Page 48 of Worse Than Murder

‘You almost sounded like a DCI then,’ Sally says, entering the restaurant from the kitchen.

‘Were you eavesdropping?’

‘Of course. You miss the job, don’t you?’

‘No. Not in the slightest.’

‘Can you smell that? I think Philip must have left something burning on the stove,’ Sally says, sniffing dramatically.

‘I can’t smell anything.’

‘Oh, no, wait. It’s just your pants that are on fire,’ Sally grins.

Sally leaves, chuckling to herself. I shake my head at her attempt at levity and turn back to the window and the police activity taking place right in front of me. I go to the bar, lean over, and grab the phone. I’d written the number ofCumbria Todayon a Post-It which is crumpled when I fish it out of my pocket.

‘Tania Pritchard,Cumbria Today, good afternoon,’ Tania answers in what is clearly a faux posh telephone voice.

‘Tania, it’s Matilda. I’m calling you from the restaurant.’

‘Oh, yes, so you are. I can see you.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes. I’m right outside. Turn to your left. Sorry, your right, and you’ll see a shitty little Punto in baby-sick yellow.’

I turn and see the journalist standing next to her car. I smile and give a brief wave.

‘I’d wave back but I don’t want to draw attention,’ Tania says. ‘You never know where this is going to lead.’

‘I’ve just had Inspector Forsyth here to see me.’

‘Yes. I saw her leave. Was it nice to see her, to see her, nice?’ she asks, referring to the famous catchphrase of entertainer Bruce Forsyth.

‘I wouldn’t go that far. She did tell me whose car it is at the bottom of the lake.’

‘Travis Montgomery’s.’

‘You already knew?’

‘I have my sources.’

‘What was Travis’s alibi again for when the Pemberton girls went missing?’ I ask.

‘He didn’t have one. Did Gill tell you anything about how they found the car at the bottom of the lake?’

‘A tree crashed into the lake last night during the storm. I was out swimming this morning. I found the registration plate and took it into the police station. Police came out and have found some items they believe belong to young children.’

‘Jesus Christ! Celia and Jennifer are in that car?’

‘We’ll find out when it’s brought up. How did you get on with trying to find Travis? Gill said he’s not on the electoral register.’

‘I can’t find him anywhere. I’ve found a few Montgomerys in Liverpool. I’m going to do some phoning around. By the way, I was reading my notes about Jack Pemberton working at Dudgeons on the day of the twins’ kidnapping and made a few calls to double-check. Dudgeons was closed down all that week due to industrial action.’

‘Who was striking?’

‘All the production staff.’

‘Was Jack on the production line?’