Making A Killing (The Romney and Marsh Files Book 2) by Oliver Tidy Read Free Book Online

‘For example?’
    ‘Well , sir, it was dark. We don’t know yet what he was doing out there. He might have interrupted something.’
    ‘You mean while taking a casual stroll in the dead of the night around a deserted golf course in the middle of nowhere after clambering over a barbed-wire topped fence, as you do?’ said Grimes. ‘And don’t forget, we found no means of transport for him at the scene. He had to get there somehow.’
    ‘Or it could just be a case of mistaken identity, or self-defence, or a spur of the moment assault,’ she went on quickly, giving voice to all the random possibilities she could think of.
    ‘You’ve made your point,’ said Ro mney, although he didn’t look particularly impressed. ‘We can’t rule out anything at this stage. Interesting choice of setting, whichever way you choose to look at it. The thirteenth hole is the closest part of the course to a public highway, so that could explain why that particular area, but why the golf course at all, and why the green? It could be relevant – a statement or a message. Something else to think about. We’re sure that is where entry was gained to the course, anyway.
    ‘The only piece of evidence recovered from the scene so far that is at odds with it is a thread of red fabric. This was found buried inside the deceased’s head and was almost certainly driven in by one of the blows. The pathologist suggested it might be a thread from a blindfold, but it’s just an idea. There is no complementary evidence to suggest that he was there against his will. Another visit to the golf course might be useful. About the only thing the wife did give away about his life was his love of golf. Golfers tend to stick together socially. It’s a social game.’
    ‘I’m with Mark Twain on golf,’ said Falkner. ‘It’s a good walk spoiled.’ A ripple of polite amusement followed. ‘I think you’re right though, Tom. That’s possibly where you’ll find his closest friends, the people who knew him best, especially as he had a position at the club.’
    ‘The wife claims she doesn’t know of any enemies her husband has made, but then she also claims to know very little about his life anymore. Apparently, they co-existed under the same roof for a number of years for the sake of their son. Having seen the property , I can imagine how that would not have been difficult. According to her, each led a life quite separate and private from the other outside the home.
    ‘There is just one child: William, eighteen. Recently finished his ‘A’ levels and is expecting to go to university in the next intake. He wasn’t at home last night. His mother claims not to know where he was. DS Marsh will find him and have him come in for a chat. For now mother and son is as far as I think we need to involve any family members, but that might change as our enquiries progress depending on who else, if anyone, has featured prominently in his life.’
    ‘What about the man who found him?’ said Falkner.
    ‘Nothing obviously suspicious about it, or him. Claims not have known the victim. Just wrong place wrong time.’
    ‘What did Emerson do for a crust?’ said Falkner.
    ‘Phillip Emerson ran a light-haulage business. Several lorries with offices on the industrial estate. Judging by his home he must have been doing rather well out of it. Top priority is where he was last night, or where he was supposed to be and who with. And we need to find his car.’ Romney checked his paperwork. ‘A black Range Rover HSE Sport. This year’s model. The widow gave the impression that it wasn’t unusual for him to stay out all night, we need to find out where he regularly stayed when he was absent.’
    ‘Girlfriend?’ said Falkner.
    ‘Likely, I suppose,’ said Romney. ‘Again, something else I’m confident we’ll uncover as soon as we’ve sifted through his phone records and had a chat with the people who knew him.’
    ‘Well, I can see you have plenty to be getting on