Implant (DI Gardener 3)

He turned to Sergeant Williams. “David, can you call everyone in my team, with the exception of Colin Sharp, and get them all back here to study those files? Ask Colin to go and see Robert Sinclair’s mother and father over in Ilkley. I’d like to know about her life at Walker Brothers, and how her son benefited. I’d also like to know a little bit about Robert Sinclair, especially from his father. How he coped with the loss of his son and his wife, in particular. Can you also get in touch with Gary Close? If nothing else, to make sure he’s okay.”

“Yes sir,” Williams left the room. Cragg followed.

Steve Fenton said he was going back to the station at Shipston. As far as the CSM was aware, Sharp pretty much had everything under control and there was nothing to report. Most witnesses had been logged and allowed to leave. That left Gardener and his partner in the room.

“Bit of a mess, Sean, but we’re seeing some results. A clearer picture.”

Reilly was staring at the chart. “I wish we had a clearer picture on the game cards.”

Gardener glanced at his watch again. “Maybe it’s time we went and found out. There’s just enough time to talk to the man from Walker Brothers, and get back here to sort through those files.”

Chapter Forty-six

Simon Walker was not at all what Gardener had expected. He was short, fat, and ginger. What was left of his hair resembled tightly bunched coil springs. He had a monocle, which he continually kept placing against his right eye. His teeth were a little crooked, with a gap in the middle of the lower set. He was dressed in a tweed jacket and plus fours.

They were in the living room of a small, detached cottage. The enclosed space was stuffy, because all the windows were closed, and he had a Parkray stove pretty well cranked up. Walker was wedged into an armchair that was too small. Gardener and Reilly had chosen a settee to park themselves. An elderly maid had served tea. References to the games manufacturer were evident all over the walls, posters adorning them alongside certificates of accomplishment and recognition. A version of Cluedo was set up on a small coffee table.

“Now, how the devil can I help you gentlemen? It’s not often I have a visit from the police.” At that point, he shoved the monocle back in place before continuing. “I say, you haven’t come up with a new idea for a game, have you? That would be terribly exciting.”

“Nothing like that, Mr Walker, but we would like some help with our inquiries,” said Gardener. “Can you tell us a little about the company?”

The monocle slipped; the man obviously disappointed. “I’m sure I can.”

Walker started to search around inside his jacket. What the hell for, Gardener wasn’t sure, but from where he was sitting, it seemed as if he’d let a ferret run riot. He’d never seen so much movement inside one piece of clothing. Walker eventually removed a pipe.

“I’m not going to light it until you’ve gone. That would be bad manners, and I was not brought up to display bad behaviour in any form, Mr Gardener.”

The two detectives merely nodded, but Gardener suspected his partner was busting a gut to remain composed.

“Now, what would you like, a blow by blow account, warts and all, or the edited version?”

“We haven’t much time I’m afraid, so best be brief. We may need to ask questions about former employees.”

“Oh, my good God, what have people been up to? I do hope no one has brought the company into disrepute. I might not own it, but I still think very fondly of the old place.”

In went the monocle once more and he leaned forward, so much so that he had to struggle with the sides of the armchair to do so, and even then still nearly fell out. “Have we got a real life Cluedo going on?”

“The particular game we wanted to talk about was called Murder.”

“Murder?” repeated Walker, as if he hadn’t heard correctly.

“You look a little confused, Mr Walker. Is the game not one of yours?” asked Gardener.

“Well, it doesn’t ring any bells. What is it about?”

Gardener was surprised that he had to go into great detail before the man could recall anything.

“Oh, that game. I really had no idea what you were talking about, gentlemen. Yes, I do remember that.”

“Anything specific?”

“It was never a commercial game. That’s why I wasn’t sure.”

“What do you mean, never commercial?” asked Reilly.

“It was never a game that we developed and distributed. I think it first made an appearance in 1970.”

“If you didn’t develop or distribute it, who did?”