The Armada Boy by Kate Ellis Read Free Book Online Page B

the
one thing that's stuck in her mind ... when she was evacuated. Always on about
it she is.'
     
    Wesley nodded, feeling some
admiration for this woman, who treated her senile mother with such patience. He
introduced himself and showed his warrant card.
    The woman was suddenly on her guard.
'Two of your lot came round yesterday. I told them I didn't know nothing.'
     
    'If we could just have a quick
word.'
     
    'Long as it's quick. I've Mother to
see to.'
     
    'Can we come in then, love?' Heffernan
said, realising the invitation   wouldn't
be forthcoming. The woman stood aside reluctantly to let them in.
     
    The ceilings of the cottage were low
and beamed. But this was no tastefully decorated rural retreat. The furniture
was either fifties tat or cheap veneered chipboard. The settee which dominated
the small room was stained Dralon. The carpet was purple nylon, spotted with
filthy marks, the origin of which could only be guessed at.
     
    'Anyone else live here?'
     
    'My son, Wayne. He's got special
needs,' the woman said almost with pride.
    'And your husband?'
    'He buggered off ten years back.'
    'So there's just the three of you?'
     
    She nodded. 'I've got no time for
twenty questions, you know... I've got to see to Mother.'
     
    'I'm sorry. Mrs...'
    'Restorick ... Annie Restorick.'
     
    'We just wanted to ask you if you
saw anything suspicious orunusual the night before last... Sunday. Between 9
and 11 pm. We've had a report of someone running out of the old chapel in this
direction. Did anyone pass here at all?'
     
    Wesley thought casual charm might
work best. 'To tell you the truth, Mrs Restorick, we don't have much
information ... so anything you could give us, however small, would be of great
value.'
     
    'No, I didn't see nothing. We were
watching Inspector Morgan '
    'Can we talk to your son?'
     
    'He didn't see nothing. He was with
me watching telly.' Defensive.
    'Is he in?'
    She nodded warily.
    'If we could just have a quick word …
     
    'It wouldn't be any use. He was here
with me all night. I don't like him going down that pub. He's not too bright,
you see. People take advantage.'
     
    'Was he at the pub on Sunday night?'
     
    She shook her head vigorously. 'He
was here all night... I've told you already.' She stood up, clearly anxious to
be left alone.
    'I've got to see to Mother now. She'll get sore.'
     
    'You've got a lot on your plate, Mrs
Restorick . .. seeing to your mum and your son being... having special needs. It
can't be easy,' Heffernan said with sympathy.
     
    'Wayne's not backward, you know ...
he's just a bit slow. People lake advantage.'
     
    'As you've said. Thanks for your
help, Mrs Restorick. We'll leave you to it.'
     
    She saw them to the front door, but
before she had a chance to see them off the premises, a young man came down the
stairs, overweight and pale. He stared at them for a moment then lumbered back
upstairs again. Mrs Restorick closed the door as
soon as the policemen were over the threshold.
    'What do you think, Wes?' asked Heffernan
as they reached the lane.
     
    'She's hiding something.'
    What?'
     
    'The son ... the lady doth protest
too much, methinks.'
'
    Eh?'
     
    ' Hamlet .
It means she's going over the top in giving him an alibi. I reckon he was at
the pub.'
     
    'We can easily find out. He must be
well known in a place like this.'
     
    'And if he wasn't at the pub?'
     
    'That's anybody's guess, .. out
stabbing Americans, perhaps.'
    'Whatever he was up to, I'll bet you
ten quid he wasn't lucked up on the settee with Inspector Morgan .'
     
    Rachel Tracey was a tactful young
woman, good with children and beloved of elderly aunts. She was also, as
Inspector Heffernan had generously pointed out to the Chief Superintendent, a
good police officer. Bui dealing with Dorinda Openheim was stretching
even Rachel's talents to the full.
    She had been prepared to be sweetly
sympathetic to the bereaved widow; to let her do the talking while she listened
carefully for hints of