The Cedar Face: DI Jewell book 3 (DI Elizabeth Jewell) (17 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

It turned
out Jade's father was
the
Les Harper of bookmaker
fame, who currently owned a chain of shops throughout the
South West. Before setting off Patterson had found out more
about his backgaround. Apparently, his grandfather had been a bookie
and had taken the young Les with him to racecourses
in the days before it was legal to open shops
. Apart from Harper's twenty-five outlets he had other
business interests, but surprisingly wasn't a racehorse owner. Early
on in his career, he'd had a brush with
the Inland Revenue over a betting scam. Considering Harper now
mixed with high-ranking police officers, he wondered how he
'd escaped prosecution. After digging into the Faraday brother's
finances Patterson had realised that even these days it was
still possible to hide large sums of money.

Harper was
entertaining friends at Cheltenham racecourse. There was no race meeting
but the restaurant with its panoramic views across the racecourse
had a reputation for corporate dining. Surprisingly, Harper hadn't
objected to Patterson's request to see him but had
insisted it was at the racecourse or not at all
.

Patterson took the Evesham Road and pulled into the car
park twenty minutes later. He sat for a while enjoying
the peace that hung over the famous landmark. He'd
only been here a few times and three years ago
had come for the Gold Cup. Horse racing to him
was an enigma. Elizabeth liked horses and would love to
own one but had confessed she wouldn't be able
to look after it properly. She constantly complained about never
having the time to hire one and go for a
ride. Plenty of ordinary people enjoyed going to the races
but the real power and money was in that small
percentage of the population who lived and breathed the sport
. Horses were magnificent animals and Patterson could remember the excitement
he'd felt watching them gallop to the finishing line
, feeling their power through the thundering noise. He got out
of the car hoping he'd dressed appropriately. Recently DI
Jewell had ordered her team to smarten up, telling them
it was one less thing for Yeats to complain about
. Patterson didn't feel comfortable in a suit but he
straightened his tie before heading towards the main buildings.

Work
on the new forty-five million pound grandstands was still
in progress. He'd read an article in the Cheltenham
Echo stating the completion date was on schedule. It also
highlighted the other improvements, to include a new Royal Box
and hospitality suites.

Situated on the fifth level of the
grandstand overlooking the winning post, Les Harper's restaurant of
choice had stunning views across the racecourse. Patterson negotiated his
way through the tables and chairs and saw Harper engaged
in conversation with three men. From the sound of their
voices, they were definitely inebriated.

He sat at an empty
table and decided to be polite and wait. He looked
over and wondered how Harper got on with his daughter
, considering she was a self-confessed rebel. He assumed she
'd caused her father a fair amount of trouble during
her teenage years. As her father seemed in a genial
mood, confirming a few facts might be easier than he
'd anticipated. Patterson moved towards the Harper's table and
introduced himself. The other two men staggered to their feet
and wobbled away.

'What can I do for you Sergeant
Patterson?' Harper asked, as he removed a cigar from his
pocket. Patterson spotted the no smoking sign but Harper was
already on his feet and guided him onto a balcony
.

Patterson chose his words carefully. 'We have new evidence in
the Wilson investigation. I'm hoping you can help me
.'

Harper didn't look concerned. He obviously wasn't worried
about his daughter's possible involvement. He smiled and said
, 'What's that got to do with me, or Jade
?'

'Did you go with her on the Canadian trip?'

'Good
God man I'm too busy to take a holiday
. She went to stay with her Aunt Betsy in Calgary
then according to her, got fed up and fancied sightseeing
up in Alaska. In the end they didn't make
it that far. I can't remember exactly what happened
but they were stuck in some godforsaken place up in
British Columbia. I guess that's how she knew about
this chap you've arrested.'

‘He's out on bail
and if I might point out, presumed innocent until proven
guilty.'

Harper took a sip of his drink. 'I overheard
a conversation the other night in the Queens. Seems everybody
's satisfied he's the killer.'

This was unexpected news
to Patterson. Yeats had done a good job if the
brass were convinced.

'Did your daughter ever mention a mask
?'

'Not to me. Talk to her mother, they like their
little secrets,' Harper said puffing on his cigar.

'This mask
was probably very old and valuable. Maybe from the same
area your daughter visited in BC. We're trying to
find it.'

Harper seemed disinterested and signalled the waiter to
fetch him another drink. 'Can I get you something?'

'That
's very kind of you Sir. I'll have a
coffee.'

The cigar smoke wafted in Patterson's direction and
he resisted the impulse to waft it away. 'So Jade
didn't mention anything about a mask?'

'I knew they
messed about trying to make them in the art class
. Papier-mâché she said, but as she didn't bring
her effort home I haven't a clue what it
looked like. Can't help you there I'm afraid
. That school she's at is a complete waste of
time if you ask me. What these kids need is
to learn more science and mathematics. They're all thick
at that Academy. Jade had a place at the Ladies
College but flatly refused to go.'

