Murder Adrift Read Online Free PDF Page B

has tolerated his conduct only out of consideration for the family and her children.’
    â€˜There are children then?’
    â€˜Two young boys, at school. I have had to pay their fees for many years.’
    â€˜There were other women in his life?’
    Littlejohn thought he’d better put the question mildly, but Todd had no such scruples.
    â€˜He had quite a number of mistresses in the course of his rackety career. They came and went. The occasion when he almost ruined the family occurred when he became co-respondent in a sordid divorce case. A married woman was his mistress and her husband sued Hector for all he’d got and more besides. The company wasn’t doing very well at the time. Our French suppliers had suffered a bad wine season and we made a loss. It was touch and go. . . . You’d have thought Hector had had his lesson. But no. A year later, he was as bad as ever.’
    â€˜It is important that we should know as much as possible about the state of your brother’s personal and financial position at the time of his death. His murder might have arisen through a woman.’
    Todd shrugged his shoulders wearily.
    â€˜It’s a wonder it didn’t happen before. I did my best to keep posted about his philandering. I had no wish to have our family embarrassed again by his folly. But, strange to say, he didn’t appear to have any affairs in process with women at the time of his death.’
    In process! That was a good one! Todd might have been discussing wine blending instead of his brother’s antics.
    â€˜He had recently broken off a liaison . . .?’
    â€˜The lady had done so. She must have met someone nearer her own age. She was only 21. After she found his charm was wearing thin she changed her affections and ran off with a racing motor-cyclist. They won’t come back here. He left bills all over the place.’
    â€˜What were their names?’
    â€˜The motorist was called Charlie Blunt. I never met the girl. I think her name was Morgan. Her father is the landlord of an hotel in Portwich.’
    â€˜You seem very well posted about your brother’s affairs, sir? Did you employ an inquiry agent?’
    â€˜No. I didn’t need to do that. Our representatives visit most of the licensed houses within a radius of 50 miles from here. They therefore cover a good field for information and gossip. They keep me informed.’
    â€˜You must have distrusted your brother very much, sir, if you commissioned your travellers to report all they heard about him in public houses. . . . ’
    Littlejohn deliberately risked the impertinent comment to discover Todd’s reaction. Todd had his feelings well in hand, if he had any at all. He refilled the glasses with calm deliberation.
    â€˜It was the best way I could think of. The representatives can be trusted to be discreet. They are old family servants.’
    The excellent wine was spreading an atmosphere of relaxation and confidence and Littlejohn was sorry that he hadn’t yet got a full grasp of the case. He might have asked Todd some intimate questions.
    â€˜I haven’t yet inspected the boat on which your brother died, but I gather it was a fine cabin cruiser. Where do you think the money for such an expensive purchase came from?’
    â€˜He never told me and I haven’t yet had time oroccasion to go into the matter. I don’t even know whether or not he’d paid for it. Until I have looked into his affairs your guess is as good as mine.’
    Instinctively, Littlejohn knew then that Todd was not telling him all he knew.
    â€˜Do you know who might have been with your brother on the boat on the night he was killed?’
    â€˜I have no idea. If I knew I’d have told you right away.’
    â€˜Where were you, sir, on the night of Mr. Hector’s death?’
    Todd hadn’t thought of that one! He looked at Littlejohn and lowered his eyes at his steady gaze. Then he