Daniel’s mind raced. If what Bainbridge was saying was true and he had refused the loan, he wasn’t the loan shark Suzie thought was involved. Derek had approached him to borrow the money to pay back a loan he had acquired elsewhere. He turned back to Bainbridge.
“So you sent him away without as much as a backward glance. Not your problem, is that it?”
“Inspector—”
Daniel stood and walked to the door. “Save it. Despite the fact that I did not know whether or not you had Derek Palmer as a client when I walked in here...”
“Hey, you said you had evidence that Mr. Palmer was my client,” protested Bainbridge.
“No, I asked what would you say if I did. Completely different. Luckily for you, I think you’re telling the truth, which means you have eliminated yourself from my inquiries—for the time being.”
For the first time since Daniel had arrived, Bainbridge’s stiff shoulders relaxed. “I have? Good, that’s good. Mr. Palmer was scared, Inspector. Scared for his life and I truly did what I could to help except for the one thing he wanted. Giving him the money.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this in the first place and save me a lot of time? I could still arrest you for keeping this information from me, you know.”
“I didn’t tell you because I’d heard about Mr. Palmer’s killing on the news.” He turned away. “I’m a father, Inspector, and I will not risk my life for anybody other than my children. I knew he was running scared from someone and whoever that someone was could have just as easily come after me.”
Daniel nodded. Bainbridge wasn’t the first person to feel that way and certainly wouldn’t be the last.
“Don’t go disappearing anywhere. I may be back.”
And with that, Daniel walked from the office and back out into the street. Bainbridge was pretty much out of the loop but Derek had still owed money to someone. Daniel pursed his lips as he slid behind the wheel of his car. He’d just put the key in the ignition when his cell rang. The news on the other end sent adrenaline shooting through his blood.
“Are you sure? It’s his boat? One hundred percent his? No, no, leave it with me. I was about to head over that way. Good work. See you tomorrow.”
Daniel snapped the phone shut and took a deep breath. Another piece of the puzzle had inched closer into place. He now knew who owned the boat on which Derek had been killed.
Later that night, Daniel walked through the parking lot of The Ship’s Mate. It was Friday and the club was pumping. Music bounced off the walls and the bar staff rushed back and forth as fast as they could, serving drinks and bowls of nachos. Daniel scanned the room but couldn’t see Julia anywhere. He guessed she was taking her half way break in her dressing room. He wandered to the bar and managed to squeeze into a space.
Jacob approached him. “What can I get you?”
“A beer would be good.”
Jacob snapped off the top of the beer and placed it on the bar. “Wasn’t expecting to see you in here again,” he said.
“Oh? Why not?”
“Julia told me you were investigating Derek’s murder, not courting her.”
“Did she?”
“Yeah. So why are you here?”
“Because I’m investigating Mr. Palmer’s murder.”
Jacob narrowed his eyes. “What are you saying? Someone in here is under suspicion?”
“Maybe.”
“You sure like to keep your cards close to your chest, don’t you, Inspector?”
Daniel took a gulp of his beer, carefully watching Jacob. “How did you and Derek spend your time together?” he asked.
“Why?”
Daniel shrugged. “Just interested.”
“We’d share a bottle of scotch, fish, play cards. You know, guy stuff.”
“You fish?”
“Uh-huh.”
“You own a boat then?”
Jacob crossed his arms. “I own several boats.”
Daniel looked suitably impressed. “Several boats? I didn’t realize the club business paid so well.”
“It doesn’t, but hiring out yachts to rich folks who come out to our little place by the sea every summer does.”
Disappointment flooded over Daniel. “You hire them out?”
“Sure. Are you all right?”
Daniel took a deep breath. He’d been sure this latest lead would push the investigation at least a step closer to its conclusion. But once again, it had gotten him nowhere. Unless... He placed a hand on Jacob’s arm. “I need your help. Is there somewhere more private we can go talk?”
“Why? What’s the matter?” asked Jacob, confusion further creasing his already wrinkled brow.
