Page 17 of Glow

“Do you think so?”

Colin nodded. “Years ago I got a gig crooning on a Caribbean cruise liner. Bottles of whiskey were going missing. I knew it was the head chef. Let’s say we’d grown close. Anyway, it soon became obvious he had a drinking problem.”

“What happened?”

“I fancied myself in love with him,” Colin said. “Turned out he’d been caught doing it before. They did a cabin search. The swine had shifted them into mine beforehand. They threw me off in Grenada. And that’s how my career on the high seas ground to a halt. Permanently.”

Prin frowned. “That’s terrible. Didn’t he stick up for you?”

Colin shook his head. “Not one peep left his lips. He was senior to me so they took his word over mine. I don’t even like whiskey. Terrible stuff.”

“You were a singer then?”

“All my life,” Colin replied, proudly. “I once shared a stage with the great George Lomax. Right here in Brighton. I’ve got the programme somewhere. I’ll dig it out for you.”

Prin chewed on a piece of chicken. It was so succulent. Most places served up dry meat. Certainly not Colin.

“Problem is,” he said, “the suspect is my boss’s son.”

“Oh dear. That does give things an unpleasant edge. What’s your boss like?”

“He makes Gordon Ramsay look like an angel.”

Colin seemed lost in thought for a second.

“I’ll tell you what,” he mused. “If the news comes out some other way, I bet they wouldn’t hesitate to drop you in it. No, I think you need to focus on self-preservation, Prin, my lad. Is there anyone else to confide in?”

Prin considered it for a second. There was only one other person. “Yeah,” he said. “Although he’s a really loud queen. I’m not sure I can trust him.”

A twinkle appeared in Colin’s eye. “I think we can all say we’ve been a loud queen once in a while. And if not, then maybe it’s high time we did.”

Prin chewed on a piece of potato and thought about it. As it stood, Scott Fitzgerald was the best option he had.

FIVE

SCOTT

Scott could swear his head was going to split right open in the middle of the office. Tyler and Danny had insisted he share a bottle of wine with them the night before. Unfortunately, one had turned into three. As it so often did.

A smug Eddie, who had been staying at Billy’s house, sauntered past his desk.

“Oh, dearie me. You’re worse than Tyler.”

“Ugh,” Scott said, waving him away. “I can’t deal with you until lunchtime.”

Eddie pouted. “I’m wounded. Found the Dildo Pilferer yet?”

Scott shook his head. “Not heard a thing. Fuck me, I’m not in the mood for this.”

“Have you asked Charlotte?”

As Pleasure Seekers receptionist, Charlotte was privy to almost every piece of gossip going. Unfortunately, she was usually very discreet. She might be more flexible in this case. Scott hadn’t even thought about speaking to her. He must be losing his touch.

“Not a bad call,” Scott said. “Are you home later?”

Eddie shook his head. “Sorry. Me and Billy are going to the movies and this time I’m seeing the film. I don’t care who else is there.”

Scott already knew that Tyler had plans with Danny’s family for the evening. They were having a games night.