With No One as Witness by Elizabeth George

Author:Elizabeth George [George, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Tags: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Modern
ISBN: 9780060545611
Amazon: B000FCKRD8
Goodreads: 31365
Publisher: Harper
Published: 2005-01-01T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

BARBARA HAVERS WATCHED AS BARRY MINSHALL—AKA Mr. Magic—closed up his stall in the alley. He took his time about it, every movement designed to communicate how much trouble the rozzers were causing him. Down came the display of saucy playthings, all of which had to be placed with undo gentleness in collapsible cardboard boxes that he kept stashed in a pile in a cubbyhole designed for this express purpose above the stall. Put away were the gag items in a similar fashion, as well as a number of the magic tricks. Every object had its particular storage spot, and Minshall made certain it was deposited there in an exact position known only to him. Through all this, Barbara waited in ease. She had all the time he was intent upon demonstrating that he needed. And if he happened to be using that time to concoct a story about Davey Benton and the handcuffs, she herself used it to note those features about the alley that promised to assist her in the coming exchange with Mr. Magic. For there would be an exchange, she knew. This bloke didn’t look the type to stand by idly as she rooted through his van. He was heading for too much trouble for that.

So in the minutes he took to shut up shop, she saw what could help her when the time came to put the thumbscrews on the magician: the CCTV cameras mounted at the mouth of the alley near a Chinese food stall and a bath-salts vendor some six yards away, who was watching Minshall with a great deal of interest even as the vendor devoured a samosa, the grease from which dripped down his hand and into the cuff of his shirt. That bloke, Barbara decided, looked like someone with a tale to tell.

He did, in a manner of speaking, when they passed him a few minutes later on their way out of the alley. He said, “Gotcherself a lady friend, Bar? Now that’s a change, innit? I thought you liked the boys.”

Minshall said pleasantly, “Do go fuck yourself, Miller,” and passed by the stall.

Barbara said, “Hang on,” and paused. She showed her ID to the bath-salts vendor. “Think you could identify some pictures of boys who might’ve hung about his stall in the past few months?” she asked him.

Miller was suddenly cautious. “What sort of boys?”

“The sort who’ve turned up dead all round London.”

He flicked a glance at Minshall. “I don’t want no trouble. I di’n’t know you were a cop when I said—”

“What difference does that make?”

“I di’n’t see anything.” He turned and busied himself with his wares. “It’s dim along here. Wouldn’t know one boy from another anyway.”

“Sure you would, John,” Minshall said. “You spend enough time ogling them, don’t you?” And then to Havers, “Constable, you were interested in my van…?” He continued on his way.

Barbara took note of the vendor’s name. She knew that his remarks about Barry Minshall could mean nothing, as could Minshall’s remarks about him: just the natural animosity that males sometimes have for each other.

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