Silvermeadow by Barry Maitland

Author:Barry Maitland
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: ebook, book
ISBN: 9781742695341
Publisher: Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd
Published: 2011-06-05T22:00:00+00:00

10

Kathy didn’t sleep well, her mind troubled by dreams of dark forests and lost children. She rose early, made a pot of tea and left a mug beside Leon, but didn’t wake him. He was still sleeping deeply when she left.

She was waiting for Winston Starkey as soon as the arcade owner opened up his premises. He looked as if he’d had a bad night too, and he hardly heard what she was saying as he rolled up the security grille. He made her repeat it, then stared at her with hostile suspicion.

‘That’s crap,’ he said. ‘I know the kid you mean, but he doesn’t stay here, and if you get me into trouble telling people he does I’ll sue you, see if I don’t.’

Harry Jackson appeared, strolling round his domain on a first morning inspection, and joined them. He was startled by Kathy’s story. ‘You saw him in here? In the dark? At midnight?’

Starkey made an elaborate performance of insisting that they search the place. There wasn’t the slightest trace of the boy. He and Jackson conferred while Kathy had another look behind the machines at the rear of the space, without result. By the time she left with Jackson she could almost believe that it had been a dream.

He led her out into the deserted food court and asked if they could have a word.

‘Just to get this straight, Kathy. You were in here on your own, at midnight, were you? Did my people know? I didn’t notice a note in their report.’

Kathy outlined her conversation with the security guard. She was aware of becoming defensive as Jackson probed.

‘You know about the dog patrol, do you?’

‘Yes, your man warned me. I left in time.’

‘Hmm.’ He said nothing for a moment, staring down at the toe of his polished shoe tapping silently on the patterned terrazzo.

‘Is Starkey a suspect now, then?’ he asked slowly.

‘No.’

‘But you were staking his place out at midnight. How about Verdi, is he a suspect?’

‘Harry, I can’t discuss—’

‘You see, I thought you were reaching a conclusion on this case. I thought Eddie Testor was your prime suspect, no? In fact, understand that Chief Superintendent Forbes is holding a press conference this morning to announce significant progress.’

‘Gavin told you that?’

Jackson frowned at her. ‘No, Kathy,’ he said softly. ‘The PR people at Hornchurch Street advised Bo’s office last night. So what do you want me to tell my boss? That despite what Forbes is telling us, interrogation of our people is continuing indiscriminately all over Silvermeadow?’

Our people. It was the first time Kathy had heard anyone refer to Starkey as that.

The sense of unease still hung in the air of unit 184 when Kathy returned there. Chief Superintendent Forbes had arrived and was deep in conversation with Brock.

‘I had assumed that we’d be able to announce that charges had been laid against Testor, Brock,’ he said. ‘Swift justice, that was going to be the gist of it, but now, well, what have we got?’

‘Yes. Unfortunately the picture is still incomplete.

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