DCI Isaac Cook Box Set 1, стр. 357
‘I’m DCI Cook, this is my colleague, DI Hill. We’ve a few more questions for Mr Barrow.’
‘He’ll be free in a few minutes. Can I help you in the interim? I’m Mr Barrow’s personal assistant.’
‘You weren’t here on our first visit. We’re interested in an employee that used to work here,’ Isaac said.
The three moved to a room outside Barrow’s office.
‘Maybe I can help,’ Sue Christie said. Isaac had to admit she was a fine-looking woman, a little older than him but dressed well, capable, judging by her orderly desk and the files at the back of it neatly labelled A to Z.
‘This man left here eleven years ago, suddenly.’
‘I’ve been here for fifteen, almost the same length as Mr Barrow.’
‘Malcolm Woolston, do you remember him?’
‘It’s a long time, but yes. I was friends with him and his wife. Why do you ask? He died a long time ago.’
‘He died under mysterious circumstances.’
‘Yes, I know. We were all so shocked when he died. They never found his body, but I assume you know that. Why is it so important?’
‘Malcolm Woolston is not dead,’ Larry said.
‘Mr Barrow told me what you had said to him yesterday, but it’s not possible; we all attended his funeral.’
‘But with no body?’
‘They called it a remembrance service in his memory.’
‘We have proof that he is still alive,’ Isaac said. ‘We need to contact him immediately.’
Sue Christie laughed, a nervous laugh, Larry observed.
‘Has he contacted this office?’ Isaac asked.
‘He’s dead, we all know he is.’
‘We?’
‘Everyone, Mr Barrow, his wife, the staff here.’
‘His wife?’
‘Three years after Malcolm disappeared, he married his widow.’
‘Mr Barrow told us that last time. It must be complicated.’
‘Why? We were all friends. Malcolm was gone, and Gwen, that’s his wife, was lonely. The two made a great match. He brought up Malcolm’s daughter as if she was his own.’
‘Is Mr Barrow free?’
The woman left and went into the adjoining office. She closed the door behind her. Two minutes later, Ed Barrow reopened the door and invited the two police officers in.
‘Harold Hutton?’ Larry asked.
‘We spoke about this yesterday,’ Ed Barrow said. ‘Are you certain Malcolm was involved in his death?’
‘We are,’ Isaac said.
‘Harold Hutton was here last month. And even if Malcolm is still alive, why would he want to kill Hutton? The man has done a lot for the country, no skeletons in his cupboard.’
‘The man’s death was violent. We can place Malcolm Woolston at the crime scene.’
‘Malcolm was a pacifist. He’d not harm a fly.’
‘A fly, maybe not, but three men now.’
‘It can’t be Malcolm. It must be someone who looks like him.’
‘We can confirm that Malcolm Woolston is a mass murderer. He’s killed one person with a direct connection to this department, and another who you’ve admitted to knowing.’
‘George Arbuthnot?’
‘Yes.’
‘I told you last time that I’d met him, but only at a function somewhere. He’s not been here.’
‘Mr Barrow,’ Isaac said, ‘we will make a connection between George Arbuthnot and Harold Hutton. If a connection exists to this department as well, we will find out, rest assured. Hutton was interested in scientific research. Arbuthnot, from what we can tell, dealt in military weapons.’
‘Our research is for the benefit of mankind, not its destruction,’ Barrow said.
‘Although some of your projects could be converted to military purposes?’
‘I suppose so, but I’d resist if they ever tried it.’
‘We need to know if Malcolm Woolston contacts your wife.’
‘After so many years? Why now?’
‘The answer to that question lies with the reason that he is on a murdering spree. Mr Barrow, are you on his list?’
Ed Barrow shifted in his seat. ‘With Malcolm, you never knew what he was thinking.’
Chapter 17
Bridget busied herself in the office compiling a dossier on Malcolm Woolston, including last known address, family and where they were, friends, and whether he had been drawing a pension or an allowance from somewhere.
Isaac and Larry were back in the office, unsure about their encounter with Ed Barrow and Sue Christie. ‘What do you reckon?’ Larry asked.
‘Not much to say. They answered the questions correctly, and there’s no proof that they’re on Woolston’s hit list.’
‘Anything more on Arbuthnot?’
‘Apart from what we know, not a lot. I’m certain he’s tied in somewhere with the research department, but there’s no way of proving it, and if he were involved in shady arms dealing, government sponsored or not, we'd not get any help from Barrow.’
‘How about his personal assistant?’
‘Something is going on there,’ Isaac said.
‘You sensed it as well?’
‘Just a little too cosy, that’s all. It may be platonic, but…’
‘And he’s married to Woolston’s widow. The man disappeared for a reason, not necessarily because he wanted to desert his family. If he suspects Barrow of playing around, cheating on his wife, then his reaction could be unpredictable.’
‘Nothing unpredictable about how he killed Hutton and Arbuthnot.’
‘Commissioner Davies wants Hutton’s killer apprehended soon.’
‘Has DCS Goddard been on the phone again?’ Larry asked.
‘It’s understandable. Hutton was well known, well respected. There were even condolences in the House of Commons by the prime minister.’
‘We still don’t know why he’s come back. After so many years, you’d think he would have stayed hidden.’
‘Something caused him to resurface.’
‘He’ll kill again.’
‘But who? Barrow, Sue Christie, even his wife for marrying someone else?’
‘We’ll need to make contact with her, tell her to be on the lookout.’
‘We told Barrow we’d give him two days.’
‘It can’t wait. The woman needs protection.’
***