The Scent of Death--A Sukey Reyholds British police procedural Read Online Free Page B

up at these events from time to time and asks me if it’s OK to give one or two solo performances during the free afternoon for anyone who cares to stay and listen. He lives in an old motor caravan and he’s grateful for the few quid I give him to entertain the older, less active members of the party who tend to stay in the hotel instead of going out shopping or sightseeing. Some of the regulars say this weekend wouldn’t be the same without him. Needless to say, Lance wasn’t impressed. He stayed once to hear him – out of curiosity I suppose – but walked out in the middle of a song.’
    â€˜That was a bit rude.’
    â€˜That’s Lance for you.’
    â€˜Which is the free afternoon?’
    â€˜Today, as it happens.’
    â€˜You describe this event as your annual musical house party,’ said Vicky. ‘How long does it go on?’
    â€˜It started at five o’clock Friday afternoon and ends after breakfast on Tuesday morning.’
    â€˜I don’t recall seeing Romeo’s name on the list,’ said Vicky.
    â€˜That’s because he’s not staying the whole time. He’ll do his act and then move on. I noticed his van parked in a lay-by about half a mile down the road. He hasn’t made contact with me yet, but I’ve no doubt he will. He knows I’m here.’
    â€˜How does he know?’
    â€˜He’s got a mobile – he can pick up emails on that and anyway he knows we come here at the same time every year.’
    â€˜What can you tell us about these people?’ asked Sukey.
    â€˜I’d rather you formed your own opinion.’
    â€˜OK,’ said Vicky. ‘DC Reynolds and I will start with the names you’ve ticked and DCs Pringle and Haskins will work through the remaining names in the order they’re listed. If you’d be kind enough to get them started, DC Reynolds and I will go and have a word with the officers guarding the area by the lake and we’ll contact you again as soon as we get back.’
    â€˜By the way,’ said Sukey, ‘did you stay after dinner and chat to the group over coffee until it was time to start the evening session?’
    â€˜I stayed for a few minutes and then I went up to the Orchard Room to set up the recordings for the evening session.’
    â€˜So you were up there on your own for perhaps ten minutes or so?’
    â€˜I suppose so. Is it important?’
    â€˜Did you happen to look out of the window?’
    â€˜What would have been the point? The curtains were drawn and anyway it was dark outside.’
    â€˜If you had happened to glance through the window you might have seen something or someone out there, that’s all,’ said Vicky. ‘We have to check every detail.’
    He nodded. ‘I quite understand. I’m afraid I didn’t see anything at all that might help. May I take it we can carry on with our morning programme?’
    â€˜Yes, of course. We’ll try to keep interruptions to the minimum. Thank you very much for your cooperation.’
    Freeman gave a little bow. ‘My pleasure, Sergeant,’ he said.
    â€˜So Rainbird wasn’t a drinker,’ said Vicky as they made their way down to the lake.
    â€˜Which means he’s unlikely to have fallen into the lake without some assistance,’ said Sukey.
    â€˜Exactly.’

THREE
    S ergeant Drury and PC Bond were the officers on duty by the lake.
    â€˜Morning, Rob, morning, double oh seven,’ said Vicky. ‘Anything to report?’
    â€˜Not a thing,’ replied Drury. ‘I sent the night watchmen home as soon as we arrived this morning. I take it you want to examine the area again in daylight?’
    â€˜That’s right. To be honest, I don’t hold out a lot of hope of finding much in the way of a lead – there have been too many people milling around so identifying individual shoe prints would be a nightmare, especially as it