Murder At the Rocks
“Murder At The Rocks (A Fitzjohn Mystery) CHAPTER 15 Early on Friday morning, Fitzjohn lined up with the legal fraternity at Silks Coffee Lounge on Phillip Street, and ordered his steaming brew. Moments later, with his morning newspaper under his arm, he made his way to a table on the small terrace. Knowing he had half an hour before he could present himself at Thomas Bentham, QC’s office, he settled himself down, spreading the newspaper out in front of him, savouring the change to his routin...e. By the time he made his way into Wentworth Chambers, he felt particularly relaxed and cheerful. His cheerfulness ebbed away, however, as soon as he stepped into Bentham’s offices to be met by a harsh looking man with steel grey, unsmiling eyes. Of medium height and meticulous in his dark grey suit, he scowled at Fitzjohn.‘Can I help you?’Obviously this man has not had the same tranquil start to his day as I have, thought Fitzjohn. He needs to change his routine. ‘Good morning. I’m Detective Chief Inspector Fitzjohn.’ Fitzjohn flashed his warrant card. ‘I’d like to speak to Mr Bentham, please.’‘That won’t be possible, Chief Inspector. Mr Bentham is due in court this morning.’With the last remnants of his cheery mood fading, Fitzjohn bristled at this refusal. ‘Nevertheless, it’s a matter of urgency,’ he said.Challenged, the clerk glowered at Fitzjohn before replying. ‘Very well, I’ll see what I can do. If you’ll wait here for a moment.’ Fitzjohn smiled slightly, knowing he had upset the order of the clerk’s day. Moments passed before the man reappeared, giving Fitzjohn a disdainful look. ‘If you’ll come this way, Chief Inspector.’Fitzjohn followed him into a large wood panelled office, its far wall a mass of books. Thomas Bentham sat at his desk in front of a window overlooking Phillip Street. A man in his fifties, with grey wavy hair and fine features, he looked up as the door opened. His blue-grey eyes met Fitzjohn’s and a cold smile crossed his face as he rose slightly from his chair. ‘Chief Inspector, please take a seat.’ Bentham looked past Fitzjohn, his expression dismissing the clerk before his attention came back to Fitzjohn. ‘I don’t have long, I’m afraid. I’m due in court shortly. How can I help you?’‘I’ll try to be brief, Mr Bentham.’ Fitzjohn sat back in the leather bound chair in front of Bentham’s desk. ‘It’s a rather delicate matter, and in connection with the death of Laurence Harford. No doubt you’ve heard?’‘Yes, I read about Mr Harford’s death in the newspapers yesterday. A shocking thing to have happened.’ Thomas Bentham picked up his pen turning it end to end. ‘I only met Laurence Harford on a couple of social occasions, Chief Inspector. I don’t see how I can help you with your investigation.’‘You may or may not. I understand you know Julia Harford.’ Bentham’s frowned.‘Yes, I do. We’ve sat on several fund raising committees together. But what can that have to do with her husband’s death?’‘When questioned, Julia Harford declined to disclose who she spent Wednesday evening with, but we’ve since learnt that she left the Shangri-la Hotel with you at approximately 8pm.’Bentham hesitated before answering, a look of annoyance surfacing on his face. ‘That’s correct. We both attended a function there on Wednesday evening and left the Hotel at the same time.’ Bentham paused. ‘What exactly do you want to know, Chief Inspector?’‘Whether you spent the entire evening with Julia Harford. She says she didn’t return home until around two o’clock the following morning. As you’ll appreciate, we need to corroborate her alibi.’Thomas Bentham sat in silence for a moment or two before throwing his pen down onto his desk and rising from his chair to stand at the window. Fitzjohn, unperturbed, waited. Moments passed before Bentham turned back.‘Very well, she was with me. My chauffeur drove her home just after 1am.’‘So you were together all evening?’‘Yes.’ Bentham sat down again and sighed. ‘I keep a penthouse in Rose Bay – sometimes it’s too late to drive home. I live in Palm Beach, you see.’ Bentham’s eyes looked steadily at Fitzjohn. ‘I trust you’ll treat this information with the utmost discretion, Chief Inspector. My wife, not to mention my reputation...MoreLess
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