HELL'S HALF ACRE a gripping murder mystery full of twists (Coffin Cove Mysteries Book 2) by JACKIE ELLIOTT (classic literature books .txt) 📗

Jim asked Vega, “Did you talk to Walter yet?”

Vega nodded. “I did.”

Andi asked, “What’s going on?”

“Walter saw a photograph in your apartment earlier. When he came in with tea for you, remember?” Vega explained.

Andi nodded.

“He thinks the man in the photo is either the same man who may be involved in Jade’s disappearance or someone who looks a lot like him.”

Andi pulled out a file from her laptop case and opened it. “This is the picture.” She handed it to Vega.

Andi pointed to the men in the photograph. “That man is Wayne Dagg, Lee’s older brother, and that’s Art Whilley. That’s Daniel Ellis, and that’s Doug South—”

“Wait,” Vega said, his mind racing. “Did you say Daniel Ellis?”

“Yes,” Andi said, surprised at the urgency in his voice. “I thought you were interested in this one?” She pointed to Art Whilley.

“I am. It’s just the name has come up.”

“You think he’s the killer?” Andi asked. There was a hint of the old Andi in her voice, and Vega smiled.

“I can’t say yet,” Vega said. It came out sounding pompous, and Vega was annoyed with himself. He needed Andi’s help, and he didn’t want to argue.

“It’s not Daniel, that’s for certain,” Harry said.

“What?” Vega and Andi said together.

“Daniel Ellis cannot be the killer,” Harry said. “He was lost at sea. Fishing accident. Well, more stupidity than accident, but the same result. I saw him leave the dock with my own eyes, and he never came back.”

Vega shook his head. “When Walter came in, he was talking about Art Whilley. He believed Art died in the fire, but Walter swears Art Whilley is wandering round Coffin Cove pretending to be a real estate developer. Now the mayor’s missing, and she’s been in contact with this mysterious man in the last few days. I need to find him, if only to eliminate him from our enquiries. I have my officers looking into the death records,” he said grimly, “but so far they can’t find anything.”

Vega rubbed his hands over his face. He felt exhausted.

“I have four people murdered and one person missing. I need to know as much as possible about this Art Whilley, and fast. Jade could be in real danger. So please, no speculation. Just facts.”

Harry grunted. “There’ve been so many stories about Whilley and Hell’s Half Acre over the years, it’s hard to separate fact from fiction. Where did you get the photos anyway?” he asked Andi.

“Doug and Terri South,” she replied.

“Figures,” Harry said. “Doug was sort of involved with all that biker gang stuff. So was Dennis, if you can believe it.”

Vega nodded. “Our mystery man, who may or may not be Art Whilley, he’s calling himself Mr Knight.”

Harry’s eyes widened. “Holy shit. And you think he snatched Jade Thompson?”

Vega said, “I don’t know. It’s a lead we’re following, and at the moment, it’s our only lead. Jade was supposed to have a meeting with Knight or Whilley the evening she disappeared. She was last seen walking towards the fish plant. But I have no connection and no motive. So I need to know what you have. Everything.”

Jim jumped in. “Inspector, if you’ll let me, I’ll tell you what we’ve found out.”

“Go ahead, Jim, but get to the point, please.”

“Art Whilley was an abused boy who grew up to be a disturbed young man. Despite a few friends — Clara here, Ann and Doug South — he was a loner. He was also very smart. He liked to mess around with chemicals, and he read a lot. He concocted some kind of drug, a bit like LSD. Somehow, Wayne Dagg, Daniel Ellis and Dennis Havers found out.”

Jim paused. “I think it’s important for you to understand these three men were Art’s tormentors when he was a boy. They used to ‘hunt’ him, like some kind of animal. Art found some solace with Clara, who taught him how to hunt properly and taught him the old ways of surviving. She did it to help his confidence, but inadvertently showed him how to shoot and use a knife and string up animals — all skills useful for a killer.”

In his mind, Vega saw the brutal images of Nadine, with her throat neatly slit, and the bodies of Sandra and Dennis Havers. Ricky too, he thought. He was trussed like an animal. They’d thought it was a gangland killing, but Vega realized they were wrong.

Jim continued. “Wayne, Dennis and Daniel came up with this scheme. They would sell the drugs and split the profits with Art.”

“Was this Doug South involved?” Vega asked.

“I don’t think so. I believe Doug is hiding something, but not that.”

“Go on,” Vega said, beginning to feel like a lot of things were slotting into place.

“They were successful with the drug business. Wayne had connections with a biker gang, so distribution was easy. Art spent his money on a Mustang, and even had a girlfriend for a while — Nadine Dagg, who broke up with Lee to go out with Art.”

“Is Lee the jealous type?” Vega asked, aware that Lee Dagg was still at the detachment waiting to be interviewed.

Harry shook his head. “No. Lee was hurt, and pissed, but who wouldn’t be? Stood up by your girlfriend and then she turns up with the town weirdo in front of all your friends?” He shook his head. “But that was Nadine. Back then and now. Well . . .” He tailed off, remembering.

Jim said, “Wayne discouraged the relationship. It sounds as if he tried to control everything in Art’s life. Eventually, the scheme fell apart. Daniel died at sea, and we suspect, although we have no proof, that Daniel was also transporting drugs by boat. It’s possible he took a risk when the weather wasn’t good.”

“Or maybe he was encouraged,” Vega said, remembering Dennis’s note.