Fatal Act Read Online Free PDF Page A

the van?’
    He shrugged.
    ‘Two, three weeks ago. But it hasn’t been out there for a few days.’
    ‘What do you mean it hasn’t been out there? Are you trying to tell us someone took it?’ Geraldine asked. ‘You didn’t report it stolen.’
    ‘No, not stolen. At least, not as far as I know.’
    Geraldine frowned.
    ‘Who else uses it?’
    ‘Only my son, Zak. He sometimes borrows it.’
    ‘Doesn’t he ask you first?’
    ‘Of course he’s supposed to ask, but you know what kids are like, and he is my son. He knows I’d never refuse him anything.’
    H e dropped his head in his hands again, muttering Anna’s name, but jerked upright when Geraldine told him the registration number of the other vehicle involved in the fatal accident.
    ‘That’s impossible,’ he blurted out, his face white beneath its natural tan. ‘There must be a mistake. That’s the registration number of my van.’
    ‘Yes. A black van registered in your name was parked in Ashland Place off Paddington Street last night. It had no lights on and Anna Porter drove into it and died in the crash.’
    The accusation hung in the air between them, unspoken.
    ‘Can you tell us what your van was doing in Paddington Street on Friday night?’
    S am was glaring impatiently at Geraldine who understood perfectly what the sergeant was thinking. The sequence of events appeared straightforward enough, and Sam couldn’t understand why Geraldine was treating Piers so gently. Following an argument, Piers must have pursued his girlfriend out of the house. He had obviously driven after her, eventually abandoning his van, presumably after losing her. But she was still in the area, and had crashed into the van he had left. It sounded vaguely plausible, only Geraldine wasn’t convinced the narrative stacked up. If he had been out pursuing Anna, or looking for her, he would have driven home when he lost her. If the van had broken down, he would have called for help. He was a member of the AA. Apart from such inconsistencies, he didn’t strike Geraldine as a man who had been involved in a car crash. As far as she could see, he wasn’t injured. He hadn’t limped when he led them across the hall to his study, and his hands and face weren’t even scratched. Before she decided to arrest him, she wanted to find out more about him.
    ‘W hat did you argue about?’
    He sighed.
    ‘That was the last time I spoke to her.’
    He raised a mournful face to stare straight ahead, unseeing. ‘The last words we exchanged were spoken in anger. And it was all so stupid. Anna was nagging me to cast a friend of hers in a show I’m working on. He’s useless, but they were at drama school together and she tried to convince me he’s got what it takes.’
    G eraldine nodded to show she was listening.
    ‘I’ve seen him perform,’ Piers continued. ‘A good looking boy, but talentless. I can’t give in to that sort of pressure. I have a reputation to consider. I’m always in demand, and do you know why? Because I’m bloody good at what I do. Everyone thinks casting’s easy. Find a face that fits, make a few calls, set up a meeting, and the job’s done. Well, I can tell you, it’s not that easy. And you know what they say? You’re only as good as your last job. That’s what people remember. Cast a few duds and your career’s over. I’ve seen it happen.’
    H e took a deep shuddering breath.
    ‘Anyway, Anna threw a wobbly and buggered off. So I went to bed.’
    ‘You went to bed?’
    ‘Yes, I was shattered. I can’t be running after her every time she throws a tantrum. I’m not as young as I was, and I get tired. Bloody tired. I had no idea where she’d gone, but I knew she’d be back soon enough –’ He broke off, overwhelmed. ‘That is, I thought she would.’
    ‘Is there anyone who can vouch for your being here all night?’ Geraldine insisted. ‘Does anyone else live on the premises?’
    He shook his head.
    ‘No, it was just me and Anna. Just me now, I