Found Guilty at Five by Ann Purser Read Free Book Online Page B

knocked, a window opened above him. A woman he recognised as Akiko’s neighbour upstairs looked out.
    “Have you seen Akiko?” he shouted.
    The woman shook her head. “Not since she went out to the concert. Maybe she’s gone to bed.”
    “Have you got a key, please?”
    “Well, yes. But I can’t just let any old—”
    “It’s me, Jamie Meade! Her accompanist!”
    “Oh well, I suppose it’ll be all right. I’ll come down. Might be a few minutes. I was in bed already!”
    Jamie yelled his apologies, and the neighbour shut her window, saying she’d be down as quickly as possible.
    *   *   *
    I N THE SMALL CAFÉ, WHERE THE STAFF WERE OBVIOUSLY KEEN TO get home, Lois was sitting opposite Cowgill, making an effort with a bowl of carrot and coriander soup. He had told Lois what he had seen backstage, and they agreed that Akiko’s behaviour had been odd, to say the least.
    “Is that your mobile?” Lois said now.
    Cowgill pulled it out of his pocket and handed it to Lois. “It’s Jamie,” he said. “He wants to speak to you.”
    “Yes, Jamie? Not there, did you say? Good heavens, didn’t she tell you? What’s that? You’re breaking up a bit. Going in
where
? Oh, her flat. Right. Ring us as soon as you know anything. Yes, Cowgill’s still with me. I’ll be getting a train back to Tresham very soon. Unless you need me. Yes, I
have
phoned Dad. Now, take care, son, won’t you, and
please
keep in touch.”
    Cowgill paid the café bill, and they emerged into the busy road. “Taxi!” he shouted, and one drew up beside them.
    “Well done,” she said. She liked his air of authority and was pleased that they would be at the train station in no time. But to her surprise, he pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and read out an address to the cabdriver, who nodded and said it wasn’t far.
    “Was that the paper Jamie gave you?”
    “Yes. Akiko’s address. That’s where we’re going.”

N INE

    A S THE TAXI DROPPED THEM OFF IN C ALIBAN R OAD, L OIS was relieved to see Jamie’s car standing outside. She and Cowgill made their way to the front door and knocked. Jamie opened it at once, and they stepped inside.
    “I thought you would come.” Jamie was looking very shaken, and Lois put a motherly hand on his arm.
    “It was the inspector,” she said. “He had Akiko’s address you gave him, and bingo! Here we are. What’ve you found? Any clue to where she might have gone?”
    “No, nothing. Absolutely nothing. She obviously left in a hurry. Some of her clothes have gone, but not much else. I don’t know where to look next. She didn’t have many friends in this country. Had some at college, of course, but they all went their various ways.”
    “Which college was that?” The inspector’s tone was brisk.
    “Um, something to do with the river. Riverside? Not sure. I suppose I could ask around. I know when I played there it was near the river. Quite a long way out of the city.”
    “Right,” said Cowgill. “Well, as I said, we have checked all the main music colleges in London and they have no record of a student named Akiko Nakamasa.”
    “How up to date are your records?” Lois said. “I asked her when she was with us, just to make conversation. I think she said it opened up a few years ago. Now, hang on,” she added, “it’s coming back to me. Riverside College of the Arts, or something like that. No mention of music in the title.”
    “Ah, well done, Lois. Does that ring a bell, Jamie?”
    He nodded, looking shamefaced. “Sorry, Inspector. Yes, that was it. I should have remembered. But the last forty-eight hours have been a bit hairy. This was a special concert tonight in a really well-known venue. I was so anxious that everything should go smoothly, and then the theft happened. I suppose I haven’t been thinking straight ever since.”
    “Don’t worry. Mind if I have a look around? I might spot something you missed.”
    He wandered off into another room, tactfully leaving Lois