Free The Scent of Death--A Sukey Reyholds British police procedural by Betty Rowlands

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SIX
    â€˜H e must have driven off as soon as he left the hotel,’ said Vicky. ‘Anyway, what did you want to question him about?’
    â€˜Remember he said that when the paparazzi started questioning him about the goner who’d been fished out of the water he’d only been here a couple of hours, so he couldn’t tell them anything.’
    â€˜That’s right. What about it?’
    â€˜I’ve been thinking. We arrived here last night some time after nine o’clock. Rainbird’s body was still lying on the grass; the paramedics were standing around and the doctor was examining him. We walked towards them for a short distance and waited; we were careful because we’d been warned the grass was wet and slippery, but by then it had stopped raining. Presumably it had stopped by eight o’clock or Rainbird wouldn’t have gone out just for a breath of air.’
    â€˜But we’re pretty sure now that he’d arranged to meet someone,’ Vicky pointed out, ‘so he’d probably have gone anyway – but I don’t see what difference it makes.’
    â€˜We know it had been raining most of the day, but it had stopped by the time we got there and it hasn’t rained since. We saw Romeo before lunch today and if he was telling the truth about his time of arrival the ground under his van should have been dry – but I suddenly remembered that it was wet. I must have noticed while we were chatting, but didn’t think anything of it at the time.’
    â€˜I see what you’re driving at,’ said Vicky. ‘That means he was here some time before it stopped raining, or at least while the ground was still wet. So, is it possible that it was Romeo that Rainbird had arranged to meet? Or did he happen to see Rainbird in the water with the attacker standing there with some sort of weapon in his hand, let him know he’d been spotted and decided to try a little blackmail?’
    â€˜It’s a thought, isn’t it?’ said Sukey. ‘Perhaps the attacker wasn’t willing to play ball and reacted aggressively, so Romeo decided to leave here as soon as he’d given his performance and collected his money from Freeman. I noticed Freeman handing him something that looked like an envelope when he joined the others for tea after they came back from their afternoon excursion. They shook hands and exchanged a few words and then he left.’
    â€˜You reckon he felt threatened but didn’t want to let Freeman down?’
    â€˜He struck me as being a decent type and he might have felt under an obligation. Besides, he probably needed the money anyway.’ They thought for a moment. Then Sukey said, ‘So what should we do now?’
    â€˜I suppose we could ask Freeman if he knows where he’s heading for next,’ said Vicky. They went back to the hotel. Most of the group had dispersed, presumably to have a rest and then prepare for dinner, but Freeman was in reception talking to Chapman. He merely shrugged when Vicky enquired about Romeo’s probable destination. ‘He’s not due to sing for me until my next meeting, which isn’t until the beginning of May,’ he said. ‘As far as I know he picks up other engagements on an ad hoc basis, but I don’t normally hear from him in the meantime.’
    â€˜Do you have his mobile number?’
    â€˜Yes, sure – would you like me to call him?’
    â€˜If you wouldn’t mind.’
    â€˜No problem.’ Freeman took out his phone, called a number, waited a few moments and shook his head. ‘His phone’s switched off,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry, I really can’t help.’
    â€˜Well, thank you anyway.’ Vicky moved a short distance away and took out her own phone. ‘I’m giving the DI a call to put him in the picture,’ she told Sukey. ‘Stand by – he may want to talk to you as well.’ After a