A Fool and His Money by Marina Pascoe Page A

can anyone verify that?’
    â€˜My wife here can.’
    â€˜But can anyone else?’
    â€˜No, of course not – there’s only the two of us living here.’
    â€˜Very well. I’m sorry to have troubled you both. Good afternoon.’
    Bartlett paused at the hospital wall at the top of Killigrew and lit his pipe.
    â€˜Do you believe him, Boase?’
    â€˜Dunno, sir. What do we do if we can’t find anyone to speak for his whereabouts? And who else are you thinking of as a possible killer?’
    â€˜I haven’t got anyone at the moment – none of this makes any sense to me. As you pointed out, why kill someone who was giving you regular – and easy money? If you’re right and it’s Edward James then the only reason is that Clicker told him he knew about the con. Everyone says what a lovely man he was, a decent sort, so it doesn’t fit that he had lots of enemies.’
    â€˜But we only need one enemy, sir.’
    â€˜Yes, my boy – you’re right there. I was looking at that report this morning – it confirmed my earlier suspicions - definitely murder, no two ways. The body has been thoroughly examined and we’ve been over the scene. Yes, it’s murder all right There’s no way he did that to himself.’
    The two men made their way back down Killigrew and to the station. As Bartlett crossed the main hall to his temporary office, the desk sergeant stopped him.
    â€˜Excuse me, sir. Penhaligon took a telephone message for you about half an hour ago – he’s had to go up to the Catholic church to see Canon Egan but he asked me to give you this.’
    The sergeant handed a folded piece of paper to Bartlett who took it and followed Boase into the office. They both removed their coats and Bartlett read the note. He looked up at Boase.
    â€˜Who’s Aitchinson?’
    â€˜Who?’
    â€˜Aitchinson – look, Penhaligon’s writing isn’t the best but that definitely says “Aitchinson”, doesn’t it?’
    Boase grasped the piece of paper, squinted, then handed it back.
    â€˜Yes, I’d say so, sir.’
    â€˜Do we know anyone called Aitchinson?’
    â€˜Well, I don’t. What does the note say? I only looked at the name.’
    â€˜It says Penhaligon spoke to this man on the telephone. The man said that he doesn’t want any trouble but that he saw Edward James leave the circus and head for the seafront the night Clicker was killed. Apparently the Jameses were the second act on – is that right?’
    â€˜Yes, as I recall, yes they were. What else does it say?’
    â€˜Nothing much – but we don’t know anyone at the circus called Aitchinson. Have we met everyone?’
    â€˜Yes, every last one, sir.’
    â€˜What time did the pony act finish? Can you remember?’
    â€˜Yes, I can. Irene looked at her watch because she thought the act seemed over very quickly. She said she hoped the others would be a bit longer because she was enjoying herself so much. She said “Look, that’s two acts finished and it’s only ten to eight.”.’
    â€˜What time do they think Clicker was killed?’
    â€˜They said between nine o’clock and midnight – that was the closest they could say.’
    â€˜So if this here Aitchinson is telling the truth, Edward James could have gone after the old man and got back to his caravan fairly quickly.’
    â€˜I suppose so, sir.’
    Bartlett pushed his chair back from the desk.
    â€˜But who is Aitchinson? Could it be someone not connected with the circus? We’re assuming he’s one of the troupe. He’s left no other details. Penhaligon writes here that he didn’t want to give a name at all until he was pressed.’
    â€˜So, it’s possibly a false one, sir?’
    â€˜Would you think of “Aitchinson” on the spur of the moment? It’s not a very common name, is