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.Walking down the ramp to the car park he passed a couple of the Harlesden officers standing outside smoking.He was about to get into his car when he thought better of it.He’d had too much to drink, and the Harlesden men were watching him.Wouldn’t they just love it if he drove off in his condition? It was still relatively early, the evening just getting going for the Birmingham club scene, so instead he walked back along the service road, their eyes boring into his back, and when he got to the main road he jumped on a number 47 bus.The Boatman was almost deserted when he got there; another dinosaur taking its last breath.A couple more pints ensured that by the time Mariner left there he was pretty well oiled but managed to stagger back to his house, which was still empty and no car outside.This arrangement with Bill Dyson was going to be perfect.But Mariner must have slept pretty deeply because when he rose late the following morning, feeling better than he had a right to, Bill Dyson was in the kitchen making toast.He turned a broad smile on Mariner.‘Morning!’Christ, he was one of those people who was happy first thing.Dyson was already dressed for the office, suit and tie.‘I hope I didn’t disturb you last night.I was back pretty late.Entertaining clients.’‘Not at all.It would have taken a lot to wake me.I’d had a bit of liquid anaesthesia to help me on my way.’‘Dyson grinned.‘Sounds like more fun than I had.’Was it? Mariner recalled the way the Harlesden men had watched him go.‘You had a phone call,’ Dyson was saying, ‘about twenty minutes ago, a guy called Baxter? I jotted the number on the pad, just in case.’‘Thanks,’ said Mariner, thinking that he hadn’t bargained on a social secretary as well as a lodger, but then he realised he was being oversensitive.He went into the lounge and closed the door before calling Baxter back.‘Jayce said you wanted some information about George Hollis.’‘We need to talk.Can you meet me somewhere?’‘I’m out and about today.You’re in Brum, right?’While Baxter was speaking there was a light knock on the door and Dyson leaned in to give Mariner a parting wave.Mariner halted him with a signal.‘One minute, Mike, please—’‘Sure.’Covering the handset Mariner asked Dyson: ‘Which way are you going?’‘North - spaghetti junction,’ Dyson said.‘Any chance of a lift?’‘Sure.’‘I’ll just be a minute.’‘No problem.’Mariner lifted his hand.‘Still there, Mike?’‘Yeah.How about the M40 services at Junction 8, say half eleven?’‘Sounds fine.I’ll see you there.’‘Look out for an old Discovery, dark green, personalised plates: JMB.’‘I appreciate this,’ Mariner said, climbing into Dyson’s car minutes later.‘I’d had one too many so left the car behind last night.It’s at Tally Ho just off the Pershore Road.’‘Wise move.Was it some kind of celebration?’‘Of sorts.My DCI’s retiring.It was a celebration for him but I’ll be sorry to see him go.He’s been a pretty solid anchor for me over the years.’‘Oh aye.We could all use one of those.’‘So how are things going for you?’ It was the rush hour and the traffic was slow, so it seemed reasonable to make some kind of light conversation.‘Pretty well so far,’ Dyson said.‘I already had one or two clients in the area, and I’m finding my way round better.Any news on that job?’‘I haven’t had the chance to discuss it yet, but I’ll be seeing her again soon.It’s down in Oxfordshire, a couple of hours from here.That still your patch?’Dyson grinned.‘I’m not fussy, I’ll go anywhere.’‘She lives out in the sticks and has people going in during the week but she’s on her own all weekend.’‘Sounds right up my street.We could put in a link to the nearest police station.’‘That’s what I was thinking of.’‘If you want to let me have her address I could go and talk to her.’‘I might need to soften her up first.’Dyson laughed.‘I get the picture.Well, just give me the nod when you’re ready.’‘I will.’‘By the way, not that there’s any hurry, but I think there’s a problem with one of the taps in the en-suite bathroom.I can’t turn it off fully and it seems a shame to waste the water.’‘I’ll have a look at it sometime.’‘Sure.Like I said no rush though.’Dyson signalled and turned off the main road and into the training centre without prompting from Mariner and took him all the way to the empty car park where the lone vehicle stood.A man in navy overalls was gathering litter from around it, the detritus from the previous night.‘Must’ve been a good night,’ remarked Dyson.‘Well, thanks again for the lift,’ Mariner said.‘We should go for that pint sometime.’‘That’d be good, though I may not be around for the next few days.I’ve some work around Carlisle.’‘Hope it pays off.’‘Cheers.’As Mariner approached his car the road sweeper was passing it too.‘Looks like you’ve got a problem there, mate,’ he said [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]