Amanda Cadabra and The Hidden Depths by Holly Bell (good book recommendations TXT) 📗

does that word have any other meaning?’ he enquired.

‘Well …’ Amanda was unsure. Grandpa appeared at her side and uttered quietly,

‘Equator, bian.’

Trelawney could not help his gaze momentarily flickering to the newcomer who then, with a brief smile in the inspector’s direction, promptly left.

‘Equator,’ Amanda repeated aloud.

‘Equator,’ repeated Simon thoughtfully. ‘Well, the obvious one would Ecuador – that’s Spanish for equator.’

‘Ecuador!’ exclaimed Amanda. ‘Yes, why not?’

‘Thank you, Mr Lawley,’ responded Trelawney. ‘And Beautiful Hill?’

‘Well, the most famous place matching that in Ecuador, that I know of, is Llanganates. That means beautiful hill. It’s a national park.’

‘Ah Lowarth – Park,’ said Amanda.

‘Does it include mountains?’ asked the inspector.

‘It does indeed. Very hazardous ones too. And a legend of Inca gold.’

‘Mr Lawley, I must ask you, have you ever visited Ecuador or the Andes Mountains?’

‘No.’

‘Do you recognise the book that Miss Cadabra will now show you?’

She brought it forth and passed it to him.

‘Oh yes! This is the one, Amanda, which I was telling you about. The one that was given to me but I couldn’t read it, so I passed it on.’

‘Did you ever discuss this book with Miss Gibbs?’ Trelawney enquired.

‘Well ... I ... I may have mentioned it in passing ... or maybe ... we were talking about books and languages, and yes … I’m pretty sure it did come up.’

The inspector asked his next question. ‘Can you tell me the name of the person to whom you gave it, Mr Lawley?’

‘Oh …. Erm … oh yes, Old Hoarder. Erm … Lynford Warder.’

‘Thank you. Now could you tell me from whom you received this book?’

‘Yes, it was from one of my fellow tutors. He teaches statistics.’

‘And did he say how he got it?’

‘Er… yes. He’d got back from South America. Could have been Ecuador, I suppose. Some hikers had found it in the park where he was staying. They saw the title was English, so they passed it onto him.’

‘Can you recall the name of this tutor?’

‘Shaw. Peregrin Shaw.’

‘Was either Mr Warder or Mr Shaw known to Samantha Gibbs?’

‘Erm, yes, as a matter of fact.’

‘In what capacity?’

‘She dated them both very briefly.’

Aha, the plot thickens, thought Trelawney. ‘Can you tell me the order in which she dated them?’

‘Well, let’s see …. Shaw first, I think, and then Samantha and I became friends, and then it was Warder.’

‘Do you have a telephone number for Peregrin Shaw?’

‘Of course. Shall I text you his contact details?’

‘Please. Now, if you wouldn’t mind,’ the inspector requested calmly.

‘Of course.’

Details received, Trelawney stood up, and Amanda followed suit.

‘Thank you, Mr Lawley. You’ve been most helpful.’

They left immediately and drove back to the library.

‘Miss Cadabra, continue reading the journal, if you will.’

Trelawney took out his phone.

‘Nikolaides? … Yes, I want you to track down a Lynford Warder. He was teaching at Hertscourt University. Might still be there … Yes, it’s urgent. Baker with you? … All right. Thanks.’

He rang off and redialled.

‘Baker, how’s your Spanish?’

‘Just conversational, sir.’

‘I want you to contact the Llanganates National Park in Ecuador. I’m sure they get lots of tourists and will be able to understand you one way or another. I need to know of any accidents involving English climbers during the past two years. Any details at all.’

Trelawney hung up, paused, then searched on his phone and tapped a number.

‘… This is a message for Mr Peregrin Shaw from Detective Inspector Trelawney. I would appreciate your help with an ongoing investigation. Please could you call me as soon as you receive this message.’ He repeated his mobile number and hung up, immediately redialling.

‘This is Detective Inspector Trelawney. Please could you put me through to Mr Gibbs … Yes, it is urgent … Hello, Mr Gibbs … Yes … No, I have not made an arrest. I have something better … a possibility of uncovering the truth … Are you? Please. Yes, Sunken Madley Library. Thank you.’

Amanda raised her eyes from the journal.

‘Any luck?’ she asked.

‘Damian Gibbs is at the Asthma Centre and will be here in ten minutes.’

‘Shall I leave?’

‘No. Stay if you would, Miss Cadabra. You may have a softening effect on the man.’

‘Just as you wish, Inspector,’ said Amanda compliantly.

She imagined that she was adequately concealing her intense curiosity and excited anticipation of the interview. With anyone else she might have been successful. But not with the inspector.

Chapter 37

The Writer, and Amanda’s Shortcut

‘Mr Gibbs, would you please remind me of your connection with South America,’ requested Trelawney, having seated his interviewee in the library’s private space of the Situation Room. Damian was pleased to see Amanda and her presence did seem to reassure him somewhat. He answered the inspector’s question, confidently.

‘Certainly. It’s a favourite place of mine for team-building trips.’

‘It’s a general destination favoured by you, and by some members of your social circle?’

‘Yes.’

‘Including your friend who died?’

‘Oh, Ainsley. Yes, sadly … in fact … yes.’

‘Do you know how he died and where?’

‘In Ecuador, from a climbing accident. He disappeared at first and then his body was found.’

‘And your friend, Ainsley …?’

‘Storridge.’

‘Thank you. Mr Storridge was known to Miss Gibbs?’

‘Yes, all right … he knew Samantha far better than I would have liked. In fact, it was at my suggestion that he went abroad, to put some distance between himself and Sam, for a time. It seemed to be for the best. Oh, I don’t know, sometimes they both talked as though what they had was the real thing … how could I tell? But she was so young, Inspector. When Ainsley went off on his trip, I admit I was relieved. And then he didn't come back, Sam received no word …’

‘Do you know who his guide was?’

‘Well, no … I didn’t know anything of his exact plans. Did he have a guide? I suppose he must have done.’

‘Were you or any other of your friends in South America at the time?’

‘No, everyone was busy here.’

‘May I ask a question?’ Amanda enquired.

‘Of course,’ Gibbs answered her.

‘Damian, when Sam heard Mr Storridge had disappeared and then