The Inspector Walter Darriteau Murder Mysteries - Books 1-4, David Carter [diy ebook reader .txt] 📗

He was expecting the contracts for his books that were being translated into Chinese, Japanese, and Russian. Amazing that those countries were so interested in his works, but they were, it was pretty much all signed and sealed, and the projected sales figures were truly astonishing. It was all about numbers, C & C were fond of spouting time and again, and when the combined populations of those territories could be counted in the billions, well, the promised sales numbers would look after themselves. Vast riches awaited, so they said, and they were not often wrong.

The letter was there, propped up against the jar of Cheshire honey, and Jennifer was right about one thing, it did look important.

Kit sipped the coffee and set the Wedgwood mug from not so far away Stoke-on-Trent, down on the table, and picked up the letter. Neatly typed, neatly franked, quality envelope, Special Delivery, yes it had to be from C & C. Slipped his large finger into the corner and tore it open.

But it wasn’t from Casson & Cates at all.

It was from the Crown Prosecution Service.

Neatly addressed, like everything else about it.

MR KIT NAPOLEON

Yewtree House

Wrenbury

Cheshire CW5 7BA

DEAR MR NAPOLEON, IT began,

PLEASE BE ADVISED, blah blah blah, that it is our intention to prosecute you for the following matters:

Bribery, Extortion, Fraud, and Theft.

Except they didn’t quite put it like that, the old familiar BEFT, no, they couched it in legal language that sounded far more polite and worthy, but it all meant the same thing.

They were after him. Big time.

It went on to say:

PLEASE ATTEND CHESTER Police Headquarters at 2pm on December 23rd where an appointment has been arranged for you to be interviewed by Inspector Walter Darriteau. If he is not available please ask for Sergeant Karen Greenwood.

IF YOU DO NOT ATTEND a warrant will be issued for your arrest. If required, you may bring your solicitor with you.

YOURS, ET CETERA.

‘SHIT!’ HE SAID.

‘What’s the matter, darling?’

Kit passed her the letter and said, ‘That Karen Greenwood was a traitor in the camp all along.’

‘Never trusted her. She’s a tramp. It’s your blind spot, Kit. I’ve told you about that a thousand times. A pretty blonde with blue eyes, you seem to be mesmerised by them, they are not all innocent and there solely for your pleasure.’

‘I know that!’

‘What more do they want for heaven’s sake? We’ve repaid every penny that weakling Rushnell misappropriated.’

‘They want my guts, Jennifer. Pure and simple. Nothing more, nothing less.’

Jennifer poured herself another coffee and said, ‘What have they got on us?’

‘A lot of tittle-tattle, I suspect. We’ve done everything by the book. Everything!’

‘They must have something!’

Kit went silent for a moment as if thinking back, and then he said, ‘There is possibly one thing.’

‘Oh? What?’

‘A photograph.’

‘What of? Who of?’

‘It’s not the people pictured that’s of interest, it’s what’s written on the back.’

‘And that is?’

‘I can’t remember exactly. It was a long time ago.’

‘Did you sign it?’

‘No, I don’t think I did.’

‘But it’s in your writing?’

‘Yes.’

‘That doesn’t sound much.’

‘It isn’t. Not really.’

‘We’ll have to fight them, Kit, tooth and nail.’

‘Oh yes, we’ll fight them all right.’

‘You know what it’s like, Kit. When you’re wealthy, like we are, people will do anything they can to steal that wealth from us. Use any means. They’ll be ruthless. We’ll have to fight fire with fire. Match them, head to head. Fight dirty, if we have to.’

‘Oh yes, you’re right, darling. I can fight dirty when the need arises. This Darriteau character and Karen have no idea what they are messing with, or who they are dealing with. No idea at all. They don’t seem to appreciate the power and influence I have at my disposal. The gloves are now officially off. The true fight is about to begin.’

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘We’ll smash them into oblivion!’

‘SMASH!’ he said, grinning, and visualising mountains of red white and blue dust-covered books flying off the shelves. Christmas presents all around. ‘Yeah. Smash them!’

Jennifer and Kit shared a look, and a belly laugh.

Bring it on!

It sounded like fun.

The merry-go-round of life was about to spin all over again.

It sure as hell beat the alternative.

Author’s Note

I am aware that the great port of Liverpool is not yet capable of handling container vessels of the size mentioned in this book.... but the good news is, it soon will be. More power to their elbow, I say.

The End

The fourth book in this series,

“Kissing a Killer” is following now...

Kissing a Killer

David Carter

One

He was strong. Incredibly strong. She stared up into his dark unblinking eyes. Nothing there. No pity, no emotion, no feeling, no humanity, nothing but an iciness that chilled her bones.

When you are close to death your whole life flashes before you, so they say, but it was not Eleanor Wright’s life that flashed through her tortured brain, but his, the attacker, her killer designate, the cold strong nameless man who held her so.

Why was he doing this? Why did he hate her so much? Why did he hate himself so much? Perhaps he had been abused as a little boy. Perhaps his father had beaten him. Maybe he didn’t have a father and had grown up wild. Maybe he’d been beaten by a wicked stepmother, and this was his idea of revenge. All of those things were possible, or none of them at all. Maybe he simply had a screw loose. There are lots of guys wandering about with loose and missing screws, and she knew that well enough, just as most women do.

It was her mother’s scolding face that next presented itself to her racing brain. Eleanor recalled the conversation as if she had hours to live, days even. It only took a second.

‘You know what you are doing is so wrong!’

‘I need the money, mum!’

‘Get a fucking job then!’

‘What, like you? Serving teas