Imposition (DI Gardener 5)

On his back staring up at her, Manny thrust forward the chocolates and the flowers. “For you, my precious.”

Mary took them and retreated back through the front door.

Manny sat up. “The fuck’s she gone?” As he tried to raise himself to his feet, he was given a helping hand. He left the ground so fast he literally fell through the door.

Mary pushed him the rest of the way into the living room, where he collapsed onto a chair. “What do you think you’re playing at?”

“I’ve been for a drink.”

“More than one, by the look of it.”

“Maybe a couple, Mary, my love.”

“Don’t you

‘my love’ me.”

Manny pointed at Mary. “Just you wait till I tell you what good news I have.”

“Good news?” questioned Mary, leaning forward. “Have you any idea what I’ve been through?”

“Mary, just listen to me for a moment.”

“No. I thought not.”

“Mary, sit down. You need to listen to me.”

“Are you the only person you ever think about, Manfred?”

Mary crossed the room and threw two more logs onto the fire.

Manny lost sight of her, she was moving too fast for his eyes. “Mary? Mary, where the hell have you gone?”

She was about to speak when Manny hushed her up. “Look. I got something to show you.” He ran his hands through his pockets, ripping his coat in an effort to find what he wanted. “Here it is, Mary, love. You fucking wait till you see this.”

“Language, Manfred.”

He laughed again and fell forward, straight onto the floor. He banged his head on a small table to the right of the chair.

“Get up,” shouted Mary. “You’re drunk, and I’ve had more than enough of men who can’t behave themselves to last me a lifetime.”

Manny threw himself back on to the chair. “Mary, Mary, just read this and I promise I’ll go. You read this bit of paper and all our troubles will be ending.”

Mary took the newspaper clipping.

A gold-plated camera, thought to be exceptionally rare, is set to go up for auction. It’s estimated to fetch more than £1.7million.

The Leica Luxus II has a 50mm Elmar lens and is housed in a crocodile skin case. It is one of just four original limited-edition models produced in 1932.

What makes the camera so unique is that the other three are untraceable. Its rarity suggests interest will be high when it goes under the hammer.

Although the camera commands a base price of £800,000, it is likely to sell for twice that amount after an earlier Leica 0 series sold for almost £2m last year.

She passed the paper back to him. “Why are you showing me this?”

“Why? Why am I showing you this?” Manny was so pleased he had kept the Leica out of sight of prying eyes – mainly the fuzz. “I’ll tell you why, my precious little pearl. Because I am the proud owner of that camera, and when I sell it, we’ll be rich beyond our wildest dreams. I can give you everything you ever wanted.”

Mary sat down, opposite Manny. “So you did steal them?”