COFFIN COVE a gripping murder mystery full of twists (Coffin Cove Mysteries Book 1), JACKIE ELLIOTT [most recommended books txt] 📗

Steve looked at Adrian curiously. Something was off.

He smiled. “I’ll make it easy for you, Adrian. We’ll talk to Nikos together. Let’s go right now,” and he watched Adrian’s expression change. And he knew.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Vega made Andi wait.

He was tired of reporters. For days now, the media had been camped outside the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and in the parking lot of the Nanaimo RCMP detachment. They were rude, shouted questions in his officers’ faces and jostled his team.

Like a pack of fucking wolves feasting on a dead man.

As far as he was concerned, Andi was one of them and she could damn well wait.

Earlier Vega had spoken with Superintendent Sinclair.

“Any connection between the two murders yet?” she asked.

“Not yet,” he’d admitted.

“Put someone else in charge, Andrew,” she said. “Get back to Coffin Cove. I don’t want to be accused of not allocating enough manpower to the island.”

All about appearances, Vega thought at the time. But now he was back in Coffin Cove, he realized she was right. He would be spread thin if he tried to run both investigations. Captain Gerry Roberts and his family deserved the full attention of a dedicated team. The best that the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team had to offer.

Not that there were many people grieving Gerry Roberts, Vega thought. One ex-wife who dabbed dry eyes and waited exactly fifteen minutes before asking about life insurance. Two daughters who hadn’t seen their father in months. Colleagues who had little praise for Captain Roberts, just innuendos about a possible alcohol problem. A quick look at his finances revealed he was drowning in debts, and a search of his shabby rented basement suite confirmed the boozing.

On the surface of things, a man who had little to live for, Vega thought. Standing at the ocean, wondering what it was all for, and blowing his brains out. Wouldn’t be the first time. But no gun at the scene. No possibility of it being washed away with the tide — Roberts was lying too far up the beach. So, at this point, they had to rule out suicide.

Oh well, not my problem now, he thought.

He called in Sergeant Fowler.

“That reporter is still outside, sir.”

“She can wait,” Vega said. “Maybe if we leave her there long enough, she’ll go away. Tell me about Brown.”

Fowler ran down her notes.

“So far, nothing much to tell, sir. Forensics lifted prints from the boat, and we’re running them now. There are no cameras or anything at the dock to prove or disprove his story. We asked around, and he’s well-liked and respected. A couple of people said he had a hot temper when he was younger, but apart from that one incident with Mason, he’s never been in any trouble. Private, no girlfriend, his sister owns the café, mother dead, father lives in the trailer park — an alcoholic, but harmless. Several people saw Brown in the Fat Chicken the night Mason was killed, but he only stayed for an hour or so. Nobody saw anyone get on or off the Pipe Dream, but there’s one name that keeps coming up, sir.”

“Brian McIntosh?” Vega asked, knowing the answer.

Sergeant Fowler nodded. “No trace of him yet, sir. We’re still looking.”

“OK.” Vega gave a half smile. “That’s all we can do, Sergeant. Keep looking.”

Vega followed Sergeant Fowler out of the office. He was hungry. He thought briefly of going to the pub. It was the only place to get good food in Coffin Cove when the café was closed, and he didn’t want to drive all the way back to Nanaimo. But he knew that he’d be the centre of attention at the Fat Chicken, and he just wanted to be left alone.

“Miss Silvers, you’re still here,” Vega said unenthusiastically. “What can I do for you?”

“I have some information, Inspector Vega. About Mason.”

Vega saw she was holding files. “Can it wait until tomorrow, Miss Silvers? I’ve had a long day.”

She shook her head. So Vega stood back and gestured to the office. “Better come in then.”

* * *

Hilstead? Vega was angry. Why hadn’t that name come up before? How come the Coffin Cove Gazette had made all these connections and his own team hadn’t? Time for that later, he thought, and pushed his anger aside as he listened to Andi.

Twice he interrupted her with a question.

When Andi mentioned Paul Nguyen, he stopped her.

“Wait there,” he said and went to make a phone call.

“Andi, where is Hilstead now? Do you know?” he asked when he got back to the office. He noticed that Andi looked as exhausted as he felt. He also found himself thinking how attractive she was, with her glasses pushed back on her forehead, unaware that she had pen smudges on her cheek.

A second later he forgot those thoughts.

Andi’s phone rang. She took the call and listened for a few seconds.

“Hang on,” she said, taking the phone away from her ear. “I’m with Inspector Vega now. You’re on loudspeaker. Tell him what you told me.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Vega exploded, after listening to the call. “Have you any idea how dangerous that is? Tell me exactly where they are, right now.”

Chapter Thirty-Nine

“Shit!” Terry said, as he and Harry listened to Hilstead and Adrian. “What do we do now?”

“No idea. The plan was to get Hilstead on the record, nothing more.”

“Should we just let Adrian take him to Nikos?” Terry asked. “Try something else?”

“Hilstead’s already tried to kill Brenda, and he’s a dangerous drug dealer. No fucking way we’re letting him near Nikos. Hang on . . .” Harry dialled Brenda’s number.

He told her briefly what they had just heard. “Text me Nikos’ address. They’re headed there