IMPERFECTION by Ray Clark (e novels to read online TXT) 📗

“Has he now?” said Briggs. “What do you think, Stewart?”

“He could be our man,” replied Gardener. “We need to speak to him if only to eliminate him, but more importantly, if he’s not our man he may know something that will lead us in the right direction.”

Briggs glanced at the board again. “It’s a bit coincidental that we have a writer of crime fiction from the Sixties popping in and out of the world when he feels like it, and a poet who likes killing people and leaving puzzles. What do you think the second verse means?”

“I think it’s obvious we’re looking for an actor,” replied Gardener. “Certainly, someone connected with the theatre.”

“Maybe he’s a failed actor with a score to settle,” said Reilly.

“Possible,” Gardener continued but then paused, before addressing Colin Sharp. “An actor: Colin, found out anything about the quote on the wall and The Phantom?”

“Not a lot,” said Sharp. “Phantom is basically a love story, a bit like Beauty and the Beast. The Phantom is a man called Erik and he’s in love with a singer called Christine. He observes her from a distance, but they finally meet in a secret chamber close to the singer’s dressing room.

“Erik tells her that he’s brought her five cellars underground because he loves her. Because it’s a silent film, it’s all done with quotes on the screen, which is where we see the one from the dressing room wall. But that was only one line from the whole thing.”

“What’s the rest?” Reilly asked.

“‘So that which is good in me, aroused by your purity, might plead for your love’. All of this leads to the famous unmasking scene.”

“Why is he wearing a mask?”

“Because he was burned by acid at the beginning of the film and left for dead.”

Gardener thought about what Sharp had said. “Doesn’t really tell us anything, does it?”

“Other than the quote on the dressing room wall was random, in the sense that the line fitted what he wanted to say,” replied Sharp.

“Yes,” said Gardener, “that he’s holding a grudge and he’s waited some time for retribution.”

“Question is, what and when?” asked Anderson.

“That’s what we need to find out. Look at the last part of his bit of poetry found in the trunk. He’s directing us as well. ‘A shop,’ where ‘the next of my chosen will be a big shock.’ Any luck with that one?”

“There is one in the city, specialises in theatre supplies, called... wait for it... Let’s Make-up.”

“You’re joking?” said Reilly.

“No, I’m serious,” said Dave Rawson.

“Where is it?” asked Gardener.

“One of the arcades running off New Briggate. Run by an old guy and his assistant. They call him Cuthbertson. He’s been there about thirty years, knows all there is to know about theatre and stage, and just about everybody who goes in there.”

“Anyone bought any aluminium powder recently?”

“Quite a lot of people. I’ve made a list so we can start following them up.”

Gardener nodded. “You said he knows everyone who goes in there. He hasn’t had any strangers in recently, asking for oddball stuff?”

“Not that he knows of. I asked his assistant, Janine Harper, but she didn’t seem as if she was on the same planet.”

“It could be him,” said Reilly. “He runs a shop, so he’d have no trouble getting the stuff. Knows all there is to know about make-up, chances are he could apply it professionally.”

“Did he have an alibi for the night of Leonard White’s death?” asked Gardener.

“He claims he was at home, by himself. No wife, no kids.”

“And no alibi,” said Reilly.

“So, he could be our man,” said Gardener. “Then again, he could be next. The riddle says, ‘the next of my chosen will be a big shock’. Maybe it’s nothing to do with the local watch committee. We need to check him out further, Dave.”

Gardener addressed Briggs. “Do you think it’s worth tailing him for a couple of days?”

“I suppose we could spare someone to watch his movements,” replied Briggs. “Let me see what I can do.”

“What if it’s her?” asked Reilly.

“Who?”

“Janine Harper. Maybe it’ll be a big shock because he’s after her, not Cuthbertson.”

“Why would he be?” asked Briggs.

“I’m just thinking of the Phantom storyline,” replied Reilly, “a love story. Has he been rebuffed by this Janine piece and he’s going after her?”

“It’s worth a thought, Sean,” said Gardener, “but it doesn’t really fit. She’s in her twenties, chances are that the man we’re after is probably more than double her age.”

Reilly shrugged, “just a thought, boss.”

“And not a bad one,” said Gardener, nodding to his superior, DCI Briggs. “Maybe someone on her as well?”

“Christ, Stewart, we’re not made of money.”

Gardener smiled and addressed the team again. “The end of the riddle. ‘It’s time to detect, and study the clues.’ Despite being cocky, he’s right. And so is DCI Briggs. He’s taking us for mugs, especially if he gets away with another murder. We have to try to prevent it. Sean and I are going to pay a visit to Leonard White’s former home. Apparently, it was a colleague of White’s who bought it. Although he’s dead, it’s possible his wife is still there.”

“Okay, let’s be more focused,” shouted Briggs. “It doesn’t sound like we have much time, but you’re going to have to do your best. Otherwise, the press will do their worst. The way I see it, there are three suspects.” Briggs held up one hand and counted with his fingers on the other.

“Val White. She had the motive and the ability, but she has an alibi. Dig deep, someone. Harry Fletcher. We don’t know enough about him either way. We can’t put him in the frame and we can’t rule him out, so we need to