Last Out From Roaring Water Bay Read Online Free

what I supposed to have moved?”
    Filbert smirked. “Butter wouldn’t melt in your mouth, Mister Speed. Perhaps I should highlight the situation more clearly. Then there’ll be no misunderstanding.”
    “Feel free to proceed,” I added.
    You’ve stolen a vital piece of equipment from the crash site. We want it back!”
    I had to accept that he wasn’t in anyway going to be dissuaded by my plea of innocence. But in such tight situations it’s always important to remain calm and to use the well rehearsed ploy to always act thick in circumstances where accusations can get you into a lot of trouble. I’m rather proud of my thespian aptitude. “What stolen equipment is that, considering I wasn’t even there?”
    “You’re a fluent liar, Mister Speed!”
    “It happens to be the truth.”
    Filbert sneered. “Don’t insult our intelligence, Mister Speed. It didn’t take much probing to under stand that we’re dealing with unscrupulous scum whose intention is to scavenge off the dead. Locating petty grave robbers like you hardly tests the versatility of our department.”
    “Steady on!” I snapped. “I invited you into my home in good faith. Not to be accused of something that doesn’t concern me in the slightest. I was going to offer you refreshments but you can forget it!”
    Filbert bared his teeth. “We’re not here to socialize, Speed-,” he’d soon dropped the niceties of Mister- “we’re here to get our property back. Cooperate and we’ll drop any impending charges of theft.”
    “There’s nothing to drop. I’ve taken nothing. Who told you I was there?”
    “Your name was mentioned.”
    “Who’s my accuser?”
    “That’s strictly confidential.”
    “Then I’m afraid you’re pestering the wrong Shackleton Speed.”
    Filbert smiled sinisterly. “I don’t think so. The Shackleton Speed we require is a metallurgist.”
    I wondered how the hell he knew that. I shrugged. “So I’ve a qualification. Been checking on me?”
    Filbert had more. “Renowned for plundering the land for lost treasure with a metal detector.”
    “It’s a hobby enjoyed by thousands of others.”
    “Who happens to own a Mercedes Benz 500K Roadster?”
    “So I have one in the garage.”
    “It was seen in Berkshire,” he snapped.
    “There’s more than one on the road,” I countered.
    I couldn’t help but shrivel inside knowing Tommy’s narration had been far more detailed than I’d anticipated. He could have warned me. Yet it changed nothing. It was pointless for me to admit my guilt now as it would only get me in deeper bother, so I decided to allow them to do the speculating and I’d continue the denials. It wouldn’t be the first time that I’d have to dig my way out of shit to save myself.
    Much to my annoyance, Scar-face began mooching around the study desk and shelves. He probably felt he had to do something constructive instead of standing there with his finger up his arse. He further angered me when he began touching the items on the study desk, his greasy hands picking up a picture frame of my late parents for closer inspection and the unceremonious way he roughly replaced it. With the tip of his forefinger he flicked loose papers and envelopes giving me the impression he was memorizing all that caught his eye.
    I said meaningfully. “Break anything and I’ll frigging sue your department!”
    Scar-face directed a searing glare at me. In a deep drawl he said, “I suggest you start giving the right answers or else you might not be around to enjoy your luxuries.”
    I took his remark as being physically threatening and I suppose it could have been quite frightening to a weaker minded person. But I don’t scare easily whether the threats are violent or verbal. I snubbed my nose up at him in defiance and said, “If you want to carry on wiping your grubby hands on my belongings I suggest you show me a search warrant!?” Which I knew never existed in a month of Sundays. So I added cockily, “