Ridley. They were done here. Holborn headed for the door, but stopped before he left the room. ‘I want you to be ready the next time we visit, Jimmy. Are we clear on that? I don’t want to hear you’ve pissed Bancroft about again.’
Geraghty said he understood.
Holborn led Ridley back downstairs. The noise getting louder again. Victory songs from the Hull KR fans.
‘Who do you support?' Holborn asked Ridley.
‘I don’t mind.’
Holborn laughed. ‘Get a grip, Don. You can’t live in this city and not have a team.’
‘FC,’ Ridley eventually said.
Holborn nodded his approval. ‘Good choice, Don. These cunts can have their day in the sun, but we know the truth, don’t we? They’re small-time wankers. They’ll do fuck all next year.’
Holborn pushed his way out the pub, back into the car park. Ridley stopped him from walking any further. ‘Why did you have to do this to him today?’
Holborn smiled, took some money out and tucked it into Ridley’s pocket. ‘Times are changing, Don. You’re not a bad detective and I know you’re not a stupid bloke. You’ve already proved you know which the right team to support is. Make sure you don’t choose the wrong one this time.’
CHAPTER SIX
I reminded myself Roger Millfield was paying me to do a job for him. Neil Farr had questions to answer. I needed to clarify a few things. I found a parking space on a meter before walking the short distance from Silver Street to Parliament Street.
His office was close to Roger Millfield’s. All the solicitors and accountants grouped together in the area. Strength in numbers, I assumed. Farr’s receptionist told me he was busy and wouldn’t have the time to speak to me. I told her that if I didn’t see Mr Farr as a matter of urgency, I’d be forced to take my business elsewhere. It was the best I could do. She probably didn’t believe me, but eventually told me to take a seat while she double-checked his availability. Maybe it was a sign of the times. A few minutes later I was sitting in Neil Farr’s office. It was indistinguishable from Millfield’s, only the view changed.
‘This is most irregular, Mr Geraghty,’ he said, once he’d sat down.
‘I’m an irregular type of guy.’
‘And what line of business are you in again?’
‘I’m in what you might call the people business.’
‘I’m afraid I don’t follow you.’
‘I’m a Private Investigator.’ I passed him one of my cards. I only had old ones marked up as ‘Ridley & Son’ in my pocket.
Farr laughed nervously. ‘Come on, now. We’re not in America.’
‘I’m sure you use the services of one here.’
‘Very rarely and only for routine matters.’ Farr was flustered. He stood up. ‘I think you should leave, Mr Geraghty.’
I shook my head and waited until he sat back down. ‘We need to have a talk.’
‘I can’t imagine that we have anything to talk about.’
‘Kath Millfield.’
‘Kath?’
I nodded and repeated her name.
‘What about her?’
‘You’re good friends?’ I made sure I had his attention. ‘I saw you with her last night.’
‘Who do you work for?’
‘I’m not prepared to discuss that.’
‘Roger, I bet.’
I said nothing and waited for Farr to make a move. The silence was clearly making him uncomfortable. He eventually spoke. ‘The man’s a bully, always has been.’
‘And she’s just a friend?’
‘I resent that comment, Mr Geraghty. I’ve known Kath for many years and she’s a dear friend.’ He leaned forward. ‘And to be frank, you should look closer to home.’
‘What does that mean?’
He held his hands up. ‘I shouldn’t have said that. Ignore me.’
It was too late for that. I was going nowhere until I heard whatever was on his mind. ‘I should look closer to home?’
Farr swivelled back in his chair to face me. ‘I’m not talking out of turn if I tell you Kath’s marriage hasn’t been the happiest or the smoothest. It’s not a secret.’
‘So why
Marla Miniano
James M. Cain
Keith Korman
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Mary Oliver, Brooks Atkinson
Stephanie Julian
Jason Halstead
Alex Scarrow
Neicey Ford
Ingrid Betancourt
Diane Mott Davidson