The Fourth Cart Page 10

  Chapter Ten

  ‘I’m sorry for getting ratty with you. I got carried away. I was really convinced I was going to nail Mansell, but then it just sort of fell apart.’

  Since leaving Brighton, Magee had sat in silence whilst Melissa had done her best to drive without glancing in his direction. They had almost reached the Kingston roundabout before Magee had spoken.

  Melissa turned to catch Magee’s eye. ‘I think Inspector Ryan’s the one you need to apologize to, sir, not me. I don’t think his men appreciated being torn off a strip like that. It wasn’t their fault.’

  Magee cringed. ‘Do I come across as a real bastard of a boss?’

  ‘No. Grumpy, yes.’

  ‘Carolyn says that too.’ Magee reflected on the name his daughter had given him for when he was in a mood. ‘Do you hate me? As a boss that is?’

  ‘Not at all.’

  Magee broke into a grin. ‘You mean you like me?’

  As Melissa slowed for the traffic, she turned her head to give Magee a full-on look. ‘Don’t push your luck, sir.’

  ‘Would it help if I took you to lunch?’

  ‘That depends, sir. If you mean the canteen, you can add tightfisted to grumpy.’

  ‘I hear there’s a good lunch menu at the Rainbow Inn.’

  ‘You mean it? Your treat? Wow, yes please.’ After a few seconds Melissa gave a short moan and said, ‘And, of course, the pub’s only a stone’s throw from Nick Price’s place, isn’t it. Now you are being a bastard, sir. For a moment there I really did think you were trying to be nice to me.’

  Magee muttered, ‘Two birds, one stone.’

  Melissa punched his arm in a playful way. ‘Just for that, I’m having the most expensive item on the menu. And I’ll tell Jenny next time I see her!’

  ‘Ouch! You play dirty! That will cost dearly.’

  At the pub, Melissa settled for a home-made ham and asparagus toad-in-the-hole accompanied by a glass of chilled Chablis. Magee stuck to a traditional ploughman’s lunch and a pint of bitter. For an hour they enjoyed the atmosphere and swapped theories on how Nick Price and Paul Mansell may be involved with the two recent murders.

  After lunch, they left the car in the car park having decided a short stroll up the road would aid digestion and hopefully blow away the smell of alcohol from their clothes. It also gave Melissa a chance to take a peek at the grounds of Nick Price’s estate. Arriving at the front door unhindered by security guards or dogs, they found Annie, the maid, waiting for them, ready to escort them into the lounge.

  Nick Price was sitting at an antique writing desk, head down, reading a document. He looked round and fixed Magee with a steely eye. ‘This isn’t going to become a habit, is it?’

  ‘I can assure you, Mr Price,’ Magee muttered back, ‘I have better things to do with my life than come visiting you.’

  Nittaya had been sitting on a sofa, making notes in the margins of a sales brouchure. She placed it down, along with a pen, and tutted. ‘Honestly, what’s wrong with you two? You’re like squabbling children. Why can’t you talk courteously to each other like adults?’

  ‘That’s just the way things are, Nit. That’s life.’

  Magee said nothing. Nick Price had summed up the situation well enough.

  Nittaya asked in a civil tone, ‘Well then, how about some coffee?’

  ‘No. No, thank you, Nittaya. We’re not planning to stay. I just want to ask your father one simple question, then we’ll be gone.’

  ‘That sounds reasonable,’ Nittaya responded, and turned to her father. ‘Well, Daddy? You can manage that can’t you?’

  ‘If I must.’

  ‘Face to face, please.’ Magee advanced towards Nick Price. He held his stare and said, ‘There’s been another murder. Over in Preston Park. Paul Mansell was arrested near the scene of the crime. Again, you understand, that’s twice in a row, now.’

  ‘So?’ Nick give an uncaring shrug of his shoulders. ‘Paul’s a grown man. He can look after himself.’

  ‘The victim’s name was Michael Harwood,’ Magee continued. ‘Do you know him?’

  Magee noticed Nick Price’s jaw drop fractionally. He had his answer. ‘What’s going on, Mr Price?’

  ‘I don’t know, Magee. Honest to god.’

  ‘I’m sorry, but I don’t believe you. You knew Conners and I assume you knew Harwood. And you know Mansell, of course. You’re involved in this somehow, so don’t try to deny it. Your body language confirms it. You know damn well what’s going on, don’t you?’

  Nick flinched, his gaze shifted awkwardly in the direction of his daughter. ‘No.’

  The lie was obvious. Magee turned his head to see where Nick had looked. ‘Do you want to talk in private?’

  ‘No, Magee. That wouldn’t help. As I said, I can’t help you. I really don’t know what’s going on. That’s the truth.’

  ‘I’ll get to the bottom of this, you know that don’t you, Mr Price? It would be better for your sake if you told me all about it here and now.’

  ‘You think so?’ Nick cleared his throat. ‘I don’t. Anyway, I’ve told you already, I know nothing.’

  ‘I doubt that, Mr Price. I really do doubt that. Lack of cooperation will harm your defence. You know that, don’t you?’

  Magee’s choice of words startled Nittaya. ‘Are you arresting my father, Chief Inspector?’

  ‘Not yet,’ Magee replied through gritted teeth.

  ‘He’s done nothing wrong since I was born, Chief Inspector. He’s not the man you obviously think he is. Please stop harassing him.’

  Magee backed off. ‘Thank you for your time, Mr Price. I’ll see myself out. Come on, Melissa.’

  ‘Before you go, a word with Melissa please.’ Melissa turned and looked expectantly. ‘Were you just being nosy out there, or are you really interested in the gardens?’

  Melissa looked puzzled. ‘You’ve got security cameras out there?’

  ‘Everywhere, of course.’

  ‘Your gardens are beautiful, Mr Price. I live in a pokey little second floor flat. It’s nice to dream.’

  ‘Call me Nick. And I’ll happily take you for a tour. Maybe a spot of horse riding?’

  Melissa looked at her watch, but was distracted by a cough from Magee who stood holding open the lounge door. ‘Thanks,’ she replied. ‘Another day perhaps.’