Free Body of a Girl by Michael Gilbert Page A

and then shut it again. He seemed to be fascinated by Mercer’s leg swinging within inches of his face.
    â€œThere’s a lot of people in this town have been waiting a chance to run you out. You’ll get four years I’d guess. Maybe seven, when all the charges have been added up. And as soon as you’re safe inside we’ll get a clearance order and burn this place down. I’ll be happy to light the first match. I don’t like people like you. Not one little tiny bit, I don’t. And I think it’s time someone taught you a lesson.”
    He slid further round the edge of the table, until he was sitting almost on top of the old man, who cringed back in his chair.
    Mercer said to Massey, “I think you’d better step outside, son, and keep your eyes open. We don’t want anyone butting in.”
    â€œDon’t you go. Don’t leave me alone with him.”
    Massey hesitated.
    Mercer said, “Outside, son. I’m not going to touch him.”
    â€œAnything you say, Skipper,” said Massey. He went out, and they heard the gangplank creaking as he went down it. Then silence. Mercer let it hang for a full ten seconds whilst Sowthistle crouched in his chair, his eyes ablink.
    Then Mercer leaned forward, crooked a hand into the old man’s coat, pulled him forward until their heads were no more than a few inches apart and spoke, very quietly.
    â€œYou’re in bad trouble, grandpa.” He gave the coat a little shake and Sowthistle’s head seemed to nod in agreement. “And a sensible man, when he sees trouble coming, the first thing he thinks about is how he can side-step it. Right?” Again a little shake. “And I’m going to show you how to do it. I’ll let you buy your way out of this, if you like.”
    â€œBuy?”
    â€œNot with money. With a piece of information. Just one piece.”
    â€œAnything I can do to help, Inspector. You know I’d do it.”
    â€œFine. Then here’s what I want to know. During the last month of her life your girl had picked up a new boyfriend. She was meeting him secretly. No one seems to know who he was. But you’d know, wouldn’t you?”
    â€œShe never told me anything, Inspector.”
    â€œYou’re lying. There’s nothing she did you wouldn’t know about, or could find out.”
    â€œI swear to God—”
    â€œJust the name. That’s all I want.”
    There was a moment’s silence. Then Sowthistle said, in a different, sharper voice. “There’s someone outside, I heard him.”
    â€œIt’s only Massey.”
    â€œThere’s someone out there, listening. I can’t talk to you.”
    â€œYou’ve got to talk. You’ve got no option.”
    â€œNot now.”
    â€œWhat are you frightened of?”
    With a sudden jerk the old man freed himself, tearing the lapel of the coat right off. He wriggled out of the chair, and scuttled round to the end of the bed.
    Then he started to scream.
    â€œStop that,” said Mercer. “It won’t do you any good.”
    Massey came back through the opening. He looked curiously at the old man, who was holding onto the end of the bed. He had stopped screaming, and was shaking violently.
    â€œAnything I can do, Skipper?”
    â€œNot just now,” said Mercer. He put down the torn piece of coat on the table and led the way out. They made their way back to the car in silence.
    When they got back into the town, Mercer said, “Who’s the next man on your list?”
    It took Massey, whose mind was on other things, a moment to work this out. Then he said, “It’s Henniker. He’s a bookie. Betting shop at the top of the High Street.”
    â€œI’ll drop you there. I’ve got another visit to make.”
    Massey said, “O.K., Skipper,” got out and stood on the pavement looking down at the car. There was clearly something he wanted to say