Wyatt - 06 - The Fallout Read Online Free PDF Page B

phone in Hastings, and Montgomery had alerted the
insurance company.

    Heneker looked nondescript, dishevelled
by the struggle in the undercover car park. He brushed grit from the knees of
his trousers, dabbed a damp handkerchief at an oil stain. His tie was crooked,
his suit coat crumpled, the collar turned up.

    What more can I tell you? he said,
looking at Gosse.

    Liz mentally framed a question, but
suddenly was racked with yawns. They threatened to lay her across the table.

    Sergeant Redding?

    She gulped her coffee. Im fine,
sir.

    Carry on, Inspector.

    Mr Heneker

    He looked up. This being taped? I
want a lawyer.

    Youre not under arrest, for Gods
sake. A few more questions

    Then I can go home?

    Of course, Liz said.

    Gosse twisted his mouth at the
interruption and threw down his pen.

    Heneker took advantage of it. He put
his head on one side and narrowed his eyes at Liz. If I may say so, you dont
look a hundred per cent.

    A basic rule was: Never let the
bastards start to question you. Liz said, Lets start from the
beginning. You got a phone call? A visit?

    Phone call.

    After we contacted you?

    Yes.

    Gosse picked up his pen again. His
knuckles were white around the barrel. This was his show. A man? Did he
give his name?

    Nope.

    Didnt recognise his voice?

    Nope.

    When you saw him, did you recognise
him?

    Nope.

    Montgomerys chair creaked. Like a
kindly uncle he said, Your firm ever encountered a man with the name of Wyatt
before? He does this sort of thing, commits a robbery, negotiates a reward from
the insurance company.

    Neither Liz nor Gosse could bring themselves
to look at Montgomery. Montgomery would be better off back in Traffic, from
whence hed come. One, hed given Heneker a name, if Heneker didnt already
have it. Two, Heneker could start doing his own checking now. Three, by butting
in hed eased what little tension she and Gosse had been able to generate in
the room, meaning theyd have to start all over again. It didnt seem that
Heneker had anything to hide, but it wouldnt be the first time that a burglar
and an insurance agent had worked hand in hand.

    Heneker shrugged. Wyatt? Was that
his name? Cant say I know it.

    Gosse said, Lets go back to the
phone call. What did the caller say?

    Wyatt? He

    Not necessarily Wyatt, Montgomery
said. There could be others.

    Gosse threw down his pen again.
Henekers eyes opened wide. You mean theres a gang?

    Just tell us what the caller said.

    He said straight out that he had
the Asahi Collection.

    And?

    Well, naturally my ears pricked up.
I mean, there was hell to pay when those stones got lifted. Phone calls from
Japan all hours of the night and day. Quiet word from the Japanese consul. You
name it, I had to take it.

    Your company wanted the stones
back.

    Sure.

    You told the caller that youd meet
him?

    Yep.

    Did you suggest the parking
station?

    Heneker was getting agitated. He
did. You know all this.

    So youd never seen this man
before?

    Never. I told you that.

    Liz leaned forward. What did he
say?

    Wasnt much of a talker.

    She knew the truth of that. Shed
spent seven days with Wyatt and in that time had learnt almost nothing about
him. His body had told her things, communicating desire, even affection
and regard, and hed relaxed enough to smile readily, if tiredly, but he had no
small talk and he imparted no secrets, even though he was full of secrets.
Timea lot of it-might have helped. Time, and stepping over the line. What
would it be like, leading his risky life with him? Would he have stepped over
the line for her? Shed never know now.

    He must have said something to you.
Didnt he offer proof that he had the stones, for example? Didnt he ask how
much the reward would be?

    Nope.

    Gosse snarled, He was observed
handing you something, Mr Heneker.

    Heneker shifted in his chair. He
reached inside his coat pocket. All right, all right, he gave me this.

    A necklace spilled onto the table.
For a moment they were silent in the face of the