Death in July by Michael Joseph Page B

resilient desire for justice. Whatever, Sam admired him for it.
    'I'd be happy to come along to the funeral, Benjamin.'
    Benjamin was delighted. He had another request. Would Sam accompany him to the Ex-Servicemen's Club to discuss the final arrangements for the wake? The funeral was only two days away, and Arnold had promised to go with him, but now he had disappeared...
    Sam nodded and agreed he would. Benjamin was oblivious to the reply, chuntering on nervously about his father's final request. A last hurrah in the place he knew so well, surrounded by his friends.
    'Benjamin...'
    Silence, at last. Benjamin gazed at Sam, managing to look quizzical, embarrassed and defiant all at the same time.
    'I said I'll go, so let's get off before you talk me out of it.'
     
    ***
     
    The club was no busier than on Sam's previous visit, although it wasn't the patrons Benjamin wanted to discuss matters with, it was the committee. Sam left him to talk over the ins and outs of Geoffrey’s wake in a side room with three of its members.
    'Whisky?' asked the barman.
    Sam nodded and settled on a stool. He was already finding the barman, Dave, more agreeable than last time. He supposed it was only natural for him to have been wary of Sam. A stranger turning up unannounced in a place like this. Sam looked around the room. He saw no sign of Harry.
    'Your mate's not in yet,' said Dave. 'He'll be in sometime tonight.'
    Sam recalled Harry's anguish at Geoffrey's passing.
    'If I'd known he was going to get upset like that when I talked to him...'
    Dave popped the whisky down on the bar and gave Sam an earnest look.
    'It was a shock to us all, Geoffrey's passing. Not him dying...he was a certain age, after all. No, it was the way he went.'
    Sam watched Dave shudder a touch.
    'People keep mentioning that,' said Sam, careful with his words.
    'Well, it's true,' insisted Dave. 'I mean, look at the way he refused to let that attack get him down last year. Many his age would have been terrified to set foot outside their front door again after something like that, especially after being set upon by a bloke that size...'
    'I thought the police had no idea who did it?'
    Dave started polishing the bar with one huge forearm.
    'They don't,' he said. 'I only got a quick look at him in the dark. It wasn't enough-'
    'You were the one who stopped the attack?' asked Sam.
    'Yeah,' said Dave, rubbing at a particular stain with all his might. 'Geoffrey was the last one to leave here that night. As soon as his taxi picked him up, I set about cleaning up...'
    Dave looked up and gave Sam a sheepish smile.
    '...then I decided I couldn't be bothered, and it could wait until I was back in the next day. So, I closed up and left myself. As I got near Geoffrey's place, I saw his taxi drive off. I slowed down to make sure he had got in alright. He was opening his door as I went past...'
    Dave hesitated a moment. He gave Sam a troubled look.
    'A man was walking up his path. I remember thinking something wasn't right. It was too late for Geoffrey to be having visitors. Then I saw the man push Geoffrey over. I stopped, got out and started shouting. The man ran off, so I checked on Geoffrey. He was out cold. I stayed with him until the ambulance arrived. I wanted to go chasing after the bloke, I was that angry. I didn't care how big he was...'
    Dave resumed his cleaning of the bar, attacking the wood with renewed vigour.
    'A big guy, was he?' asked Sam. He thought about last night. Surely not?
    'Yeah, didn't see his face...tall...lots of muscle...black clothes and a hat...'

Chapter 11
     
    Sam didn't ask any more. He didn't want to arouse Dave's suspicious with endless questions. Instead, he ordered another whisky and took it to a quiet table. He needed time to think.
    Two incidents, one year apart. Two men of identical build and dress paying unwanted visits to Geoffrey's home. They had to be the same person, it was too much of a co-incidence. Supping thoughtfully on his drink, Sam