Death on Demand
Page 26
“I see. Would I be correct in assuming Scholes would have a good idea of Hayes’s current circumstances and whereabouts?”
“I’d say so.”
“Well, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, what about Scholes? He’s as free as the breeze, thanks to us.”
“I’m not finished with Johnny Scholes. He belongs to me now.”
McGrail felt slightly foolish, which didn’t happen very often. He should have known Ihaka would be relentless. One way or another, his justice would reach all those who deserved it.
“That makes it sound like you’re staying?”
“I guess that’s up to Charlton.”
“It’s most definitely not up to Charlton. It’s up to you and me.”
“Well, yeah, but—”
“I know what you mean. You’re thinking about how it would work. I don’t think you should be concerned about Charlton. He’s in your debt now, which of course is the very last place he wants to be. Having said that, Charlton’s driving force is ambition. He wants people around him who get results, so that he’s seen as someone who gets results. Believe me, if you want to come back, Charlton won’t stand in your way. He’ll swallow hard, grit his teeth and pretend it was his idea. Firkitt’s another matter altogether. I’m pleased to say I have no insight into what goes on inside that head.”
“Firkitt I’m not too worried about. One of these days, out of the blue, he’ll take a swing at me, and then honour will be satisfied.”
“In that case, welcome back, Sergeant. I think a toast is in order. Goodness me, we seem to have finished the bottle.”
“Sir, I’ve known you long enough to have the strong sense that you will have planned for just such an eventuality.”
McGrail sighed. “Unfortunately, Sergeant, you’re absolutely correct. Again.”
Ihaka had dinner with Miriam Lovell, who had a more robust appetite for food and wine than her slim build and vegetarian aura had led him to expect. In fact, as they started their main courses she moved the bottle of Pinot Noir closer to her, telling Ihaka that just because he drank faster than she did, that didn’t mean he was going to get more than his fair share. He defused the stand-off by ordering another bottle.
As they waited for their taxis she told him, in a matter-of-fact way because she believed at their stage in life there was no point in not being upfront about these things, that she was open to the idea of a relationship but would want to take it slowly. She’d got to quite like being single and was in no rush to alter her routine. Ihaka said he could relate to that. They agreed to touch base in the morning, with a view to maybe getting together for brunch.
The next morning, a Saturday, Ihaka was awoken by his cellphone’s text message alert. The text, sent from Denise Hadlow’s phone, said, “Hey sargent ths is Billy. Im playing at the Domain at nine. Be real cool if you could come. Mum thinks so to.”
Ihaka looked at his watch. It was 8.35. He rolled out of bed and headed for the shower.
Acknowledgements
I’d like to thank my sister, Susan Thomas, for her legal expertise.
This novel contains material from a serial I wrote for the New Zealand Herald several years ago. Thanks to NZH editor Tim Murphy for his support and to APN News & Media for permission to reproduce the material concerned.
Finally, I wish to express my sincere thanks to Creative New Zealand, whose generous support greatly facilitated the writing of this novel.
Paul Thomas
Wellington
November 2011
BITTER LEMON PRESS
First published in the United Kingdom in 2013 by
Bitter Lemon Press, 37 Arundel Gardens,
London W11 2LW
www.bitterlemonpress.com
First published in New Zealand by
Hachette New Zealand Ltd., 2012
© Paul Thomas, 2012
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced in any form or by any means without
written permission of the publisher
The moral right of Paul Thomas has
been asserted in accordance with the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
A CIP record for this book is available
from the British Library
eISBN : 978-1-908-52418-8
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