The Suffocating Sea

Marsden went on. 'There aren't any Brundalls or Almays listed in the telephone directory, so it doesn't look like there are any cousins either. I'm still waiting for information on Brundall's employment record.'

'And his medical records?' Horton asked.

Dennings answered. 'Inspector Guilbert's applied for a warrant to gain access to them, but of course Brundall's GP has already confirmed that he had cancer. But that's all he would say.'

Trueman said, 'DNA is being matched and the police are searching the house now for a list of his contacts.'

Horton interpreted what Trueman had left unsaid: we can't go any faster no matter how much Dennings wants to steamroller events.

Trueman added, 'The forensic team are still working on the boat but they confirm Maidment's report that the gas cooker pipe was loosened. It could have happened during the fire, but they don't think so. They can't be one hundred per cent certain though because of the damage to the boat.'

Horton said, 'And that won't look very good as evidence when we take it to court, which is exactly what our killer wanted.'

Trueman nodded his agreement. 'It's as we thought: the build up of gas was ignited by a match or lighter. No evidence of any accelerant.'

Dennings chipped in, 'So Brundall could have lit the gas himself and caused the explosion.'

'Which is what any defence would claim. Our only evidence that it was murder comes from Dr Clayton, and that bang on Brundall's head,' Horton declared.

'And some smart-arse barrister could make that look like an accident,' Dennings rejoined.

Horton agreed. 'Gas can slowly seep out without being detected for some days. It's possible the pipe could have been loosened in Guernsey.'

Horton watched the thoughts chase themselves across Dennings' face until finally he caught the drift.

'You're saying the killer could have followed Brundall to Portsmouth?'

'Maybe our killer didn't want Brundall's death on his own doorstep.'

Dennings frowned with thought. 'Brundall might have been involved in some shady financial deal. He could have been financing drugs or arms, or even pornography.'

Horton thought it was possible, though they had no evidence to point that way. 'Maybe our killer didn't know that Brundall was already dying of cancer. Brundall could have started a business deal in Guernsey but it hadn't been concluded until after he'd left so he had to summon his solicitor.'

'Wouldn't he have stayed to see it through?' ventured Marsden.

'This is a man who didn't have time on his side. Or perhaps he wanted to see his home town one more time before he died.'

'Huh!' Dennings scoffed.

Horton said, 'On the other hand the gas cooker pipe could have been loosened soon after Brundall arrived in Horsea Marina any time from Monday night onwards.'

Dennings glanced at his watch. 'Superintendent Uckfield is giving a statement to the press in half an hour's time. I'll brief him.'

That would bring hundreds of calls, thought Horton, the majority of which would be a waste of their time, but one might just hold some information they needed.

Would Dennings pass off Horton's comments as his own? He guessed so. Dennings needed to impress his new boss and giving credit where it was due was hardly something he remembered Dennings being famous for in the past.

'He's driving me nuts,' Trueman said with feeling after Dennings disappeared into Uckfield's office.

Horton gave a wry smile. 'It's a cross we all have to bear.' Then his expression turned serious. 'Have you heard Cantelli's news?'

'About his dad, yes.' Trueman gave a concerned frown. 'Doesn't look too good for the old boy.'

Horton returned to his office wondering how things were going for Cantelli at the hospital. There was nothing he could do to help though, so he turned his mind to the case, considering the possibility that a professional hit man could have killed Brundall because he had been involved in something illegal. As yet they had no evidence to show that, but if it seemed likely, the investigation would be handed over to the Serious Organized Crime Agency and Horton didn't think Uckfield would like that very much.

Until more information came in there seemed little Horton could do about the case: everything that could be done was being carried out by Trueman and his efficient team of officers, despite rather than because of Dennings' annoying presence. If only they knew why Brundall had come to Portsmouth, and more importantly why Sherbourne had flown over to see him. Had Dennings asked the question of Inspector Guilbert? Horton couldn't trust him to have done so. He pulled out his mobile phone, found John Guilbert's telephone number and called him.

'Andy, good to hear from you.'

Horton smiled at the softly spoken voice, thinking how it must have wound Dennings up. But behind the slow, casual manner there was a quick, incisive brain.

'I'm working on the Brundall case with DI Dennings.'

'Rather you than me.'

'He's not renowned for his tact.'

'Or his patience. He seems to think I'm Superman and can give him answers faster than a speeding bullet.'

'Talking of which, what have you got on Brundall? And don't tell me you've already relayed it to Dennings, because I doubt he asked the right questions, or if he did then he didn't listen to the answers.'

'You know him well.'

'Unfortunately. What have you found in Brundall's house?'

'Nothing and I mean nothing. No letters, no photographs, no diary, no computer.'

'Stolen or never existed?'

'Never existed. There are no signs of a break-in and his housekeeper, Patricia Lihou, confirms he didn't have a computer. Nice lady — quiet, comfortable, well past middle age and very upset at Mr Brundall's death.'

'Mr?'

'She's worked for him for the last eighteen years and says it's always been and still is Mr.'

'Did he ever speak about his family or his past?'

'She's says not, and I believe her. He was a very quiet man, and clever. He liked to do crossword puzzles, loved walking and his boat. She knew he had cancer and when he told her he was going out on the boat for a few days, she guessed it would be for the last time, but she never expected him to meet with an accident.'

'Did you tell her it wasn't accidental?' Horton asked, surprised.

'Of course, but she refuses to believe that someone could have killed such a nice man as Mr Brundall.'

Horton sniffed. 'She should have our job. What about Brundall's investments?'

'He's rolling in it, and we haven't even scratched the surface yet. When he moved here he already had millions. Mrs Lihou says Brundall never spoke about money. He was generous to her, lived well and maintained the house, but never spent much on himself except for his boat. He was a recluse, didn't mix with anyone on the island and never went on expensive holidays or business trips. I didn't know him and we've never come across him before.'

'What about Russell Newton? Brundall was photographed with him.'

'Mrs Lihou says that neither Mr Newton nor anyone else has ever visited the house. Newton's a very wealthy man and an influential one on the island. I've got to get the chief officer's authority to question him, but I will get it, Andy. It just takes time.'

'I know. Any idea who Brundall's next of kin is?'

'No. Sherbourne's tell me that Brundall has made a will but until they speak to Nigel Sherbourne they can't let us have access to a copy, and none of the staff or Nigel's partner know what's in it anyway. Whoever Brundall has named is sitting on a small fortune, lucky sod.'

'What would you do with all that money, John?' teased Horton.

'Buy myself a bigger boat.'

'There speaks a man after my own heart. Any idea when you'll get to speak to Sherbourne?'

'He should have returned to his office an hour ago, but there's been no sign of him and no contact from him.'