Read Online Hardcastle's Soldiers by Graham Ison - Free Book Online

murder.
    â€˜I’m investigating a murder that took place on Victoria Station during the morning of Wednesday the eleventh of this month,’ Hardcastle began, and sensed that he had immediately captured the young soldiers’ attention. At least, the four newcomers; the DDI had told Stacey about the murder on his previous visit. ‘And I understand that the five of you went drinking in a pub in Aldershot on the Sunday before that. Is that correct?’
    After a brief pause, during which time he glanced at the others, Stacey nodded. ‘That’s right, sir.’
    â€˜When did you notice that your cap was missing, Stacey?’
    â€˜It must have been about half past ten, sir,’ said Stacey. ‘I’d hung me cap on a hat peg near the door, but when I went to get it, it’d gone.’
    â€˜And was there another cap left there that no one claimed?’ Hardcastle had already been told that no other cap had been left there, but, as was his usual practice, he was confirming the facts.
    â€˜No, sir. I had a good look round, but it’d gone, and there wasn’t no other there.’
    Marriott looked up from the notes he was making. ‘One of you had a tunic stolen. Which one of you was that?’
    â€˜Me, Sergeant,’ said Private Ash, raising a hand.
    â€˜You have more than one tunic, do you?’
    â€˜Yes, Sergeant. We’ve all been issued with two tunics and two pairs of trousers.’
    â€˜When was it taken?’
    â€˜It was on the Monday morning that I noticed it had gone adrift, Sergeant, but I don’t know when it was took.’
    â€˜When did you last see it?’
    â€˜Saturday afternoon,’ said Ash. ‘It was my best tunic, and I’d took it down to give the buttons a polish. But on Monday morning I noticed it’d been nicked.’
    â€˜Have you any idea who took it?’ continued Marriott.
    â€˜No, Sergeant.’
    â€˜And who was it who lost a pair of trousers?’
    â€˜Me, Sergeant.’ Private Joliffe raised a hand.
    â€˜And when did you notice them missing?’
    â€˜The same as Charlie Ash, Sergeant. I’d seen ’em on the Saturday, but they was gone on the Monday. It was only Charlie saying as how his tunic had been nicked, that made me have a look to see if I’d lost owt.’
    â€˜At what time did you notice that your trousers were missing, Joliffe?’
    â€˜After we’d come in from working parade, Sergeant. Like I said, on the Monday at about half past eight, I s’pose. We’d come back to get changed for physical training.’
    â€˜And you?’ asked Marriott, pointing at Ash.
    â€˜The same.’
    â€˜As a matter of interest, Stacey,’ asked Hardcastle, ‘how did you get back to barracks without being seen, especially without a cap? I mean you’d’ve been spotted easily enough, surely?’
    â€˜We had to keep a lookout for the monkeys, sir. They’re usually on horseback.’
    Hardcastle took his pipe out of his mouth and glared at the young recruit. ‘I hope you’re not taking the piss, my lad. What’s all this about monkeys on horseback, eh?’ He glared at the unfortunate Stacey.
    But it was Private Paterson who provided the answer. ‘They’re military policemen, sir,’ he said. ‘They’re always called monkeys in the army, and some of them patrol on horseback. With bloody great lances,’ he added.
    â€˜I see,’ said Hardcastle, only slightly mollified. ‘And did you see any of these so-called “monkeys on horseback”?’
    â€˜Only the once, sir,’ continued Paterson. ‘In Queen’s Avenue, but we dodged behind the post office till they’d gone past, then we legged it back to barracks.’
    â€˜How many people have access to your barrack rooms, Paterson?’ asked Marriott.
    â€˜Do what, Sarge?’ Paterson looked mystified by the question.
    Marriott