The Scent of Death--A Sukey Reyholds British police procedural (12 page)

‘… didn't have the strength to pull the hands away, but dug his heels into the ground, probably kicked out frantically at his assailant's shins, first with one foot and then with the other – or maybe both at the same time; we've no way of telling, but when he stopped kicking the assailant probably let him go.'

Vicky shook her head. ‘I think he's more likely to have kept up the pressure until he was completely sure his victim was dead, and then he'd slip quietly away.' She lowered the feet to the ground and stood upright. ‘I wonder if he managed to inflict some bruises on the attacker's shins before he passed out,' she said. ‘On second thoughts, though, those are very light shoes – I doubt if there'd be much in the way of bruising.'

‘We might find someone with mud on their trousers,' said Sukey, ‘but of course, they'll have had plenty of time to brush or sponge it off. Do we know what time his friend found the body?'

‘Not until quite late, judging from the time DI Rathbone called us,' said Vicky. ‘Well, I don't think there's much more we can do here. They might as well take him to the morgue. I suppose we'd better check with Sir first and then perhaps Reg's pal Keith will feel up to answering a few questions. All right, guys, you've passed your test,' she added with a jaunty wave to the two CSIs. ‘Enjoy your smoke but make sure you put the stubs in the box by the door.'

Bill gave a mock salute. ‘Will do, Sarge.'

They found DI Rathbone sitting in reception nursing a mug of coffee. ‘Freeman and his mob are still having breakfast,' he said. ‘I've told him we've got to interview everyone all over again and he's not a happy bunny. I have a feeling he and Chapman are of the same mind – for two pins they'd chuck in the towel and retire to the country to raise chickens.'

‘So exactly when did they hear about Law's death, Guv?' asked Sukey.

‘Not right away; by the time the guy who found him had pulled himself together and come rushing into the hotel to raise the alarm they were all upstairs for their evening sing-song. That would have been some time after eight thirty. The ones who went straight to bed after the evening's programme probably didn't hear about it until this morning, either when they looked out of their windows and saw the police or when they came down to breakfast this morning. The barman told the ones who went for their usual nightcap and of course they all went rushing out like a load of ghouls in the hope of seeing the body. Did you find anything?'

‘Nothing that the CSIs hadn't spotted, but we made a couple of observations that gave us some idea of how things would have looked to an observer,' said Vicky. ‘We'll mention them in our reports. We're wondering if this might be a good time to talk to Law's friend – the one who found him.'

‘He's been having breakfast in his room – that is, the room Chapman let him use for the night. I made it clear that he's to talk to no one else until you've seen him. Chapman's in his office – he'll show you where he's been stashed away.'

Keith Gunn was sitting in an armchair in a small bedroom on the second floor. He appeared to be a couple of years older than Law and of a sturdier build. It crossed Sukey's mind that had he been attacked he might have put up a better fight than his friend. He was clutching a mug of coffee; there was a tray on his lap bearing an empty glass that appeared to have contained fruit juice, a bowl of half-eaten cereal and some untouched toast and marmalade. When Sukey and Vicky entered he hastily jumped to his feet and put the tray on a table, spilling some of the coffee over his trousers as he did so.

‘Oh, silly me!' he exclaimed. He ran to fetch a towel from the en suite shower room and dabbed at the stain. ‘You'll have to bear with me – I'm still very upset. Poor Reggie …' He put the towel to his eyes. ‘It was obvious he was scared of something and I begged him to be careful. There must be a serial killer about – is anyone safe?'

‘We don't think for a moment that this was a random killing,' said Vicky. ‘We think it's possible that your friend saw the attack on Mr Rainbird and that the attacker knew and killed him before he could tell us. We want to find the person who killed your friend and we need your help. Do you feel up to answering a few questions?'

‘Of course,' he said. ‘I'll do anything.' Although he was evidently still in a state of shock it was clear that he was making a serious effort to control himself.

‘Just take your time,' Vicky went on. ‘Finish your coffee.'

‘Oh, thank you.' He drained the mug and put it on the tray. ‘I'm ready,' he said.

