Read Online The Fruit Gum Murders by Roger Silverwood - Free Book Online Page B

bit rough, and it turns out that he was living with his girlfriend. Well, she called herself his partner. Her name is Michelle Brown. I introduced myself and broke the news to her. She was naturally upset and shocked, and she told me that she thought he was two-timing her but she had no idea who with.’
    â€˜Did she know he had come to Bromersley?’
    â€˜Oh yes. He had told her that he owed a bookie £800, that he was putting the squeeze on him, but it was all right because somebody in Bromersley owed him some money and he was coming down to get it. And that he had expected to get back up here by Tuesday.’
    â€˜Did he tell her the name of the bookie he owed money to, or the one who owed him the money?’
    â€˜No, sir. She also told me that he owed money on his credit card and was behind with his rent on the flat.’
    Angel wrinkled his nose. ‘Oh. Hadn’t they any money coming in? Was he working?’
    â€˜No, sir. He’d had a job on the railway but had left it after a couple of weeks. He said it was boring, it didn’t pay enough and that he was better off on the dole. Michelle had a good job in a supermarket in Glasgow.’
    â€˜Were you able to find out anything at all about the person who Robinson said actually owed him the money he came down here to collect?’
    â€˜No, sir. Do you think if I found his last place of work on the railway and went there, I’d be able to find out – perhaps from a workmate – who it was in Bromersley that owed him that money?’
    Angel blew out a foot of air. ‘I don’t know,’ he said, rubbing his chin. ‘On reflection, though, I don’t think he’s likely to tell a workmate he’d known only two weeks something about his finances that he hadn’t also told this girl, Michelle.’
    Crisp nodded. ‘I suppose you’re right, sir.’
    â€˜What about his parents and other members of his family … and friends?’
    â€˜Michelle said that he’d told her that he’d more or less split from his family in Cheshire in 2009, and that he hadn’t any friends. She’s been with him a year and she’s not seen any correspondence to or from anybody. He said he was a loner, and that had proved to be true, except for this mystery woman Michelle had said was somewhere hovering around.’
    Angel frowned. ‘Is there any way we can find out about this other woman?’ he said.
    â€˜I’ll have another try, sir,’ Crisp said. ‘I’m seeing Michelle again today after she’s finished work. She might be holding back.’
    â€˜Yes. Good. Do that. By the way, in Robinson’s flat, did you see any fruit gums? And have you come across anybody connected with this case eating fruit gums?’
    â€˜No, sir.’
    â€˜Hmmm. Well, see if you can find out anything else. Michelle might know more than she has said. The slightest morsel of information might help us make sense of the case, lad. Phone you tomorrow. Goodbye.’
    He ended the call and returned the phone to its holster.

    For the next hour Angel had his head down, busily catching up with the reports and letters on his desk, and made a little progress in reducing the pile. He was filing some letters away when he heard a disturbance outside his office. There were a few bangs as if somebody had kicked or thumped a nearby door, and voices were raised.
    â€˜I tell you I haven’t done nothing!’ a raucous voice yelled out.
    â€˜Inspector Angel only wants to ask you some questions,’ another voice said.
    â€˜Well, you’re not getting me into any frigging cell.’
    â€˜We’re only going to an interview room,’ a third voice said.
    Angel got up from his desk, opened his office door and looked out into the corridor.
    A burly young man in rolled-up shirt sleeves, who Angel recognized as Thomas Johnson, was being held by his arms and led by patrolmen PC Donohue