The Dunbar Case(29)
‘Sorry, but it’s important. What do you do for a living?’
‘Nothing. I’ve got a disability pension. Johnnie left me with some impaired movement. What d’you want to see me about? Planning to double cross ... somebody?’
‘Nothing like that. It’s about history. A shipwreck.’
There was an electronic silence, then she said, ‘Are you serious?’
‘I am, yes.’
‘All right, I’ll meet you. Not at the motel, though. Somewhere on the road back to Newcastle or the boys’ll start wondering why I’m here.’
‘What have you told them so far?’
‘Mind your own business. What are you, a detective?’
She named a pub I’d seen on the way out of Bathurst and agreed to meet me in an hour.
I rang Hector.
‘Hector Tanner?’
‘Could be. Who’s this?’
‘Hardy. I delivered the message to Johnnie.’
‘What did he say?’
‘He said it gave him something to chew on.’
Hector chuckled. ‘It so happens I know you’re not lying. We’ve ... I’ve had a message from him myself that says he has hopes of getting some outside time soon. That your doing, Hardy?’
I imitated his tone. ‘Could be.’
‘Are you taking the piss?’
‘No, if I ever get the chance I’ll make you sorry you threatened me the way, you did. But for now, with a job on hand, can I assume your threat to me is dropped?’
‘Call it on hold. Just keep the fuck out of it.’
He cut the call. There were a lot of things Hector didn’t know. He didn’t know I knew about the buried money. He didn’t know one of his minions was a cop. He didn’t know that I’d have to keep monitoring Twizell at least for a while, and he didn’t know I was about to meet up with his sister, who wished him no good. That was too much ignorance for someone in his position and could make him dangerous. Trouble was, there were things I didn’t know, like who killed Pete McKnight and why, and whether Marisha’s dealings with Jobe Tanner were as secure as she thought.
~ * ~
Kristie came towards where I was sitting in the pub. She had her leather coat belted tight and moved confidently in her high heels. I wondered what work she’d done before Twizell put her on the disabled list. I got up politely and she almost sneered.
‘A gentleman, are you?’
‘Sometimes. D’you want a drink?’
‘Why not? Vodka and ice, slice of lemon.’
I realised I hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast. I bought two packets of chips, her drink and a red wine for me.
‘It’s a picnic, eh?’ she said.
‘Knock off the tough act, Kristie. We’re in a complicated situation. We’ve got two dead people ...’
She sipped her drink. ‘Like who?’
‘The backpacker Twizell left in the cave. It must have crossed your mind at some time that he was expendable, given the amount of money supposed to be involved and Twizell’s record. And there’s my private detective contact in Newcastle. That could be connected to this business,’
‘I suppose.’
‘So let’s be serious. I’ve just heard Hector warn me off. If he found out your friend Rod’s in touch with me ...’
‘Okay, okay. You’re right. I’m scared and the tough act is ... camouflage.’
‘What did you do before—’
‘Before Johnnie sliced me up? I was a marine biologist— well, a marine biologist’s assistant. Doing a part-time degree. No more diving for me. Among other things, Johnnie punctured a lung and ruptured an eardrum. Shit, I’ve lost the thread. Why’re we here?’
After all that had happened I’d lost the slick version of Wakefield’s story I’d trotted out before. Now I put it together again as best I could without giving away too much.
‘My client’s a historian. He wants to find out some things about the wreck. There’s been some talk of a written account and mention of a family Bible. Twizell knew what I was talking about when I mentioned that.’
‘Yeah, he would. He told you we were related?’
I nodded. We’d been sharing the chips and drinking. It was almost convivial.
‘Twizells and Tanners hooked up a few times over the years. We’re probably a bit inbred. Might account for how crazy some of us are.’
‘The Bible.’
‘Grandma Tanner’s cousin had one. She was a Twizell. By the time I saw it, it wasn’t really a Bible—all the guts had fallen out of it.’