Crucified

Chapter 19

Maggie was lying on the bed, reading the last few pages of Eric Hebborn’s The Art Forger’s Handbook. She was shocked when she read that the renowned forger had been murdered in Italy. No one had ever been charged with his murder, and there were rumours that the Italian Mafia were responsible, as he had sold many fake masterpieces to prominent Mafia-connected individuals.

Maggie was so engrossed in thought that she jumped when Jack walked in and clapped his hands. ‘The painting is complete. It should be dry by the morning. Let’s have a takeaway. Chinese? Peking crispy duck and those lovely fried prawns?’

‘Sounds pretty good to me.’

‘I’ll check with Penny and see if Princess would like some fried rice and crackers.’

Maggie put the book down and got off the bed. She could hear Jack laughing upstairs as she went to splash cold water on her face. She decided not to mention what she’d just been reading about, not wanting to puncture Jack’s good mood. But she couldn’t help thinking about Adam Border.

The family evening was relaxed, with Marius joining them to play poker, using dominoes, marbles and the cards from the Happy Families pack instead of money.

Later, Maggie left them to go and settle Hannah and Charlie. After reading them a story and giving Charlie his night feed, she rejoined everyone in the kitchen. Penny was eagerly counting her winnings, having won the biggest pot yet. Jack and Marius shared a smile, having just let her win. They were about to play another hand when Jack’s mobile rang. He picked it up from the table — Laura.

Jack quickly showed Maggie the screen. ‘Sorry, guys. Got to drop out of the next hand.’ He went to his office and sat at his desk. ‘Hi, Laura.’ She started talking but he was having difficulty making out what she was saying. ‘Are you pissed?’

‘Not as much as Morrison,’ she said.

‘He’s such a cheapskate. I thought he might offer to buy me dinner, but he only bought a bag of peanuts all evening. He ordered double vodkas every time it was my round and got me singles when it was his! After the fourth round, it was just tonics for me but not him, so he was well pissed.’

‘Did you get any new information?’ Jack asked, trying not to sound impatient.

‘Not that much. He was very cagey. They still have no ID, but the fella’s not in good shape. They found no clothes that would help to identify him as he was bollock naked. No paperwork, no official documents, just a few receipts. They did get the name of the bloke that runs the place though.’

‘Did they arrest him?’

‘What?’

‘You said they got someone that ran the shop.’

‘Oh, right, yes. I had to be a bit careful, Jack, you know, not give away why I was interested, but eventually he said they’d picked him up in some bar. Claimed he’d been in Southampton and didn’t know anything about it. Said he was just a hired hand who collected all the frames and he’d never actually met the owner. Oh, got paid in cash and not always by the same person and the cross was apparently used at S&M parties. You ever been to one of them, Jack?’

‘Can’t say that I have. Did they arrest this guy?’

‘They did, but he was released when his alibi checked out. He’ll be back in for further questioning though; Mr Norman O’Reilly has a sheet as long as my arm. He’s done time for armed robbery, GBH, assault with a deadly weapon, handling stolen property, you name it. I checked him out.’

‘OK, that’s all very interesting. Thanks, Laura. Like you said, I owe you big.’ Jack ended the call and pulled up the records on Norman O’Reilly as Maggie tapped on the door.

‘Did Laura get anything useful?’

‘Yeah, they still have no ID on the victim, but they arrested this guy, Norman O’Reilly. Apparently, he has a firmed-up alibi but remains, as they say, a person of interest. He’s the nasty piece of work I met at the shop: long record, spent more time in the nick than out of it, but claims not to know who owns the lease or buys the frames.’

Maggie leaned in to look at the mugshot of the bullish face holding up his ID and number. ‘I hope you can trust her, Jack. I mean, if she was drunk when she called you, I worry she was loose-lipped with this detective she was drinking with.’

Jack put his arm around her shoulders as they walked out. ‘I’ll know more in the morning. I’m on the early shift.’

‘So am I. God, I’m knackered,’ she said yawning.

‘I suppose a fuck’s out of the question?’

Maggie laughed. ‘I didn’t say that.’