Read Online Irrefutable Evidence: A Crime Thriller by David George Clarke - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: David George Clarke
Ads: Link
Henry Silk.
“You’re right, he is a regular. Right gorgeous, he is, even though he’s old enough to be me dad. A real gentleman, completely different to the bloke he plays on the telly. That Jake Morrison in Runway is a right sod. Mr Silk’s nothing like that.”
She was starting to warm to her theme. “I went to see him last week in the play — I was working days, same as this week, so I could. He was brilliant. Really evil. Dunno how he does it.”
“When did he check out, Sheryl? Sunday, after the final performance on Saturday night?”
“No, it was Saturday lunchtime, although he left his car here until Saturday night. Told me he was driving straight down to London after the play finished. I bet he’s got a penthouse or something; somewhere really smart.”
“So you spoke to him on Saturday? What time was that?”
“It was around lunchtime, which is unusual for him. I mean, he’s never down early for his breakfast, but he’s always there. But Saturday, he missed it.”
“How did he seem?”
“What’s he done? I don’t want to get him into no trouble.”
“You won’t, Sheryl, you’ll be helping him and helping us as well. So, how was he?”
“Well, he looked right dreadful, all bleary like. Sort of puzzled.”
“Puzzled?”
“Yeah, like he didn’t know where he was.”
“Did he say where he’d been?”
“He’d been in his room. He told me. Overslept, he said. Said he thought that the play had been harder work than he thought. So I got him a cup of coffee — strong, black, like he always takes it — and sat him in the restaurant with it. I think he might’ve had a sandwich. Do you want me to check?”
“No, it’s OK, we can talk to the kitchen staff later if we need to.”
Derek looked towards the bar. “Does Mr Silk have a drink at all when he comes back after a performance?”
Sheryl nodded as she looked Derek up and down. The female cop had been so pushy that she’d hardly noticed him. Quite good looking, for a cop. Tall too. And black. Her boyfriend Wes was black.
She gave him what was meant to be a coy smile. “Every night, like clockwork. Marches in, all theatrical, and has his vodka and tonic.” She looked around before leaning towards Derek and dropping her voice. “Normally buys whoever’s on duty one too. Such a gentleman.”
“Just the one?” asked Derek.
“Always,” nodded Sheryl. “But I happen to know that he keeps a smart bottle or two in his room. The maid what does his room just loves him. Told me that she’s cleared more than one empty bottle from his bin. Fancy stuff too, she reckons. Wouldn’t know, myself, don’t really drink much.”
She glanced at Jennifer in time to catch her knowing look and suddenly stared at her feet.
Derek felt he’d got the receptionist’s confidence.
“Didn’t happen to say where he’s gone this week, did he, Sheryl? Another town with the play?”
“No, the play’s finished. He told me later what he was doing. Once he’d had a bite to eat and more coffee, he seemed OK. That was when he checked out and told me about his car.”
“What about his car?”
“That he was driving down to London, like I said.”
“Yes, of course. So he’s in London.”
“Yes, but he said he was going to be filming for the telly. Outside stuff, he said. They do it all at Luton airport, you know. I knew that coz it was in Celeb magazine.”
She smiled as she remembered something.
“He was really sweet. I gave him a photo of the actress who plays the airport manager’s secretary, the dizzy one, Beryline Hertford. Me dad thinks she’s wonderful. Mr Silk said he’d get her to autograph the photo. Bring it me in a couple of weeks when he’s back.”
“Sounds like he’s quite a guy,” interrupted Jennifer. She wanted to move on. “The other thing we’d like to know about is the CCTV that you’ve got here. I’ve been looking around but I can only see a couple of cameras. Are there more?”
“There’s not
“You’re right, he is a regular. Right gorgeous, he is, even though he’s old enough to be me dad. A real gentleman, completely different to the bloke he plays on the telly. That Jake Morrison in Runway is a right sod. Mr Silk’s nothing like that.”
She was starting to warm to her theme. “I went to see him last week in the play — I was working days, same as this week, so I could. He was brilliant. Really evil. Dunno how he does it.”
“When did he check out, Sheryl? Sunday, after the final performance on Saturday night?”
“No, it was Saturday lunchtime, although he left his car here until Saturday night. Told me he was driving straight down to London after the play finished. I bet he’s got a penthouse or something; somewhere really smart.”
“So you spoke to him on Saturday? What time was that?”
“It was around lunchtime, which is unusual for him. I mean, he’s never down early for his breakfast, but he’s always there. But Saturday, he missed it.”
“How did he seem?”
“What’s he done? I don’t want to get him into no trouble.”
“You won’t, Sheryl, you’ll be helping him and helping us as well. So, how was he?”
“Well, he looked right dreadful, all bleary like. Sort of puzzled.”
“Puzzled?”
“Yeah, like he didn’t know where he was.”
“Did he say where he’d been?”
“He’d been in his room. He told me. Overslept, he said. Said he thought that the play had been harder work than he thought. So I got him a cup of coffee — strong, black, like he always takes it — and sat him in the restaurant with it. I think he might’ve had a sandwich. Do you want me to check?”
“No, it’s OK, we can talk to the kitchen staff later if we need to.”
Derek looked towards the bar. “Does Mr Silk have a drink at all when he comes back after a performance?”
Sheryl nodded as she looked Derek up and down. The female cop had been so pushy that she’d hardly noticed him. Quite good looking, for a cop. Tall too. And black. Her boyfriend Wes was black.
She gave him what was meant to be a coy smile. “Every night, like clockwork. Marches in, all theatrical, and has his vodka and tonic.” She looked around before leaning towards Derek and dropping her voice. “Normally buys whoever’s on duty one too. Such a gentleman.”
“Just the one?” asked Derek.
“Always,” nodded Sheryl. “But I happen to know that he keeps a smart bottle or two in his room. The maid what does his room just loves him. Told me that she’s cleared more than one empty bottle from his bin. Fancy stuff too, she reckons. Wouldn’t know, myself, don’t really drink much.”
She glanced at Jennifer in time to catch her knowing look and suddenly stared at her feet.
Derek felt he’d got the receptionist’s confidence.
“Didn’t happen to say where he’s gone this week, did he, Sheryl? Another town with the play?”
“No, the play’s finished. He told me later what he was doing. Once he’d had a bite to eat and more coffee, he seemed OK. That was when he checked out and told me about his car.”
“What about his car?”
“That he was driving down to London, like I said.”
“Yes, of course. So he’s in London.”
“Yes, but he said he was going to be filming for the telly. Outside stuff, he said. They do it all at Luton airport, you know. I knew that coz it was in Celeb magazine.”
She smiled as she remembered something.
“He was really sweet. I gave him a photo of the actress who plays the airport manager’s secretary, the dizzy one, Beryline Hertford. Me dad thinks she’s wonderful. Mr Silk said he’d get her to autograph the photo. Bring it me in a couple of weeks when he’s back.”
“Sounds like he’s quite a guy,” interrupted Jennifer. She wanted to move on. “The other thing we’d like to know about is the CCTV that you’ve got here. I’ve been looking around but I can only see a couple of cameras. Are there more?”
“There’s not
Similar Books