“Let’s just go somewhere quiet, OK?”
Daniel took a seat at Jacob’s desk and watched as the older man sat down opposite him. Jacob leaned forward on his elbows.
“So what’s all this about?”
Daniel took a deep breath. “We finally managed to track down the yacht on which Derek was shot. We only had Julia’s brief description of it so we didn’t have a lot to go on, but after a painstaking search we’ve found it. Forensics uncovered blood spatters on the decking that the killer tried, and failed, to clean. It’s Derek’s blood, Jacob.”
“What are you trying to tell me?”
“The boat is one of yours.”
“What? Mine?”
“Yep.”
“I don’t believe it.”
Daniel carefully watched the man in front of him. For Julia’s sake, he wanted to believe Jacob had had nothing to do with Derek’s death. “So, the first thing I need to know is who hired that boat on the day Derek was killed.”
Jacob’s face paled to the color of ash. “I leave all the hiring to Lydia.” He stared at Daniel in disbelief. “Derek was killed on my boat?”
“Who’s Lydia?”
Jacob blew out a long breath. “She’s the golden lady who looks after everything to do with my boats.”
“It’s likely whoever hired the book gave an alias but a description will help. Does Lydia take the bookings?”
But Jacob had already picked up the phone and dialed a number. “Lydia, honey? I need you to check something out for me.”
Chapter Eleven
Julia sat in her back garden looking out at the ocean. She’d wracked her brain and still not come up with the origin for the stationery she had found in Derek’s store. Daniel and his team were working hard. They’d managed to track the boat back to Jacob. The only job Julia had to do was identify the paper and she couldn’t. She blew out a heavy breath.
Last night she had been taking her final bow when she’d spotted Daniel coming down the stairs with Jacob. It was the first time she’d seen him since their night at the Cove. Julia had called the cruise company earlier in the day in an attempt to resign from her new position but it had been hopeless. At first they had thought she was joking. They’d told her in no uncertain terms she had no option but to fulfill her four-month contract.
So that was it. With the decision made for her, Julia had spent the day with her mother. They’d shopped, had lunch, but still Julia could not bring herself to confess her feelings for Daniel to her mom. And with her imminent transfer to the cruise yacht, maybe she’d never have to.
By the time she came back from her post on the ship, there was every possibility Daniel would be in a relationship with someone else. Julia was neither stupid nor blind and had seen for herself just how much female interest there was in Corkley Park’s handsome new DI.
The sound of a familiar voice calling her name interrupted her thoughts. She smiled and turned to greet Suzie.
“Hello, stranger.” But when she looked at Suzie more closely, her smile slipped. “Hey, are you okay?”
Suzie shook her head. “No. No, I’m not. I’ve been an idiot. I’m so, so sorry,” Suzie sniffed, tears spilling onto her cheeks.
“For what?” Julia stood. “Come here. What’s wrong? Aren’t you the one who always says nothing
is worth crying about?” Julia pulled her friend into her arms and held her close. She held her until Suzie gently stepped back.
“Can we sit down, Julia?” she asked.
“Sure. Shall I get you some water?”
Suzie shook her head. “Oh, Julia, this is so difficult. Why didn’t I listen to you?”
Julia sat down beside her on the swing. “I’m guessing this has got something to do with Marcus? Has he hurt you?” she asked, taking her Suzie’s hand. “Because if he has—”
Suzie met Julia’s eyes. “No, no, it nothing like that. You were right, Julia. He’s obsessed with you. He doesn’t want me, it was never about me. All he talks about is you. Well, you and Inspector Conway. He’s convinced something’s going on between you. Is there?”
Heat flooded Julia’s cheeks. “No.”
“There is! I can tell by your face. Oh, God, but that makes what I’ve got to tell you even worse.” Suzie inhaled a shaky breath and then exhaled her next words in a rush. “I think Marcus knows something about Derek’s murder.”
“What?” Julia’s eyes widened. “Why?”
Suzie reached into her bag and took out a scrap of paper. “I found this by his fireplace.”
