enlighten me?” Carruthers leaned back in his chair. They were once again back in the sterile embrace of Tottenham Court Road Police Station.
Nick took a drag on his cigarette; he was hoping it might kill the hunger.
“I went to see Aviv, but he was alive when I left him.”
“Why did you go to see him?”
“I was following a lead.”
“Following what lead? Dammit, Nick, we’re dealing with national security here!” Carruthers banged a fist on the bare table.
“Are we? Or are we dealing with something else?” Nick looked at him through a fine mist of smoke, weighing up how far he should go.
“Of course! What else? What are you talking about?”
Nick shrugged. “I haven’t found out yet. But I will.” He stared at Carruthers. The other man sneered and leant back.
“I’d suggest you stick to what I asked you to find out.”
“You gave me a pretty wide brief, what with the lack of information you had and all.”
“Don’t get clever. Why did you go and see Aviv?”
“I told you, I was following a lead. I heard Ramona went to see him, so I went to ask him why.” Nick studied Carruthers carefully and noticed that he paled slightly.
“Ramona? Why would she see Aviv?”
“Maybe she had some pictures?” Nick stubbed his cigarette out on the table. He was enjoying this. Carruthers shifted in his seat.
“Well, did she? What did Aviv say?” The man sounded desperate.
“Yeah, she had some pictures, but she’d already picked them up. He didn’t remember what they were of specifically – some nudey shots; looks like she was trying a side-line,” Nick lied.
Carruthers nodded and Nick thought he detected relief in the man’s face.
“So why was Aviv killed?”
“Who knows? You’ve seen inside his place? All those pictures? Take your pick: a husband, a jealous boyfriend, a queer, some pics that didn’t come out right.” He shrugged. “I’m sure Mr Aviv knew a lot that a lot of people would want him to keep quiet.”
“And it just so happened to coincide with your visit?”
“I don’t like coincidence any more than you do. No one in this business does, but yes, it just so happened that way.”
Carruthers seemed lost in thought and was silent for some time. Nick cleared his throat. “We done?”
“Yes, yes, we’re done,” Carruthers said, absentmindedly waving a hand.
“One more thing, Carruthers.”
“What?” the man replied irritably.
“Next time you want to see me, wait until our meet. Don’t break protocol. The way you’re marching around, detaining when and where you want, you’re going to blow this thing wide open. No one’s going to talk to me if I keep getting picked up by spooks.”
“Don’t presume to order me what to do, Mr Valentine. However, you have a fair point. Mr Aviv’s death was another unexpected development. We’ll keep to our rendezvous tomorrow evening in The Fitzroy. Let’s hope for both our sakes you can come up with some more information. I have to say, I’m disappointed with the lack of progress so far.”
“Not as disappointed as I am with the pay.”
“You’re being paid what you’re worth.”
“I wonder. I was thinking I might drop by headquarters, for old time’s sake, maybe say hello to Jessop. He’s still
Nick took a drag on his cigarette; he was hoping it might kill the hunger.
“I went to see Aviv, but he was alive when I left him.”
“Why did you go to see him?”
“I was following a lead.”
“Following what lead? Dammit, Nick, we’re dealing with national security here!” Carruthers banged a fist on the bare table.
“Are we? Or are we dealing with something else?” Nick looked at him through a fine mist of smoke, weighing up how far he should go.
“Of course! What else? What are you talking about?”
Nick shrugged. “I haven’t found out yet. But I will.” He stared at Carruthers. The other man sneered and leant back.
“I’d suggest you stick to what I asked you to find out.”
“You gave me a pretty wide brief, what with the lack of information you had and all.”
“Don’t get clever. Why did you go and see Aviv?”
“I told you, I was following a lead. I heard Ramona went to see him, so I went to ask him why.” Nick studied Carruthers carefully and noticed that he paled slightly.
“Ramona? Why would she see Aviv?”
“Maybe she had some pictures?” Nick stubbed his cigarette out on the table. He was enjoying this. Carruthers shifted in his seat.
“Well, did she? What did Aviv say?” The man sounded desperate.
“Yeah, she had some pictures, but she’d already picked them up. He didn’t remember what they were of specifically – some nudey shots; looks like she was trying a side-line,” Nick lied.
Carruthers nodded and Nick thought he detected relief in the man’s face.
“So why was Aviv killed?”
“Who knows? You’ve seen inside his place? All those pictures? Take your pick: a husband, a jealous boyfriend, a queer, some pics that didn’t come out right.” He shrugged. “I’m sure Mr Aviv knew a lot that a lot of people would want him to keep quiet.”
“And it just so happened to coincide with your visit?”
“I don’t like coincidence any more than you do. No one in this business does, but yes, it just so happened that way.”
Carruthers seemed lost in thought and was silent for some time. Nick cleared his throat. “We done?”
“Yes, yes, we’re done,” Carruthers said, absentmindedly waving a hand.
“One more thing, Carruthers.”
“What?” the man replied irritably.
“Next time you want to see me, wait until our meet. Don’t break protocol. The way you’re marching around, detaining when and where you want, you’re going to blow this thing wide open. No one’s going to talk to me if I keep getting picked up by spooks.”
“Don’t presume to order me what to do, Mr Valentine. However, you have a fair point. Mr Aviv’s death was another unexpected development. We’ll keep to our rendezvous tomorrow evening in The Fitzroy. Let’s hope for both our sakes you can come up with some more information. I have to say, I’m disappointed with the lack of progress so far.”
“Not as disappointed as I am with the pay.”
“You’re being paid what you’re worth.”
“I wonder. I was thinking I might drop by headquarters, for old time’s sake, maybe say hello to Jessop. He’s still
Similar Books
