The Whitby Murders (A Yorkshire Murder Mystery), J. Ellis [free ebook novel TXT] 📗

to follow up on Garner, but unless we find out something new about that incident I tend to agree with him.’

‘Did you have a look round the flat?’

‘Yes, but there was nothing. The only unusual thing was a kind of adult dressing-up box with all kinds of outfits in it. The father said they enjoyed dressing-up for special occasions. You know, parties and bits of plays they were in. They were both into acting, weren’t they?’

‘Yes, and ironically they were doing it on their last day in the escape room.’

‘That’s just what I thought. But altogether not much of any use there. We went on to Imperial College and spoke to Ben Morton’s head of department. She gave him a good report, although she did say he kept himself to himself. He’s very keen on his own artwork apparently. She made him sound a bit like the classic struggling artist, you know, keeping himself from starvation in the old garret by doing a bit of teaching. So again nothing of real substance, I’m afraid.’

‘Good work, don’t worry if you think you haven’t made the big breakthrough. All these people need to be followed up.’

‘Right, sir. Well . . . next up is Garner and Maggie Hinton. After that I’ll speak to the people who worked with Holgate and Barnes.’

‘Good. Have a nice evening, then.’

‘I will, sir. I’m going out with a mate of mine from well back. It’s usually a good night with him.’

‘Okay . . . well, don’t overdo it. Does Steph know about this great carousal?’

Andy laughed. ‘She does, sir. I always warn her when I’m going to meet up with Jason. She worries I’ll revert to my teenage years and get arrested for being drunk and disorderly.’

Oldroyd laughed too. ‘Well, make sure it doesn’t happen. Bye for now.’

The call ended, leaving Oldroyd thoughtful. Deborah returned.

‘How did it go?’ she asked.

‘Nothing particularly startling, but he said something which made me think.’

‘What’s new?’ laughed Deborah.

‘I tell you, mate, I’ve absolutely had enough. That place is a madhouse and so are all the other ones like it.’

Jason looked tired. He and Andy were having a few cocktails in a smart bar in Canary Wharf not far from where Jason worked. Andy was quite concerned; he’d never seen his normally ebullient friend so downcast.

‘Why’s that?’ he asked.

‘All you do all day is chase money and gamble with it. It’s true what they say, it’s just a giant casino.’

‘I could’ve told you that years ago.’

‘I know, but I wouldn’t have listened.’ Jason finished his drink. ‘Fancy another?’

‘Yeah, but we’ll have to go steady if we’re hitting it later.’

‘Yeah, well, maybe we won’t. My round.’ Jason went to the bar while Andy reflected on his friend’s sombre mood.

‘So what happened to the old mischief-maker who enjoyed playing the system and sailing close to the wind?’ he asked as his friend returned with the drinks.

Jason shrugged. ‘After a while it’s just boring. It’s like getting one over on the teachers at school.’ He took a drink and seemed to look into the distance. ‘I think I’m finally growing up.’

‘Wow.’ Andy briefly considered teasing him about this but he saw that Jason was serious. ‘So what are you thinking of doing?’

Jason gave him a shy look. ‘Don’t laugh, but I quite like the idea of being a maths teacher. In a hard school. I think I’d know how to get through to the kids and make a difference.’

‘Bloody hell! Talk about poacher and gamekeeper. But it’s great. You’d have a big cut in salary, you realise.’

‘Yeah, but I might achieve something worthwhile apart from making rich people even richer.’

Andy clapped.

‘Oh, don’t,’ said Jason.

‘No, mate, don’t get me wrong, I really think it’s fantastic, and I think you’d be good at it. You would get through to those kids.’

Jason’s face lit up and Andy realised he’d been hoping for his approval.

‘I’ve already made some enquiries and I can do a post graduate certificate in education through this Teaching in London thing. There’s actually some kind of golden hello package for maths teachers. They’re short of them. Come on, let’s drink up and go for a pizza, and I’ll tell you more about it.’

Pleased to see the old energy back in his friend, Andy readily agreed. His phone rang. It was Steph.

‘Hi, how’s it going?’ she asked. ‘Still sober, I hope.’

‘Okay, don’t worry. We’ll be taking it steady tonight. We’re not in the mood for anything wild.’ He glanced at Jason, who smiled and called out, ‘Hi, Steph!’

‘Hi, Jason, how are you?’

‘Fine. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of him. I won’t let him do anything rash.’

She laughed. ‘Well, that’s good to hear, though I’m not sure the carer is that reliable.’

‘Oh, he’s a changed man. Andy will tell you all about it.’

Andy continued the conversation as Jason went off to the toilet. ‘We’re having a few cocktails and then we’re off for a pizza.’

‘Sounds very tame,’ replied Steph. ‘Anyway, how’s work?’

‘Not brilliant; we’re working our way through the list of people the boss gave me, but nothing much is coming up yet.’

‘I can hear you’re disappointed.’

‘Yeah, well, you know how I always like to impress him.’

‘I’m sure he’s just as impressed by your hard work as when you discover something important. You know what he says: often it’s just a question of slogging away until someone gets the breakthrough and everyone’s contribution is equally important.’

‘Yes. The problem with this case as far as I understand it is that the solution may be just what it appeared to be at the beginning so I might be wasting my time. Am I right?’

‘Maybe. But the boss is still convinced that things are not what they appear to be. I have to say he hasn’t convinced me, but we’re carrying on until all the possibilities are excluded. I don’t know who will be proved right.’

‘Well, given past experience I know where my money will be.’

‘Maybe. I called in on Louise. She’s staying in Leeds for a while.’

‘How is she?’

‘Still a bit frail.