Dangerous Deception by Anthea Fraser

the doorway, his face white with shock.
    â€œIt’s Mr Harvey,” he said, his voice shaking. “He’s been found at the foot of a cliff, over at Pen-y-Coed. He’s dead.”
    I made some incoherent exclamation and Philip said quickly, “The man who was late? How terrible – what happened?”
    â€œNo one seems to know. I suppose he lost his footing – it’s very dangerous there. That was the police; they found an envelope in his pocket, addressed to him here. They want to look through his things to find out who they should notify.”
    Philip registered my rigidity. “Clare? Are you all right?”
    â€œTake her to the bar, Mr Hardy – I’ll come and open it now. As luck would have it, Dai took the day off for his sister’s wedding, and I’m having to stand in for him. Come to that, I could do with a drink myself.”
    We crossed the hall together and Wynne Davies pulled up the grill and poured brandy into three glasses. Philip put one into my hand and made me drink it. The fumes went up the back of my nose and I choked.
    â€œThat’s it,” said Wynne Davies mechanically, and swallowed his own. “He asked for an early breakfast,” he continued, almost to himself. “Never dreamed that was the last time I’d see him.” He pulled himself together with an effort. “Would you mind looking after the bar for me, sir? I shan’t be long, but I must go and tell Gwynneth.”
    Shoulders bent, he went out of the room. Philip was looking at me curiously.
    â€œCome on, Clare, snap out of it – you hardly knew the man. I know it’s a shock, but accidents do happen.”
    â€œIt wasn’t an accident.”
    Philip’s hand, reaching for his glass, stopped in mid-air.
    â€œWhat did you say?”
    â€œI said it wasn’t an accident.” I’d been unaware of the thought until I heard myself stating it, but I accepted it without question.
    â€œWhat the hell are you talking about?”
    I took another gulp from my glass. “He was late for dinner last night because he’d found something exciting which he thought was valuable. He said he’d have to contact the authorities.” My voice dwindled away.
    I had his full attention now. “
What
did he find?”
    â€œI don’t know. He wouldn’t tell us any more till he’d been back for another look.”
    â€œDid he say where it was?”
    I shook my head.
    â€œWho knew about this?”
    â€œWe all did.”
    â€œNot very wise to shout it abroad, but he wasn’t to know that.”
    â€œHe was such a nice, harmless little man.” My voice rocked.
    Philip said slowly, “So you reckon he found more than was good for him?”
    â€œEither that, or someone thought he had.”
    â€œMeaning Sinbad?”
    I stared at him. In my distress, I’d forgotten our unknown associate. “I suppose so.”
    â€œYou’re quite sure you don’t know who Sinbad is?”
    â€œQuite. It could be any of the men here: Andrew Dacombe, Clive, Morgan – presumably not Mr Zimmerman?”
    â€œNo, definitely not.”
    â€œIt could even be Mr Davies,” I said reflectively, but Philip shook his head.
    â€œNot unless he’s a bloody good actor.”
    â€œPoor Dick; if he’d gone next week, there’d have been nothing to find and he’d have been all right. How dreadful, to think his life hung on five days.”
    â€œAren’t you rather jumping the gun? What he found might be something altogether different and nothing whatever to do with us.”
    â€œBut you don’t really believe that.”
    He sighed. “I suppose not.”
    â€œWell, whatever it was, his mistake was in talking about it. Because without even being sure what he’d stumbled on, someone couldn’t afford to take the risk.”
    Philip was gazing thoughtfully into his glass. “Where