Free Murdered by Nature by Roderic Jeffries Page B

handed him the envelope.
    He opened this, brought out a single sheet of paper, read quickly. ‘It would have saved time had you bothered to obtain this before previously coming here.’
    â€˜I’m afraid I had not realized you would prefer not to save yourself trouble.’
    â€˜You should have accepted I would always observe rules and regulations. What exactly do you wish to know?’
    â€˜Did Señor Ashton withdraw a large sum in cash in the weeks before his death?’
    â€˜A large sum is an indeterminate figure.’
    â€˜Something between four thousand and six thousand plus euros.’
    Pagés activated the computer on his desk, tapped on the keyboard, studied the screen. ‘On the twenty-sixth of last month, he withdrew five thousand euros.’
    â€˜In cash?’
    â€˜Is that not what you asked?’
    â€˜Can you give me the number of the notes?’
    â€˜You have very little experience of banking?’
    â€˜Quite a lot on the debit side.’
    â€˜There is no possibility of our providing the number of a single note.’
    Alvarez thanked Pagés for his help, without sounding sarcastic.

NINE
    A lvarez phoned Palma. ‘Señor, I have spoken to the manager of Llueso Bank. I was right.’
    â€˜I might not be so surprised if I knew the subject of your report.’
    â€˜I was checking on the money, señor.’
    â€˜What money?’
    â€˜Payments in cash out of Señor Ashton’s bank accounts. You provided the authorization for me.’
    â€˜Well?’
    â€˜The señor withdrew five thousand euros.’
    â€˜Were the notes of high enough denominations for them to be traceable?’
    â€˜Unfortunately not.’
    â€˜Then it can only be an assumption that this money was paid to Kerr.’
    â€˜But if—’
    â€˜An assumption which has to be weakened by the fact that there were only four thousand two hundred in his possession when he died.’
    â€˜He’ll have been spending freely.’
    â€˜Eight hundred euros in a short time – on what?’
    â€˜Women.’
    â€˜You believe it credible in a short time to spend hundreds of euros on a woman?’
    â€˜If she’s class. Or maybe there were three or four
not
class.’
    â€˜The quality of your experience is regrettable. Have you been told it is a grave mistake to bend facts to support a theory?’
    â€˜Frequently, señor.’
    â€˜Apparently such words have been inadequately understood. There would have been no proof – I emphasize “proof” – that the money came from Señor Ashton had all five thousand been in Kerr’s possession. At best, there would have been a reasonable presumption. Due to the difference in totals there can be only the
possibility
the money withdrawn by Señor Ashton was paid to Kerr.’
    â€˜He’d bought an expensive locally made sweater and a bottle of expensive malt whisky.’
    â€˜You have ascertained their costs?’
    â€˜No, señor.’
    â€˜Have you spoken to misguided women to learn if he was known to any of them?’
    â€˜No, señor.’
    â€˜One enquiry I should have expected you to pursue.’
    â€˜He arrived on a cheap package holiday and short of cash. If that money did not come from the señor, what was its source?’
    â€˜Yet again, you presume a negative indicates a positive. You refuse to consider, for instance, Kerr might have entered a local lottery and won a small prize.’
    â€˜Isn’t that using an assumption to deny the theory he might have been in the drug trade?’
    â€˜The two are totally different in nature, but to explain to you why that is would take too long.’
    â€˜Señor. I think we should have the brass caskets from Morocco tested for residue of cannabis. Also, the spliffs which were in Kerr’s possession should be sent to the laboratory to find which country the hashish came