Dead Money (A Detective Inspector Paul Amos Lincolnshire Mystery) by Rodney Hobson Read Free Book Online

odd years ago. Cancer. They couldn't do much about it in those days."
    “Did you come here when the flats reopened after the refurbishment?"
    Foster snorted. “I’ve been here a lot longer than that. I was caretaker in the old days when it was owned by the council. They always treated me fair, they did. Not like this lot.”
    "You resent the influx of wealthier people, perhaps?"
    "That's nothing to do with it. I was stuck in here while all the building dust was flying around. And did they do anything for me? Not likely! I'm still stuck in this cubbyhole of a place with not a pennorth of work done on it."
    “And do you resent the people here?” Amos persisted. “Did you resent Ray Jones?"
    “You're not pinning that on me," exclaimed Foster indignantly, half rising. “I get blamed for everything else around here. I'm not being blamed for murder."
    "Did you know Ray Jones? What was he like?" Amos persisted, ignoring Foster's protestations.
    “Jones was all right, I suppose," Foster continued grumpily. "He was all right with me, anyway. Always civil. But I didn't know him properly," Foster was quick to add.
    "Did he get on well give the other residents?"
    "Some he did, some he didn't. He had a right old barney with that Scott Warren who lives next door to him. I told you about that right after you found the body.
    "He was on bad terms with the Smiths on the top floor. Jack Smith hated his guts. Ray Jones did the dirty on him over a business deal and pinched one of his best clients. Mr Smith nearly went bust.
    “But he managed to pull his business out of the fire and made good. He was spitting blood when he found out Mr Jones was moving in to the same block of flats but he'd already put a deposit down and the developers wouldn't let him have his money back. Finally they let him switch to a top floor flat so he could be as far away from Jones as possible," Foster chuckled.
    “They were going to be next door to each other. Smith had to pay extra for the top floor because it's got a better view. He wasn't too pleased about that, either.”
    Foster chuckled again. "I think that annoyed him more than the business deal."
    “What was the deal they fell out over?" Swift asked.
    "I have no idea," Foster returned. “Why don’t you ask Jack Smith? I'll tell you this, though. They didn't speak to each other if they met."
    Foster chuckled again.
    “One day I saw them come down in the lift together. Ray Jones must have got in when Smith was on the way down. Jones came out smirking and Smith’s face was as black as thunder.
    “He held back until Jones was well clear. It didn't matter so much to Jones. He'd got the better of the deal. I know for a fact that Smith threatened he would get his revenge but he never did. Soon after he moved in he retired, so he'd missed his chance.
    “Mind you, Mrs Smith took it worse. She felt her husband had been humiliated. You want to ask her."
    "Let's get back to the Friday night," Amos interposed. "What you did you do after seeing Mr Jones and Mr Scott having a disagreement?"
    "Yes, that's right!" Foster exclaimed eagerly. "A right dingdong. He's another you should talk to. I told you so last time."
    “Your movements on Friday night," Amos prompted wearily.
    "I was sweeping up. It took ages. Not that anyone appreciates it," Foster grumbled. “There was dust everywhere. They were finishing off putting the barrier in. And that silly hut they got from outside Buckingham Palace. Dust everywhere. It was a good job it didn't rain. You can imagine the mess that would have made.
    “Anyway," he added hastily as he sensed that Amos’s patience was wearing thin. "Anyway, I cleaned up until about nine o'clock. It was quite warm ... like I say, at least it wasn't raining.
    “Then I came back here and watched telly for an hour and went to bed. Well, they don't pay me to work all night," he added defensively. "They don't even pay me to work till nine."
    "What did you watch?" Swift asked sweetly.
    Foster