What Would Wimsey Do? by Guy Fraser-Sampson

Author:Guy Fraser-Sampson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Felony & Mayhem Press
Published: 2019-10-04T16:00:00+00:00

“Karen, it’s Bob,” Metcalfe said on the phone later, as he walked through the rather depressing environs of Barking station. “We’ve got a problem—with the Clarke case.”

“What?”

“The guvnor rang me earlier. Somebody contacted the Yard with apparent alibi evidence that puts Clarke well away from the scene on the Hillyer killing. Said Clarke was staying the night in a hostel in Barking. Well, I’ve just been there and it checks out. They keep a record of all overnight guests and sure enough his name is in the book.”

“That doesn’t prove it was him,” she pointed out. “He might have got someone to stay there and give his name.”

“I agree, but then it doesn’t really make sense, does it? Why go to all the trouble of constructing an alibi for yourself and then not raise it in court?”

“Quite right,” she said gloomily. “Then it looks like we’ve goofed, though God knows how or when. I thought the case was so strong. Absolutely everything fell nicely into place.”

“I know. I feel really choked. I was convinced we’d got our man. Now it looks as if we’ll have to start all over again.”

“So what happens now? I suppose Clarke will be released pending an appeal, which we won’t contest?”

“Haven’t you heard?” Metcalfe said awkwardly. “He’s dead. Attacked in prison yesterday. Died in hospital this morning.”

“Oh my God…” Her voice trailed away.

“There’s more,” he said grimly. “The new witness was found by Tom Allen, who has apparently been as good as his word and has been pursuing a parallel investigation on his own.”

“Damn the man!”

“I know how you feel. Don’t forget he dropped me right in it. But you’ve got to give credit where it’s due. His instinct told him we’d got the wrong man and he worried away at the case until he found something.”

“He just wanted to prove us wrong, if you ask me.”

“Agreed—but he did.”

“Have you told Collison?”

“Yes, just now before I rang you.”

“Poor man. How is he?”

“Subdued,” said Metcalfe with the air of a man choosing his words with care.

“That,” she said, “is nothing to what Peter is going to feel. Oh God—and I have to tell him.”

“Collison wants us to reconvene at Hampstead tomorrow. I’m arranging to have all the files brought out of storage. It means setting up the incident room and starting all over again. I think I’ve managed to grab Priya Desai, but I’m not sure about the others yet.”

“OK, I’ll see you then.”

She rang off and sat down, where she stayed staring blankly out of the window for a long time. Then she took a deep breath and walked into the next room where Peter sat at his desk, taking notes as he read.

“Peter, darling,” she said. “There’s something I have to tell you.”

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