‘Good man. First of all, we understand that when you were telling Mr Chapman that you'd found Reggie's body you said something about him being worried and that he told you he “might have done something stupid”. Is that right?'

‘Yes.'

‘When did he say that?'

‘It was on Sunday, while we were setting up the tea things for the guests. They'd had a free afternoon and were due back about half past five.'

‘Is that all he said?'

Gunn put a hand to his forehead. ‘I can't remember the exact words, but the gist of it was that he thought he'd done something stupid and should have gone to the police instead of trying to be clever, and then he said, “Sorry, got to go,” and ended the call. I guessed it was because the guests had started to come back for their tea and I assumed he'd tell me later. And that was the last time I spoke to him.' His voice trailed away and he covered his eyes.

‘All right,' said Vicky, ‘we'll leave it at that for now. About yesterday evening; tell us why you were by the lake.'

‘I went out for some air.'

‘What time would that have been?'

‘I can't tell you to the minute, but it must have been some time after half past eight. I'd been serving the after dinner coffee; most of the guests had left the dining room so I and one of the other waiters were helping to clear the table and take the used cutlery and crockery into the kitchen.'

‘So having done that you went outside?' He nodded. ‘Is this something you do regularly when you come off duty in the evening?'

‘Not regularly. Reggie always goes – went – out for a smoke and if we were on the same shift I usually went with him, but I don't smoke.' His voice faltered and he choked back a sob. ‘I can't believe he's gone.'

‘Would it be fair to say that the two of you were very close?' asked Sukey.

‘Yes … very close,' he whispered.

‘So tell us about last night.'

‘Last night it was warm in the hotel and as I said, I felt in the need of air. And I was concerned about him, wondering why he hadn't come back to me …' His voice trailed away. ‘Poor dear Reggie.'

‘You were concerned about what he'd said?' He nodded. ‘So finding him like that must have thrown you into a state of shock. What did you do?'

‘I took his hand and called his name, but he didn't answer so I thought he must have been taken ill … that is, I hoped that was all it was, but I think I knew straight away that he was dead. Anyway, I suppose I panicked and went rushing back to the hotel and told Mr Chapman.'

‘And that really is all you can tell us?' said Vicky.

He gave a deep sigh. ‘I'm afraid so.'

‘Well, if you think of anything else we'll be around for a while. I guess you'd like to go home now.'

‘Thank you. Oh, I do hope you find who killed him. And the other gentleman, of course.'

‘We will,' said Sukey.

They went back downstairs and reported the conversation to Rathbone. ‘Do you know who interviewed Law after Rainbird's death?' he asked.

‘It was neither of us,' said Vicky. ‘It must have been either Mike or Tim.'

‘Well, find out which of them it was. From what Gunn told you it's obvious Law saw something suspicious – presumably the attack on Rainbird – but decided to use it to his own advantage rather than mentioning it to us.'

‘It certainly looks that way, Guv,' said Sukey. ‘Ah, there's Mike, he's just finished questioning Millie.' She signalled to DI Haskins as he was about to follow Millie upstairs. ‘Just a quick word – was it you or Tim who interviewed Law after the Rainbird death?'

‘I did,' said Mike. ‘I wanted a chance to speak to you about him, sir.' He opened the folder he was carrying and ran a finger down a list. ‘I remembered having some doubts about whether Law was holding something back or just so nervous and upset that he couldn't remember anything clearly. He admitted being outside having a smoke; said he nips out whenever he has an opportunity because of course smoking inside the hotel is forbidden. What he couldn't – or wouldn't – say was exactly where he was at the time we think the attack took place. All he would say was that he couldn't be sure because he strolled about a bit. But he was adamant that he didn't see anything suspicious.'

‘It's pretty obvious he did see something, so the reason he decided not to tell us must have been so that he could screw some hush money out of someone,' said Rathbone.

‘Which could only mean that he saw Rainbird being attacked – and recognized the attacker.'

‘Right.'

‘So there were three people out there on Friday evening: Rainbird who said he was going out for some air but who we now believe had arranged to meet someone, probably the man who attacked him, the attacker himself, and Reg Law who witnessed the attack and thought he'd try a spot of blackmail.'