Julia took the paper and a heavy weight dropped into her stomach. It was the same paper she’d found at Derek’s store. Her eyes scanned the few words on the tiny scrap. It was Marcus’ writing and for some reason he’d written Derek’s name, July 30th and £30,000.
Her hands began to tremble. The paper was from Marcus’ bank—that was why she’d recognized it. She had to speak to Daniel. She turned to Suzie. “It’s going to be okay. I’ll ring Daniel. He’ll know what to do.”
They hurried into the house and Julia picked up the phone and punched in Daniel’s cell number.
“Daniel, it’s me. Listen...”
“Hey, you. Sorry I missed you at the club last night.”
“It doesn’t matter. Listen, I’ve got something to tell you—”
“I’ve missed you.”
She stole a glance at Suzie before whispering, “I’ve missed you too, but...”
“I’ll try to come round later...”
“Daniel! The paper. From the store. I know where I’ve seen it. It’s the paper the bank uses.”
“Which bank?”
“Marcus’ bank.”
“Marcus? Lowell?”
“Suzie’s here. She found more of the same paper in his house. He’s obviously tried to burn it. It must be evidence linking him to Derek. Where are you? Shall I bring it to you?”
Daniel cursed. “Hold on, let me think for a second.”
Julia looked at Suzie while she waited for Daniel’s instruction. She was looking out the kitchen window but Julia could see by the set of her jaw and the trembling in her shoulders that her initial fear had turned to anger. Julia shivered. She had never seen Suzie look so furious. Maybe Suzie wasn’t quite the pussycat Julia had thought she was, after all.
“Julia?” said Daniel.
“Yes, I’m here.”
“I want you to go with Suzie to the station. Tell the desk sergeant I have sent her there to make a statement. Does Marcus have any clue about her finding that paper?”
Julia checked with Suzie before turning back to the phone. “No, nothing.”
“Once she’s finished at the station, I want Suzie to go home and pack a bag. Tell her she’s to stay with her parents, some friends. She shouldn’t be alone—just as a precaution.”
Suzie had turned away from the window and was facing Julia with questions raging in her eyes. Julia held out her hand and Suzie took it. She gave her dear friend’s fingers an encouraging squeeze. “Is there anything else I can do?” Julia asked Daniel.
“Yes, you can ring Thelma. Do your best not to spook her but tell her I am sending a female officer over there to sit with her and a male officer will be posted outside. If Lowell is involved, I don’t want him anywhere near her.”
“My God, do you think he’ll hurt her?” Julia asked, her eyes locked with Suzie’s.
“I’ve no idea but I’m sending back-up over there right now.”
“I’ll ring her now. What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to find the son of a bitch.”
Julia pressed a hand to the nausea in her stomach. “Be careful.”
“I’ll be fine. Listen to me. I want you to stay with Suzie until I ring to say I have Lowell in custody, OK?”
Julia hesitated. “If that’s what you want.”
Julia replaced the phone. She was scared. Scared for Daniel, scared for Suzie, scared for herself.
“Julia?”
She forced a smile and was relieved to see some of the fury in Suzie’s face had diminished and her friend looked as afraid as she was. “It’s OK, Suze. Daniel is going to find Marcus and bring him in for questioning, but first we need to get you to the station to make a statement.”
“I’ve got to make a statement? Oh, no, Julia. I can’t.”
Julia cupped a hand to Suzie’s cheek. “It’s going to be fine. They’ll just want you to tell them what you know about Marcus, that’s all.”
“You don’t seriously believe that?” asked Suzie, incredulously. “Surely you haven’t forgiven them for what they did to Phil. What if they set me up? Say I’m involved in some way?”
“Oh, Suze. Come here,” Julia said, pulling her in for a hug. “You’re going to have to trust them to do the right thing. We both are.”
“What if Marcus finds out I’ve been talking to the police? He could do anything to me,” Suzie mumbled against her shoulder.
