Страница 15 из 80
“In what way?” Wilson asked.
“The phony camaraderie. Didn’t fall for it, did he? I was hoping for a look around Spencer’s caravan.”
“Not your fault, boss,” said Wilson. “If you ask me, the way things are going we’ll be back with a warrant tomorrow if we want.”
ANNIE CABBOT watched the door as Banks and AC Gervaise walked into the boardroom, deep in conversation, for the late briefing. The team was already assembled: A
Banks and AC Gervaise took their positions by the two whiteboards and the glass board, which was looking to A
A
Banks shuffled his papers, stood up and opened the briefing. “I think we’d better start off by pooling our information. As you all probably know, I just got back from leave this morning, so the only case I’m current on is an apparent killing, or serious wounding, at the old abandoned aerodrome near Drewick, though the AC has filled me in briefly on one or two other developments that may possibly be related.” He looked at A
A
“Do you think this Michael Lane character could be involved in the tractor theft?” Banks asked.
A
“Any ideas?”
“Well,” said A
“You mean Beddoes himself?”
“Why not? He’s got a City background, apparently. Knows finance. On the surface of it, he seems well off. But the farm can’t be all that profitable. All he does is raise a few pigs and free-range chickens for local restaurants and several acres of rapeseed for high-end cooking oils. He might have got into something over his head. Or maybe he needs to supplement his income? And the idiot did leave the ignition key hanging on a hook on the wall.”
“Worth thinking about,” Banks said. He glanced toward AC Gervaise. “I understand you know Patricia Beddoes, ma’am?”
“Slightly.”
“What do you think?”
“Their finances? Insurance fraud? I couldn’t really say one way or the other. She always seemed like a comfortably-off person to me. Nice clothes. Designer labels. I think she was a bit bored with the country, missed her exotic travel. Hence the Mexico trip, I suppose. And I do believe they have a little pied-à-terre in Holland Park. Other than that, all I know is that she likes Kate Atkinson and Khaled Hosseini.”
That drew several chuckles from the room. “You know,” A
“And we’ll bear it in mind,” said Banks. “Maybe father and son were in it together? Did Michael Lane know that Beddoes was on holiday?” Banks asked A
“More than likely. And Frank Lane also seemed a bit contemptuous of the Mexico trip. Or maybe he was just envious.”
“You said Michael Lane’s relationship with the victim, John Beddoes, was strained?”
“Yes,” said A
“We’ll schedule that for tomorrow morning,” Banks said. “I’d like to talk to Beddoes and Lane myself. I’m not sure about the vendetta angle, though. These tractors are worth a lot of money, and it takes a great deal of organization, not to mention expense, to steal one. Do you think Michael Lane, or even his father, was capable of organizing such a theft?”
“No,” said A
Banks noticed the hesitation. “What is it, A
“Probably nothing, really.” Damn it, A