Gently Sinking Read Online Free Page A

co-operation,’ Tallent said. ‘That’s the way to answer a policeman. You started slow, Ozzie, but you’re learning. Just keep remembering we’re your friends.’
    ‘And these mutual acquaintances,’ Gently said. ‘There’d be some place where you met them?’
    Osgood hesitated.
    Tallent dusted his knuckles. ‘Keep helping the police, Ozzie,’ he said.
    ‘In the street, around,’ Osgood said quickly.
    ‘Not in the street, around,’ Tallent said.
    ‘So pubs, caffs . . .’
    Tallent went still, stared at him.
    ‘All right, a bloody club then!’
    ‘Yeah,’ Tallent said.
    ‘A club,’ Gently said. ‘What’s the name of it?’
    ‘It’s a dump they call the Coconut Grove. Mainly black punters. They run it. Tommy and us used to go there.’
    ‘The address?’
    ‘Brickfields. Paradise Road.’
    ‘That’s Willesden way,’ Tallent said. ‘Brickfields is a black community.’
    ‘Blackburn belonged to this club?’ Gently asked. ‘Yeah – no. He sort of belonged.’
    ‘He was a member?’
    Osgood worked his hands. ‘Like he knew the people. That sort of thing.’
    ‘Who are the people?’
    ‘It’s a black couple who run it. Sharkey Sunshine and his missus.’
    ‘Who?’ Tallent said.
    Osgood repeated the name. Tallent whistled, looked at Gently.
    ‘Small world,’ he said. ‘I know Sunshine. He’s one of these educated types. I helped to educate him. He tried to open a joint here a couple of years back. So he’s tied up with this, is he?’
    ‘I never said so,’ Osgood said.
    ‘You don’t have to, Ozzie boy,’ Tallent said. ‘You weren’t trying to cover up, were you? And this club – let me guess – they dance, sit around and booze. Plenty of women. Rooms upstairs. Women. Like Blackburn had been with.’
    ‘It ain’t that way,’ Osgood said. ‘They run it decent, him and his missus.’
    ‘And you never went there to lay a black woman?’
    ‘I—’ Osgood said.
    Tallent laughed.
    ‘Were you there Tuesday night?’ Gently asked.
    ‘Didn’t I say I was at home!’
    ‘Would Blackburn have gone there – when he left his office?’
    Osgood stared furiously, shook his head.
    ‘He can’t lie,’ Tallent said. ‘He’s too honest – or too dumb. Now all we want is the name of the woman. We’ll have this case wrapped up by teatime.’
    Gently looked at Osgood. ‘Well?’ he said.
    Osgood’s large mouth was trembling.
    ‘Speak up, Ozzie,’ Tallent said, stropping his knuckles on the desk-edge.
    Osgood winced. ‘I ain’t saying any more.’
    ‘You aren’t what?’ Tallent went still.
    ‘Bloody hit me then,’ Osgood said. ‘I don’t care! I’ve said all I’m saying.’
    Tallent stood up.
    ‘Right,’ Gently said. ‘Osgood can go back to the cells.’
    ‘But the bastard knows!’ Tallent burst out.
    ‘He’s within his rights not to answer.’
    ‘Go on, hit me,’ Osgood said. ‘Hit me. Hit me. I don’t care.’
    Tallent stood up very straight, his thin mouth on the twist.
    ‘All right,’ he said to the constable on the door. ‘Take him away.’
    He sat again.
    * * *
    They brought Grey in. Grey was a handsome man of forty-five. There wasn’t a thread of white in his neat dark hair. He had sideburns. They suited him. He had sharp hazel eyes. He was powerfully but elegantly made and a grey lounge suit sat well on him. Having no tie gave him a raffish look, showed up his strong neck. He managed to avoid a prisoner’s shuffle. He sat easily. He smiled.
    ‘Permission to smoke?’
    Tallent was rocking back in his chair, eyes hooded. He’d said nothing to Gently after Osgood went, before Grey came. He’d sat finishing his cigarette, staring a long way off, chin down. Now he regarded Grey carelessly, paid no attention to his remark.
    At last he let the chair rock forward.
    ‘I don’t know why I bother with you, Grey,’ he said. ‘You’re hooked. Ozzie’s been singing like a canary in the spring.’
    ‘Nice for you,’ Grey said. ‘You like