‘I'm wondering whether we should have another word with Eric Bowen, sir,' said Sukey. ‘When Vicky and I spoke to him after Romeo's accident he admitted that when he went down to check that his car was locked he'd seen two men talking together by the lake but didn't recognize either of them.'

‘That's right,' said Vicky. ‘Hugh Pearson told us how security conscious Bowen is and checked his car every evening to make sure it was locked. We asked Bowen why he hadn't mentioned this and he said he must have forgotten.'

‘We warned him that if he was – or if the killer thought he was – a potential witness, then he could be in danger himself. He appeared shaken, but he didn't say any more.'

‘So go and have another talk with him,' said Rathbone. ‘All right,' he said to Mike, ‘carry on interviewing the music lovers. I think maybe I'll have another check on the staff.'

‘That means reading through the list of names while swigging yet another coffee,' Vicky whispered to Sukey as they followed Mike upstairs to the Orchard Room. ‘We'd like another word with Mr Bowen,' she said to Freeman. ‘It should only take a moment.'

‘Bowen's not here,' said Freeman. ‘He wasn't at breakfast either. Maybe he's ill.'

‘I don't think so,' said Hugh Pearson. ‘He had breakfast in his room – a waiter had just put a full English on a tray outside his door when I came down.'

‘Thanks, we'll go and have a look,' said Sukey.

When they knocked on Bowen's door he called, ‘Who is it?'

‘DS Armstrong and DC Reynolds,' said Vicky. ‘May we come in, please? We need to speak to you.'

‘Just a moment.' There was a rattle of a chain and the door opened a fraction. Bowen peered through the crack and after a moment released the chain and opened the door. He closed it behind them, replaced the chain, and then, after a moment's thought, undid it and picked up the breakfast tray from which most of the food had been eaten. ‘I wonder – would you mind?' he said nervously.

‘No problem.' Sukey put the tray outside the door and closed it.

‘Sit down, Mr Bowen,' said Vicky. ‘We've been checking on your replies to our previous questions and it's perfectly obvious that you've been holding out on us. We warned you that any witnesses to the attack on Lance Rainbird might themselves be in danger, but you declined to say anything further. Now there's been another death – and it's obvious you're scared stiff, so we think it's time you came clean. What exactly did you see?'

‘I saw two men, one of whom I'm pretty sure was Lance Rainbird although as I said it was quite dark.'

‘What about the other man?'

‘He was in even deeper shadow and I could only see his outline. I really have no idea who it was.'

‘Was he short or tall? Fat or thin?' asked Sukey.

‘Pretty tall, probably several inches taller than Rainbird, and quite well built. That really is all I can tell you. Look, it could be one of several people and I don't want to throw suspicion on an innocent person.'

‘Well, as you say there are several people who might fit that description,' said Vicky. ‘Just the same, what you have told us could be very useful. I suggest you go and join your group now. As long as you don't go wandering off by yourself you have nothing to fear. Enjoy the music.'

‘All right, perhaps I will … if you're sure.'

‘Quite sure.'

As the two detectives opened the door to leave a waiter was just collecting the empty tray. He hurried along the corridor ahead of them and they exchanged glances. ‘He fits that description!' said Vicky. ‘I'll get his name.' She ran after him and after a brief word returned to Sukey. ‘Mal Carter. We'll do another check on him.'

‘I've just thought of another person who fits Bowen's description,' said Sukey.

‘Who's that?'

‘John Grayson, aka Romeo.'

‘W
e'd better bring DI Rathbone up to date,' said Vicky. ‘No prizes for guessing where we'll find him.'

‘In the lounge or the bar having coffee?'

‘Right.'

They were mistaken in the location only. Rathbone, coffee mug in hand, was pacing to and fro a short distance from the place where Law's body was found. ‘Well?' he said as they approached.

‘Bowen admitted that he had been holding out on us, Guv,' said Vicky. ‘He saw someone he thinks was probably Rainbird talking to another man who approached him out of the shadows. He said he wasn't sure of the identity of either man and insisted he didn't want to incriminate an innocent person. And he's scared witless because he thinks there's a serial killer about. We think we managed to reassure him on that point.'