One Fatal Flaw by Anne Perry

Author:Anne Perry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2020-04-06T16:00:00+00:00

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THE NEXT DAY was the nightmare Daniel expected it to be. If only Miriam and Ottershaw were to make a breakthrough in their experiments, but Miriam had sent word that they were making slow progress. Unfortunately, Fimber was good. In fact, he was very good. He called Quarles to testify in detail as to all his investigations, first those that led him to suspect not just murder, but specifically murder by Jessie Beale. He traced the rise of the Jackson brothers in their criminal enterprises from small beginnings as hired minor players in violence, bullying, and petty extortion, through their current position as major operators in smuggling and stealing works of considerable worth imported from the Middle East. Then he described the rival gang of Adwell, which had frequently threatened them, but never acted.

Kitteridge rose each time he had a point on anything that could be argued. Sometimes Fimber was obscure or made a claim with no substantiation. He came perilously close to being obvious in his carelessness. Every point Kitteridge raised, Fimber was able to clear up, but he did it meticulously, using up time.

Once the judge actually admonished him to be more careful in his presentation. It was impossible to tell whether he knew exactly what Fimber was doing. Intentionally. It was a razor’s edge. “You’re taking your success for granted, Mr. Fimber,” he said critically. “We are dealing with a very serious crime. Mr. Kitteridge is correct to challenge you. He’s fighting for his client’s life. Address this with a little more persuasion. You are coming perilously close to wasting the court’s time. Do not oblige me to chastise you again.”

“No, Your Honor,” Fimber said contritely.

From where he sat several yards away, Daniel could see the color rise up his cheeks. Fimber had given them all he could and it would be Kitteridge’s turn to call his defense witnesses next. He knew that Fimber’s time-wasting had been to reinforce his arguments and put off the moment when Sir Barnabas Saltram came to speak in Jessie’s defense. Fimber had well proved Jessie Beale’s motive for wanting Adwell dead. She was after control of the entire operation.

“We’ve got to call Saltram,” Kitteridge said miserably as they walked up the street in the rain, toward the public house for a hot slice of pie before separating to go to their respective homes.

Daniel knew it. They could not go down without a fight, especially if it was possible to win if they tried hard enough. There were lots of loose ends, other people involved.

“Fimber’s left enough loose ends for us to pull,” Daniel pointed out as they sat down at a small table and ordered hot food.

“It’s a bit early,” the waitress said.

Daniel smiled at her. “I know, but we’re cold and wet, and we’ve a long way to go home. And we’re losing a case at the court down the road. We need someone to be kind to us. Preferably, someone serving hot food.” He smiled again.

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