The Quid Pro Quo by A.L. Lester

Author:A.L. Lester [Lester, A.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JMS Books LLC
Published: 2021-11-03T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

It was unfair of Walter to be so furious with the detective. As the man had said, he was only doing his job.

Frost listened with grave courtesy to Sylvia’s account of their night-time arrangements. “And did you make this public at the police station?” he asked.

“No. Lucy and I discussed it with the solicitor, but we decided I’d come home and speak to you about it. Your sergeant told us you’d come up here.”

Walter was leaning against the stove, arms folded, too hot really on this warm June day, but close enough to renew Sylvia’s tea whenever she needed it. She was a bit bedraggled round the edges—it was a long drive from London. She’d come straight through without stopping, leaving at the crack of dawn after the bare minimum of sleep. She’d received his message when she came back to her friend’s house last night after the lecture. Then she’d been at the police station in Taunton.

He renewed Frost’s tea as well because it would be rude not to and that would upset Sylvia. But he made sure to put all his resentment of the man into every drop he poured into the bone-china teacup. It didn’t make him feel any better. Particularly as the man seemed to be sympathetic to the ladies’ situation.

Walter had suspected there was something there…it wasn’t all on his side, this surprising little tug of attraction. And the statement Frost had made upstairs about understanding the situation…that wasn’t something he’d have said if he hadn’t recognised Walter’s response to him. It wouldn’t have been safe. He’d taken a risk regardless—what if he’d been wrong about Walter?

Walter sighed and turned to put the kettle on again. It was all so complicated. He’d thought he was done with complications and hiding once he’d come out of the army, found himself a comfortable, safe niche with friends and an actual home. It was turning out to be more twisted up than that though, with murder and magic and…kind police detectives who appeared to be about to cover up the fact that Sylvia and Lucy shared a bed…He tuned back to the conversation abruptly.

“What?” he said. “Why would you do that?”

“Do what?” Frost said, eyeing him.

“Encourage them to lie under oath!”

Frost swallowed and Sylvia sat up straighter.

“I…” Frost said. “Er. It’s technically a lie, yes. But it achieves the same ends and it doesn’t harm anyone,” he said eventually. “If Dr Marks tells the truth then…” He paused. “Well, you know.”

Walter nodded. He knew.

“But if Dr Marks says she was insomniac after the disturbance of the evening and having a cup of tea in the early hours in the kitchen…and saw Miss Hall-Bridges come out of her room for a glass of water as she was going back to bed…then that achieves the same ends.”

Sylvia rubbed her palms over her exhausted face. “I need to sleep, gentlemen. I’m so sorry. I can’t think any more until I’ve had a few hours nap.” She looked at Frost. “Is this a trap?” she asked as she pushed herself to her feet.

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