Sweet Things Dying - Chapter XVII

In which Cole returns to London, and finds there is more work to be done...

XVII

“We’ve not yet found Paul Wright,” said Inspector Quinn.

It was late Tuesday afternoon and Cole stood with Quinn in the antiseptic corridors of the Commercial Street Police Station. The gaslights behind their mesh cages hissed and turned the stale white walls a jaundiced yellow while distant corners stayed lost in shadow.

“He may be in this yet,” Cole said, knowing Quinn still held suspicions about the man. “It would be odd that he could be so involved with her yet wouldn’t at least know something of what brought about Heather’s murder.”

“Perhaps, perhaps not. It was a shame you didn’t collar him with Thorne. Tying them together so directly would be suggestive. At this point, we’ve nothing to say they even know each other, let alone conspired in some way. For all we do know,” the inspector added, “Wright hasn’t come forward because he, too, is dead.”

Cole straightened – enjoyed the surge the idea sent through him. He’d not considered Wright a victim. “It’s a neat thought,” he said. “Perhaps Thorne…”

Quinn nodded.  “I shall certainly hammer at him about it. See if there’s a flicker there. I can only be grateful, Cole, that you brought some insight into this. I hadn’t even come across Thorne as a suspect until you alerted me to him – to his wife. Her story’s an interesting enough reason to collar him. I’m glad you tracked the bastard down, dragged him back here. He may be key to this whole thing.”