Songbird Page 46
They say timing is of the essence in most things, and hers could not have been worse. Freeman had beaten her to it – and it wasn’t easy to break things gently to Katherine. She was inclined to break things herself and not gently, if she didn’t get her own way. He began to explain but didn’t get very far.
‘Oh,’ she said airily, interrupting, ‘it isn’t all about you. Are you becoming vain? We need to be building a broader base for the agency but we’re turning away good local business, you know, the old-fashioned gumshoe stuff our uncle used to do. People who want to do the whizzy, hi-tech things are two a penny. We need someone who could help us out with a bit of private investigation work now and then. We’ll pay top rates. I wondered if you know anyone who would fit the bill. Somebody retired, maybe?’
Waters’ life didn’t flash before his eyes then but a case did – the search for Tina Fellowes, Mrs Fellowes in desperation calling in Diver and Diver on their first ever case, Waters himself wrestling with Katherine on the pavement, Smith running across the road, separating them and arresting her. Later, Smith telling her that if they lasted three months in this business, he’d eat his hat. He didn’t own a hat, he said, but he’d go and buy one just so he could eat it if Diver and Diver made a penny as private detectives.
‘Well? What do you think? Would he be interested?’
‘Katherine, I honestly don’t think-’
‘I know. I don’t want you to think, not really. I was lying when I said I wanted your opinion. I just want you to ask him. Tell him about this incredible opportunity. We’re expanding. There could be a partnership in it for the right person, who knows? Obviously, we wouldn’t change the name if that happened but…’
In the garden beyond Drift’s End, Smith was still talking to Oliver, or rather Oliver was talking and Smith was giving the boy his full attention. It’s a rare gift, being able to listen like that.
Waters made his way down the slope. Jo found him, smiled and asked if he’d like a cup of tea. Yes, he said, and sat down at the table where the record producer was holding forth on the subject of how to grow a decent lawn on these dry, sandy soils. Beyond, Waters saw that Oliver was with his aunt now, and Smith was alone for a moment, hands in his pockets, watching everyone else.
Perhaps the best thing would be to mention it as he was leaving, just sort of in passing, as if it was a mere trifle and of no importance. He rehearsed the words.
‘DC, you’ll never guess who I bumped into last night! Remember Katherine Diver?’
Or perhaps not.
© Peter Grainger 2019 All rights reserved
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Peter Grainger
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three