretty thick there on Sundays, and that was the only place where they’re supposed to have stopped.

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