Page 36 of Artful Deceit
“Len Marrack? The window cleaner?”
“Yes. Think about it. He knows everyone’s routines andeveryone’s security measures. Or lack of security measures. People trust him.”
“That’s all you’re basing your theory on?”
“No. I heard him on the phone talking about transporting goods to the mainland. He sounded agitated. Also, he cleans Hilary Phillips’s windows.”
“How on earth did you come by that information?” A trickle of discomfort stirred in his stomach. Not that he was surprised at her looking into the thefts. Usually, she wasn’t secretive about her investigations, though. “Have you been looking into this?”
“Not exactly. Hilary came to me and asked if I was investigating. I think she assumed I would be. So she gave me her account of the burglary, and it came up that Len Marrack cleans their windows.”
“That just came into the conversation?”
“Why are you nitpicking? Do you want a blow-by-blow account of the conversation with everything word for word?”
He rolled his eyes, happy that she at least seemed to have her usual spark back. “So you got suspicious about Len and came over here to suss him out?”
“Yes.”
“I suppose I’m supposed to say I need the loo, then rummage around for evidence.”
“No. The toilet’s upstairs, and I already looked there. You need to check the downstairs.”
He laughed lightly. “I can’t do that. Also, your theory is pretty flimsy. The fact that people trust him might make it easy for him to commit crimes, but don’t you think it also means he’s the type of person who wouldn’t rob people blind? He’s been working for these people for years. Why would he suddenly start stealing from them?”
“I don’t know.” She gave a dramatic shrug. “He was complaining about some people not properly compensating him for his work and expecting him to work for cheap. Also, he’s getting on a bit. He mentioned having arthritis in his hands.Maybe he’s thinking of retirement and now seems like the perfect time to top up his pension.”
“I can’t snoop around his house.”
“You don’t really need to. Just think of an excuse and ask if you can go inside. I want to see how he reacts to having a police officer in his home.”
He really should have argued, but he hardly hesitated at all before heading for the patio table and scooping up salsa with a tortilla chip. Tilting his hand at the last minute sent salsa dripping down his hand.
“Got any napkins, Len?” he said, shoving the tortilla in his mouth and raising his sticky palm to their host. “Don’t get up. Just point me in the right direction.”
“I’m not that posh,” Len called over the noise of his friends chatting loudly. “I doubt you’ll find napkins, but there’ll be kitchen roll. Kitchen’s at the front.”
He wandered inside, thinking that Len didn’t seem like someone who had something to hide.
In the kitchen he washed his hands, then dried them on his jeans and stood looking around the messy kitchen. He wasn’t doing anything wrong, so his reaction to Lily creeping up behind him and digging her fingers in either side of his waist was slightly dramatic.
“Why are you so jumpy?” she asked as he turned. “Up to no good?”
“You get me into some really dubious situations, you know?”
“Yeah, but I keep life interesting.”
“Can’t argue with that,” he said, circling his arms around her and pulling her close.
Forgetting the search, he kissed her eagerly. “Can we leave soon?” he asked.
“Yeah.” Her eyes darted around the room. “If Len’s hiding something, he clearly isn’t concerned about us finding it. So it’s not in a place we’d just stumble over it.”
“I think you’re wrong about Len,” he whispered. “He seemslike a decent guy. And it definitely doesn’t appear he has anything to hide.”
“Or he’s hidden it well.”
“Let’s just go home,” he said.
