Page 74 of Copper Script
“Then he searches Marks’ office for any papers pertaining to himself, or Sammy Beech, or both, and...doesn’t find them?Or finds them and takes them?”
“They’re gone, so someone’s taken them.”
“But if Colthorne had them, why would he need to go to these lengths against you?Or any lengths at all, really?Surely he’d just need to burn the evidence.”
“I can only conclude he thinks I know a lot more than I do.Which is absurd, because if I had Marks’s evidence, I’d have taken it to Scotland Yard or the Home Office already.”
“But he thinks you could get it,” Joel pressed.“He must do, because he’s trying to force you out one way or another.Destroying your reputation via me, or making your life miserable.So can’t we try to find whatever Marks had?Because if you got hold of the evidence he’s murdered at least one person and framed another, I don’t think him spluttering accusations about your friend the queer graphologist would hold much water.”
Aaron reached over and kissed the top of his head.It was the kind of casually affectionate gesture anyone might make, except this was Aaron, and Joel’s whole heart hurt at it.He made himself glower anyway.“Was that an ‘aren’t-you-sweet’ kiss?”
“Perhaps a little,” Aaron said.“I entirely agree that finding Marks’s papers is vital.It’s the finding that’s the hard bit, in part because Davis, the DI, has been running me off my feet.”
“What happens if you take tomorrow off sick?”Joel asked.“Go search his office again, and his rooms.”
“I...could do that.And I might talk to Challice, the detective constable who was with me.I think I can trust her.She was the other hand you read, the Head Girl character.”
“Oh, yes, I liked her.And I’ll talk to Darby Sabini.”
“Joel—”
“I can’t avoid him: he knows where I live.Suppose I tell him you’re a complete fool for graphology?”
“Rather than for a graphologist?”Aaron asked, and there went Joel’s heart again, squeezing painfully, because Aaron flirting ineptly was so much better than the most practised seducer.“No, but what do you have in mind?”
“What if I claim you’re convinced I have mystical powers?You think you’ll be solving crimes like billy-oh with me as your secret weapon, and I’m taking your money, and that’s why we’ve been seen together.That wouldn’t be illegal for you, would it?”
“It could probably be presented as a form of misconduct,” Aaron said thoughtfully.“In fact...with the right spin, it might be enough for Sabini to believe you’ve given him something useful to pass on.”
“I’ll say that, then.You talk to your constable, if you think you can.And your cousin?”
“Oh, Iwillbe talking to my cousin,” Aaron said, with intent.“Although not yet, if you don’t mind looking as though you’re capitulating.”
“That’s fine.Should I reply to him?”
“Hold off.Darby Sabini is enough for now.Are you sure you’re willing to do this?”
‘Willing’ might be overstating it.Joel didn’t have any great desire to cross a senior policeman or a gang boss, to risk pain or prison.Actually, he’d have preferred all of it to go away, but life didn’t work like that.
“One of the men in my ambulance division was an older chap,” he said.“Boer War injury, not fit to fight, volunteered for us instead.I said, you surely didn’t need to come out, do you enjoy wars or what?He whacked me round the head.And then he said, ‘It won’t be over till someone’s lost, so here I am, helping ’em lose.’”
“You could so easily not,” Aaron said hoarsely.“You could so easily walk away.”
“Problem is, it wouldn’t be easy.”He put his hand over Aaron’s.“Which is your fault, by the way.”
“Dear God, Joel,” Aaron said, and pulled him over again.
