The Avatari Read Free Page B

sorry,’ Ashton said, ‘can’t make out what came over me.’
    ‘It’s all right, sir. Did something to me too, the first time I saw the body,’ the inspector said sympathetically.
    He took out his packet of cigarettes and offered one to Ashton, who gratefully accepted it. They lit up and the inspector indicated that they should walk down to the road.
    ‘Was there something in that tattoo you recognized?’ the inspector asked as they walked down. ‘It seems as if Liu Than had wanted to protect it – as if he wanted to ensure it would be seen.’
    So he had noticed , Ashton thought.
    ‘No, nothing,’ he now said, replying to the inspector’s question. He drew on his cigarette before adding, ‘Apart from the fact that it’s a Buddha figure. You would have got that, of course.’
    ‘Yes, we did, as a matter of fact, but there’s nothing unusual about that. A lot of college students of the dead man’s, well, ethnicity sport such tattoos. It’s either that or Bruce Lee.’
    They had reached the road.
    ‘Well, then, sir, thank you for your trouble,’ the inspector said. ‘Actually, we had to follow all the leads.’
    He indicated the ring of reporters and photographers waiting for him. Some of them were recording the proceedings on movie camera.
    ‘This,’ he said, gesturing in their direction, ‘is evidently going to be the biggest story in the county tonight.’
    ‘Jimmy, I mean, the cabbie,’ Ashton asked. ‘He’s all right?’
    ‘Aye, he’s a strong lad. Just a bit shaken. He’s the one who broke the news. Had to walk back to the village – the masked men knocked off two of his tyre valves. Couldn’t even use the spare. But they didn’t harm him.’
    ‘Lucky they didn’t go for him. They appear to be quite a desperate crew,’ Ashton remarked.
    ‘Professionals, really. They must have realized that bumping off the cabbie would serve no purpose. Their quarry, the guy – or whatever they were after – was back there,’ the inspector said, looking back up the slope. ‘Also has something to do with keeping the police interest low. The story is big right now, but the fuss will die down soon enough. There isn’t likely to be much of an outcry over an unidentified Oriental who apparently committed suicide. Killing a local boy would have been a different bag altogether.’
    ‘Would have shaken Jimmy, though,’ Ashton said.
    ‘Must have, but he seems a level-headed lad. You can have a word with him if you want to. He must be in the ambulance,’ the inspector said, pulling away as a constable indicated that his presence was required near the Rover.
    ‘Thank you again, Sir Henry,’ the inspector said before he left. ‘Do tell us if you get to know something.’ He reached into his pocket and handed over his card. ‘Seems like gang rivalry to me, though can’t really see where you come in.’
    Ashton met the inspector’s quizzical eyes with his own steady gaze. The inspector nodded and extended his hand. The two men shook hands before the police officer turned away.
    Ashton walked up to the ambulance and found Jimmy standing near it with a Styrofoam cup of coffee in his hand. He patted the young boy reassuringly on the back. Jimmy’s face was still pale from shock, but when he spoke, his voice was steady.
    ‘Good evening, sir,’ the boy said in greeting.
    ‘Good evening, Jimmy,’ Ashton responded. ‘Strange happenings, eh?’
    ‘You could say that again.’
    Ashton saw Duggy approaching. ‘Hamiharu jaoon huzoor. Let’s go, sir,’ he said.
    Ashton was keen to stay for a while. He wanted to talk to Jimmy, but noticed that Duggy’s expression was firm, almost obdurate.
    ‘I’ll talk to you later, Jimmy,’ he said feebly.
    They shook hands and Ashton walked down to where Duggy stood waiting.
    ‘Now what was all that about?’ he asked sharply.
    ‘I’ll tell you once we’re in the car.’

CHAPTER 2
    Cambridge, England
    A UGUST 1986
    ‘So what did Jimmy tell you?’
    They had