The House Guest by Alison James

Author:Alison James [James, Alison]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781837907618
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2023-10-31T16:00:00+00:00

Time is of the essence when it comes to Summer’s crazy plot, and she has impressed on me that I have no time to waste carrying out my part in it.

So, that evening, I tell Juliet I’ve got a meeting with the PCC and head down to Nether Benfield’s pub, The Crown and Cushion. You could say that I’m on a recruitment drive, and I have a particular target. The landlord’s son, a hulking 6’5” gym rat called Harvey. A well-known petrolhead, with a conviction for joyriding. I’ve caught him giving my Range Rover the once-over when it’s been parked in the Crown’s car park. I’ve also heard rumours that he supplements his wages from helping out behind the bar with a little dealing in banned substances. Steroids, by the look of him.

The landlord, Brian Curwen, greets me with a nod and serves me a shot of single malt, which I take to a corner table and nurse for nearly an hour, scrolling through my phone mindlessly until Harvey Curwen finally appears and starts collecting glasses and emptying ashtrays. He glances frequently in the direction of the door, and, sure enough, one of his mates lopes in wearing cheap sportswear, his face hidden by his hoodie. Harvey nods in the direction of the door out to the car park, and the youth turns round and goes out the way he came in.

I drain my glass and head outside, skirting the building to the narrow passage by the door to the kitchens. Lo and behold, the little scrote in the hoodie is being handed something in a twist of paper, and pulling out a couple of ten-pound notes, which Harvey shoves in the back pocket of his jeans. I take a quick snap on my phone, then press back against the side of the building, staying out of sight until Hoodie has sloped off again. Then I step out and intercept Harvey as he’s about to go back through the kitchen door.

‘I don’t know what was in that wrap, but I’m guessing it wasn’t legal,’ I say, with a grin and a shrug. ‘I’m also guessing you wouldn’t want your old man finding out.’

Brian Curwen is one of the church wardens at St Peter’s, and his own father used to be the local police sergeant. He’s straight as a die. His brother Kevin – conveniently for me, as it turns out – owns the local scrapyard.

Harvey scowls and shoves his hand into the pocket where he has just put the cash, pushing it down further. ‘You’re not going to tell him, right?’

‘That depends.’

‘On what?’

‘On you doing a little job for me. And keeping this shut about it afterwards.’ I mime a zipping motion across my mouth.

He shrugs. ‘What kind of job?’

‘Oh, don’t worry, I’m pretty sure you’re going to enjoy it.’

I beckon him to follow me into the car park, and point to the Range Rover, pulling out the key and waggling it in his face. ‘It involves having a go at this…’

Harvey’s face lights up.

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