Julia gave a sad smile. For all her heavy make-up, flashy clothes and sparkly heels, Suzie was the same as anyone else. She had always relied on the brawn of her customers to keep any trouble from her door, but Julia knew Marcus didn’t work his way into your brain with actual violence—just the unspoken threat of it. Now he had both her and Suzie afraid of him and it made Julia feel ashamed that he’d managed to get to them the way he had. But it was gratifying to know that if he had anything to do with Derek’s death, Daniel would find out and ensure Marcus went to prison for a very long time.
She blew out a breath. “I’ve got a horrible feeling Derek’s murder is about to get uglier, Suze. Marcus likes nothing more than to make money from other people’s weaknesses. He loves the position of power the bank gives him. If he is involved, God knows what will happen next.”
And then an idea struck her. Julia took a step back from her friend and held her at arm’s length. “Do you know what? You’re right. There’s no way I’m going to sit around waiting for the police to do all the work.”
“What are you going to do?” cried Suzie.
“First I need to call Thelma before the liaison officer arrives at her house. I want to find out if she knew of any business Derek might have had with Marcus. If he arranged for Derek to be killed, he will pay for it—big time. Daniel wanted me to press charges when he assaulted me and I stupidly refused. But murder? No way. He’s not getting away with that.”
She dialed Thelma’s number while Suzie slid onto a stool and dropped her head into her hands. After six rings and the rapid fraying of Julia’s nerves, Thelma finally picked up.
“Thelma, it’s Julia.”
“Well, hello, honey. I just had that nice boyfriend of yours here. We had a lovely chat and a nice cup of tea.”
Julia’s stomach rolled over and her fingers tightened around the receiver. “My boyfriend?”
“Well, ex-boyfriend then,” chuckled Thelma.
“Marcus? He’s there?”
“No, he’s gone now.”
“When did he leave?”
“Is something wrong, dear?”
“Thelma, when did he leave?”
“Oh, um, about an hour ago, I guess. What’s wrong?”
Fisting her hair back from her face, Julia blew out a breath. “I hate to be the one to tell you this, but it looks as though Marcus could be involved in D
erek’s murder.”
Silence.
“Thelma? Did you hear what I said?”
“But he was so kind to me. He told me if I need a visit from the bank’s financial advisor to let him know. He seemed genuinely concerned about me. You must be mistaken.”
“Did Derek take out a loan with the bank, Thelma? Did Marcus mention anything?”
“Yes, he did, but I was so embarrassed by what Mr. Lowell told me. I had no idea Derek had approached him for a loan. We have no money, Julia. We don’t even own this house, we rent it. We have no security.”
“So Marcus turned him down?”
“Yes. Oh, wait, there’s somebody at the door.”
“Wait! It might be Marcus. Do not let him back in.”
“It looks like the police,” she said. “I can see a police car outside.”
“Take the phone to the door and let me know if it’s them. DI Conway was sending someone over to sit with you.”
Julia heard the scuffle of Thelma’s movements against the phone and the click of the front door opening. She listened to the introductions with the phone pressed up against her ear. Thelma came back on the line.
“Julia? It’s the police, WPC Wilmott is going to look after me.”
Julia released the breath she’d been holding. “Try not to worry, Thelma. Tell the police woman what you told me and get her to contact Daniel.”
Julia put down the phone and grabbed her keys. She and Suzie raced to the car and made their way to the station. Neither spoke for the twenty minute journey. Julia’s heart thumped as her mind raced with new possibilities. If Daniel didn’t find Marcus, she knew what she had to do next. And was certain that what she had planned would be too tempting for Marcus to resist.
****
Daniel got out of his car and marched into the bank.
Two other police officers flanked him either side. From what he’d learned about Marcus Lowell, the man was as slippery as an eel and he didn’t want to make any mistakes with his arrest. Daniel would make sure he had witnesses and play everything by the book. Nothing would go wrong, even though the image of Marcus’ hands around Julia’s throat had yet to fade from his mind and he wanted nothing more than a few minutes alone with the guy.
Reluctant Witness Page 17