'Did you know the
victim, Keith Wilson?'

Harper thought for a minute. 'I probably
met him at one of the parent's nights, but
can't say I remember him. Listen Sergeant, I feel
sorry about this teacher, it's a terrible thing, but
believe me my daughter is not involved. She runs with
a wild crowd occasionally but she wouldn't hurt anybody
.'

There was no way to spare Harper's feelings so
Patterson launched straight in. 'An anonymous telephone caller to the
police station told us they'd seen your daughter several
times in a pub with Wilson. According to this witness
, they appeared intimate.'

Harper looked shocked. 'Christ he's nearly
as old as I am, if not older. What was
she doing out with him?

'It could have been perfectly
innocent,' Patterson said, 'or maybe not.'

Harper's face turned
red and Patterson could see he was furious.

'Your daughter
's association with Wilson is important since his death. I
'm sure you can guess what I'm leading to
. He might have stalked her. On the other hand, she
may have been the one who started their relationship then
got tired of him. There are all kinds of permutations
as you well know and it could have led to
violence.'

Harper shouted for the waiter. Patterson noticed his hand
shaking.

'Half the time I've no idea what Jade
gets up to. That's my wife's responsibility. I
'm too effing busy working my balls off. I provide
the cash; apart from that, they don't give a
shit about me. My wife has her own problems Sergeant
and neglects her maternal duties. I'll talk to Jade
later, assuming she's coming back tonight.'

Patterson said, 'We
need to talk to her. This is why I came
to see you first. I didn't want to turn
up at your house without you knowing why. If Jade
was having an affair with Wilson, she has to be
honest about her exact location when he was murdered.'

Harper
looked scared. 'I thought she'd already done that. Maybe
I should talk to some of my mates, get someone
else to interview Jade.'

Patterson had been waiting for him
to mention his police cronies. The inference was clear. He
didn't want a jumped up sergeant interviewing his wayward
daughter. The old boy's network in action.

'That's
your privilege.'

'Surely to God this investigation is over now
you've got the right bloke?'

'I can't comment
. An investigation is never finished until a trial starts. All
the witnesses are reinterviewed as a matter of course.'

Harper
retreated. Patterson could tell he wanted rid of him. 'Okay
, I'll make sure Jade goes to the station voluntarily
, it's about time I talked some sense into her
. Shock her out of this rebellious shit. She needs shaking
up and to be honest with you I've had
it with that girl. She's caused me nothing but
trouble since the day she was born.'

'I'm sorry
to hear that,' Patterson said, thinking if he'd showed
her more attention, things might have been better.

'One of
these days, I'm going to cut off her allowance
and make her get a job. Get her out of
my hair for good.'

It was time to drop the
bombshell. Patterson took a deep breath. 'I checked our records
and you haven't given us a complete statement other
than an alibi for Jade and her boyfriend. You say
you didn't know Mr Wilson personally, only by association
through your daughter. I find it a little difficult to
believe you didn't know about her seeing Wilson. You
're a well known man and I'm sure someone
out there would be happy to tell you. Or perhaps
you hired someone to find out.'

Harper started to laugh
. 'So now you're saying I must have killed Wilson
because some idiot tried blackmailing me.'

'If you look at
it from our perspective it's a possibility,' Patterson stated
. 'The reason we interview people is to rule them out
. Do you remember where you were on Friday May the
tenth?'

'I very much doubt it,' Harper answered and turned
away to summon the waiter again.

'Your wife might.'

It
was then Harper turned nasty. His face had turned puce
, and his arm came up threateningly. 'Listen laddie, one word
from me and you'll end up pounding the streets
. No more promotion. Do you understand what I'm saying
?'

Patterson took a step back to avoid a spray of
saliva. 'I understand perfectly Sir.'

'I'd bugger off if
I was you. I have clients to see. I'll
give my statement to the Chief Constable.'

Patterson watched him
stagger away. He contemplated waiting outside in case he decided
to drive home but it wasn't worth the effort
. He could just imagine the repercussions if he breathalyzed him
.

He left the restaurant and hurried down the stairs. Once
he was outside an idea occurred to him, having the
guts to go ahead with it was the only problem
.

Liz is right, he thought. Since his injury, he'd
played it safe. It was time to toughen up and
this was a good opportunity to prove he could.

Harper
's money and influence wouldn't help him if the
Jade / Wilson affair was accidently leaked to the press, a
story guaranteed to tempt any journalist. For him, direct contact
with the mainstream media was likely a step too far
but they'd sniff this story out eventually. Patterson left
the racecourse and headed back to town. He remembered that
Will Crosbie hung out in The Retreat wine bar.