Read Online Too Close For Comfort by Adam Croft - Free Book Online Page B

and sinker. I'll get DS Wing on
the blues-and-twos down to the local scout hut to nick the lot of
them. Perhaps we can do 'em for singing ging-gang-sodding-goolie in
a public place. What in the name if bloody hell are you
trying to say, Knight?”
    “Guv, please
give me a chance to explain. There were two books open on the
coffee table. They were both open on pages about bowline
knots.”
    “Bowline
knots?”
    “Yes. The knot
used to tie the ligatures in all three of the killings.”
    “I see. Well,
as you said – he's taking an interest. He probably looked it up to
find out more about it after you told him about it.”
    “Guv, I never
mentioned bowline knots to Robert. Or anyone, for that matter.
Hell, I haven't even mentioned rope or strangulation!”
    “Have we put
anything out to the papers about it?”
    “No, you told
us not to mention anything related to the killing methods for fear
of copycat killings.”
    “I see. So
there's no way this Ludford fellow could know that the murders were
committed with this particular type of knot?”
    “Well, so far
as I can see there is only one way.”
    “We can't jump
to conclusions, Knight, but it's certainly a strong lead. Tell me –
how did you meet Ludford?”
    “He approached
me outside a pub.”
    “He approached
you?”
    “Yes.” She
deigned not to tell Culverhouse that she had reversed into
Ludford's car after a skinful of whisky.
    “Right. This is
all sounding a bit suss to me. I want you to keep seeing Ludford.
Get more involved with him. This could be a vital way of obtaining
information and closing the net in on him.”
    “You think it's
him?”
    “I've no idea,
but it's strong enough to look into.”
    “And you want
me to get more involved? With a potential serial killer?”
    “No, Knight, I
want you to break off all contact, obtain no more information and
leave him free to kill a load more girls. What do you bloody well
think?”
    “Well, when you
put it like that...”
    “Good. I want
regular reports immediately after each meeting. I want everything
recorded on tape. We'll get you fitted with a recording
device.”
    “Are you sure
the Commander will authorise that, guv?”
    Culverhouse
pulled a miniature clip-on microphone and hand-held digital
recording unit from his desk drawer and placed it in front of
Wendy.
    “Sod the
Commander. Consider it authorised.”
     
     
     
    CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
     
    Wendy's head
pounded as she tried to comprehend the situation. Over dinner that
night her taste for red wine returned as, somehow, she and Michael
managed to demolish two bottles.
    “Did you find
anything odd about Robert, Michael?”
    “Odd? No, why?
You gone off him already?”
    “Not exactly,
no. I just have one or two concerns.”
    “About what?
Don't tell me. He wears Y-fronts. Farts in bed? Picks his
nose?”
    “No, nothing
like that. I'm worried that... Oh, don't worry. It's silly.”
    “Come on, Wend.
If you can't confide in me, who can you confide in?”
    “You have to
promise that you won't tell a single soul, Michael. I mean it. I
could lose my job over it.”
    “Your job? Wow,
you think Robert is involved with some sort of illegal activity?
Got to watch those accountants, you know!”
    “It's not
funny, Michael. Listen. Those three girls were all killed in a very
particular way. They were strangled with ropes. Not the same rope
each time, but the same very specific knot. It's known as a bowline
knot. It sounds stupid saying it now but Robert has a number of
books on knots and I found two of them open on pages about bowline
knots when I was at his house last night. He claimed it was
something to do with a favour for a friend but I don't know. Now I
think about it, he's been taking a very keen interest in the case
and has been asking a lot of odd questions. I don't know why, but
something doesn't quite seem right.”
    “And you think
he could be the killer?”
    “I don't want
to think that.”
    “But you
do?”
    “Oh, I don't
know