Read Online Back-Slash by Bill Kitson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Bill Kitson
Tags: UK
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arrest me for murder! To be exact, two murders.’
‘So, tell me. I’ll leave the handcuffs off while you explain. Everything!’
It was no contest. Lisa held all the aces. What was more they both knew it. Marshall took a deep breath. ‘OK, first I’m going to tell you my real name. That’s only jumping the gun anyway. Within the next few days everyone will know it. My real name is Marshall, Alan Charles Marshall. The solicitor who was murdered in The Golden Bear was the principal witness at my trial, my wife’s lover. Reading between the lines, the way he and his lady friend were killed seems identical to the way Anna was murdered. I believe that was done to throw suspicion on me.
‘The first I heard of those murders was at lunchtime today. I was on Sir Maurice Winfield’s shoot. It was only a passing reference but it put the wind up me, made me wonder what was going on.’ Marshall paused, Lisa saw his face was sombre, troubled. ‘That was bad enough, but then I went home….’ He explained about his return to the cottage.
Lisa studied him. ‘If you really are innocent you ought to give yourself up.’ She thought for a moment. ‘You reckon the man who attacked you committed these murders?’ Marshall nodded. ‘Then I need some proof. Show me the wound.’ He hesitated. ‘Look,’ Lisa insisted, ‘if you want my help you’ve got to give me some evidence. Something to make me trust you. Otherwise I’ll phone my boss right now. The only reason I’m not already on the phone is because I owe you for sorting that pillock Donald out.’
He stood up and slid his jacket off, then his shirt, not without difficulty. Blood was beginning to seep through the dressing Shirley Dickinson had applied. Lisa nodded. ‘OK, I believe you. But, Alan – can I call you that?’ Marshall nodded. ‘You really ought to go see DI Nash. Mike’s a decent bloke; he’ll not rush to judge you. He won’t assume you’re guilty just because of what happened years ago. I admit things don’t look good for you, but I’m sure it’s the best thing to do.’
Marshall looked alarmed. ‘No, not yet. I daren’t. Not after what happened last time. You don’t know the half of it, Lisa. When I was questioned about Anna’s murder, it was as ifthe police were on a mission to make sure I was convicted. Admittedly the evidence didn’t look good, but they didn’t take account of anything I said. And there were others too, people who lied in court. Neighbours who said we were rowing constantly. That just didn’t happen. That’s why I can’t trust the police. What I need is time to get well clear of here, try to work this out.’
‘You mean time to get away; to avoid being arrested.’
‘No, things are much worse than that. The police are the least of my worries.’
He explained his theory. Lisa listened in appalled silence. Eventually she said, ‘It sounds like something from a gangster movie.’
‘Unfortunately, it’s all too real.’
‘What do you intend to do? You can’t spend the rest of your life running and hiding from a killer and possibly the police?’
‘I’ve spent long enough hiding from a past that was none of my doing. I’ve lost years of my life. I’m not prepared to lose any more. Whatever happens, I’m not going back to hiding from it. OK, I might have to, short term. This is why I need the details of that car owner.’
‘I assume you’re about to ask me to use the police computer to find this out for you. There’s no way.’ After a moment’s silence Lisa asked, ‘Do you have any idea who might be behind this?’
‘Not the foggiest. I almost convinced myself Anna’s death was a chance killing. A robbery that got out of hand perhaps, but deep down I never believed it. I reckon whoever murdered Anna had a logical motive. I believe the killer is someone I know, or knew. That makes it even scarier, if that’s possible.’ He smiled, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. He looked up. ‘So now
‘So, tell me. I’ll leave the handcuffs off while you explain. Everything!’
It was no contest. Lisa held all the aces. What was more they both knew it. Marshall took a deep breath. ‘OK, first I’m going to tell you my real name. That’s only jumping the gun anyway. Within the next few days everyone will know it. My real name is Marshall, Alan Charles Marshall. The solicitor who was murdered in The Golden Bear was the principal witness at my trial, my wife’s lover. Reading between the lines, the way he and his lady friend were killed seems identical to the way Anna was murdered. I believe that was done to throw suspicion on me.
‘The first I heard of those murders was at lunchtime today. I was on Sir Maurice Winfield’s shoot. It was only a passing reference but it put the wind up me, made me wonder what was going on.’ Marshall paused, Lisa saw his face was sombre, troubled. ‘That was bad enough, but then I went home….’ He explained about his return to the cottage.
Lisa studied him. ‘If you really are innocent you ought to give yourself up.’ She thought for a moment. ‘You reckon the man who attacked you committed these murders?’ Marshall nodded. ‘Then I need some proof. Show me the wound.’ He hesitated. ‘Look,’ Lisa insisted, ‘if you want my help you’ve got to give me some evidence. Something to make me trust you. Otherwise I’ll phone my boss right now. The only reason I’m not already on the phone is because I owe you for sorting that pillock Donald out.’
He stood up and slid his jacket off, then his shirt, not without difficulty. Blood was beginning to seep through the dressing Shirley Dickinson had applied. Lisa nodded. ‘OK, I believe you. But, Alan – can I call you that?’ Marshall nodded. ‘You really ought to go see DI Nash. Mike’s a decent bloke; he’ll not rush to judge you. He won’t assume you’re guilty just because of what happened years ago. I admit things don’t look good for you, but I’m sure it’s the best thing to do.’
Marshall looked alarmed. ‘No, not yet. I daren’t. Not after what happened last time. You don’t know the half of it, Lisa. When I was questioned about Anna’s murder, it was as ifthe police were on a mission to make sure I was convicted. Admittedly the evidence didn’t look good, but they didn’t take account of anything I said. And there were others too, people who lied in court. Neighbours who said we were rowing constantly. That just didn’t happen. That’s why I can’t trust the police. What I need is time to get well clear of here, try to work this out.’
‘You mean time to get away; to avoid being arrested.’
‘No, things are much worse than that. The police are the least of my worries.’
He explained his theory. Lisa listened in appalled silence. Eventually she said, ‘It sounds like something from a gangster movie.’
‘Unfortunately, it’s all too real.’
‘What do you intend to do? You can’t spend the rest of your life running and hiding from a killer and possibly the police?’
‘I’ve spent long enough hiding from a past that was none of my doing. I’ve lost years of my life. I’m not prepared to lose any more. Whatever happens, I’m not going back to hiding from it. OK, I might have to, short term. This is why I need the details of that car owner.’
‘I assume you’re about to ask me to use the police computer to find this out for you. There’s no way.’ After a moment’s silence Lisa asked, ‘Do you have any idea who might be behind this?’
‘Not the foggiest. I almost convinced myself Anna’s death was a chance killing. A robbery that got out of hand perhaps, but deep down I never believed it. I reckon whoever murdered Anna had a logical motive. I believe the killer is someone I know, or knew. That makes it even scarier, if that’s possible.’ He smiled, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. He looked up. ‘So now
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