Pauline Rowson - Tide of Death

Ten minutes later he was in the Horsea marina office. The manager said he would be happy to supply a list of names and addresses and then showed him into the lockmaster's control room.

Whereas the previous lockmaster he'd interviewed had been a barrel of a man and working on nights, this one was his opposite: lean and anxious with a hooked nose and sharp watery eyes. He'd been working on the day shift on the Friday Thurlow had disappeared and must also have seen Jarrett return.

'Sunray, yes. Came through about five o'clock,' the lockmaster said.

'Was Mr Jarrett alone?'

'No, had a couple of fellows with him.'

'Anyone you know?'

The lockmaster shook his head. 'Never seen them before.'

'And did he go out again?'

The lockmaster looked at him as if he had a screw loose. 'No. If I remember it was very foggy that night. Anyone would be mad to go out in that. Though they do. Or at least the Free Spirit did. Mr Thurlow's boat.'

Horton's heart skipped a beat. This he hadn't bargained for. He could hardly believe his luck. 'You saw it? I thought the other man was on duty that night. This is the Friday before last we're talking about?'

'Yes. Derek had gone for a quick leak. I happened to pop in. I'd left my glasses behind.'

A break! He could barely contain his excitement. 'Did you see who was piloting her?' Please don't say no, he silently pleaded. 'It wasn't Mr Thurlow. I heard he's been killed, I suppose that's why you want to know.'

Horton tried to squeeze the impatience from his voice as he said, 'Can you describe this man?'

'Tall fellow, lean, looks fit.'

Couldn't be Calthorpe then.

'I've seen him go out with Mr Jarrett a few times.'

What! He hadn't expected that. Now his pulse was racing. 'Do you know his name?'

'No. Mr Jarrett will though.'

Won't he just. This was better than he had dared to hope. But it put paid to his theory about the murders being linked to Melissa Thurlow. Uckfield was right when he said he'd been barking up the wrong tree. This had nothing to do with framing Melissa Thurlow and everything to do with Jarrett's porn operation.

He hared down to Jarrett's pontoon but was disappointed to find his boat wasn't there. He tore back to the station, his mind racing. He found Cantelli at his desk.

'Uckfield's been screaming for you.'

'I'm on to something, Barney.' He told him what the lockmaster had said. 'In one of the statements a man reported seeing someone running along Ferry Road late on the Tuesday night of Culven's killing. I think it's the same man that took out Thurlow's boat. Tell Sergeant Trueman to check all the statements the night Thurlow was killed and alert the team working on questioning Lucy's neighbours…'

His phone rang and he was summoned to Uckfield's office.

He could see immediately by Steve's frozen expression that he knew he'd been to Lucy's flat. He didn't even have time to tell him about the breakthrough on the murder case.

Uckfield said, his voice terse, 'Why didn't you tell me you called on Lucy Richardson last night?'

Horton had been expecting it but he had hoped he'd have a little more time before Uckfield found out. He remained silent. There wasn't much he could say.

'You should have told me,' Uckfield snapped.

'I went there and there was no answer.'

Uckfield looked as though he didn't believe him. Horton was sickened by what he saw in Uckfield's eyes. 'I know I can't prove it. I didn't think I would have to, not to you, Steve.'

'It's not me you have to convince. Superintendent Reine wants to see you.'

Horton's heart sank to the pit of his stomach. He could tell by Uckfield's expression and the tense silence between them as they walked down the corridor that this wasn't going to be good.

Reine looked up as they entered. He was sitting behind his desk in full uniform, his round shiny face solemn and perspiring in the stifling heat. Horton could see he'd get no help from Uckfield, not yet. Until Steve spoke to his father in-law he was on his own.

Reine ran a hand over his balding head, removed his reading glasses and eyed Horton coldly. He didn't invite him to sit.

'Last night you called on Lucy Richardson. Why?'

Jane Staveley's words reverberated through his head. Someone high up. 'That's my business,' he said, stiffly.

'I don't think so, Inspector Horton,' Reine snapped. 'I think it is mine especially when someone known to you — shall we even say close to you? — has been brutally murdered.'

'You can't seriously believe I have anything to do with her death?' He was damned if he was going to say 'sir.'

'She has done a great deal to harm you, inspector. Maybe you didn't know your own strength? Maybe you wanted revenge for what she'd done to you?'

Oh clever. Jarrett had primed him well. 'That's rubbish!'

'Is it?'

Horton glared at him but said nothing. There was nothing he could say, not here to that man and not now.

'I am suspending you from duty until further notice.'

He should have guessed. It all fitted. 'I must also warn you that you will be formally cautioned and questioned in connection with Lucy's death,' Reine said coldly. 'We will need details of your movements both last night and this morning and these will need to be corroborated.'

He had to find a way out. He wasn't going to let them get him into an interview room, and then a cell, while they cooked up some cock and bull story and tried to fit him up for Lucy's murder.

'Your warrant card, inspector.'

Horton reached inside his jacket pocket and placed the card on Reine's desk with a feeling he would never get it back again.

Reine crossed to the door where a decidedly uncomfortable looking Marsden hovered on the threshold.

'Escort Inspector Horton to the interview room and stay there with him until Internal Investigations arrive,' Reine instructed.

Horton held Uckfield's stare for a few moments before turning.

'Am I allowed to go back to my office to collect a couple of personal things?'

'The Super said not,' Marsden hesitated. 'What's going on, sir?'

But Cantelli appeared behind Marsden and said, ' I'll see he gets to the interview room, Jake.'

'But the Super-'

'I'm taking over from now.'

After a moment's hesitation Marsden nodded and walked off.

Cantelli pushed back the door of the social club and Horton followed him inside. Cantelli closed and locked the door behind them. The room was empty and they walked swiftly to the bar area.

'Reine thinks I killed her,' Horton said, as Cantelli lifted the counter flap and they made their way through to the small storeroom behind it.

'That's bloody ridiculous.'

'I know, but I can't let Internal Investigations get hold of me, not yet anyway.' Horton looked at the fire exit.

'What are you going to do?'

'You don't need to know that, Barney. Look, I appreciate you helping me like this. You're already risking suspension when Reine finds out you've let me go.'

'Yeah, well I've been promising Charlotte I'd decorate the lounge for a long time now,' and he grinned. 'Come on.'

Horton could see Barney had made up his mind. He was rather glad to have him along. He pushed down the bar and the door slid open. Stepping on to the fire escape he peered down. There was no one standing guard at the bottom of it. It came out into the car park. They reached Cantelli's car without being accosted.

'Where to?' Cantelli asked, stretching the seat belt around him.

Horton lifted a pile of Cantelli's children's drawings on to the back seat and said, 'Jarrett's boat.'

By the time they reached the marina the wind had risen and the halyards were slapping against the masts. The stifling heat had vanished and the fat rain had developed into lean, mean streaks. Horton thought he heard the faint rumble of thunder as they slipped on to the pontoon brushing past a man coming out. Hurrying towards Jarrett's boat Horton could see he was back and that the cover was off which meant that Jarrett must be on board. He wondered why he hadn't covered over his precious yacht to protect it from the weather. As he climbed on board and dipped below into the cabin he saw the answer.