Murder on the Rocks (The Ralph Chalmers Mysteries Book 7)

by P. J. Thurbin

  “Margaret can we have some coffee please? Oh, and I don’t want to be disturbed while I am talking to Ralph.”

  He paced around the office like a caged animal.

  “The thing is, Ralph, well I know I can confide in you. I’m close to getting the job of Pro-Vice-Chancellor.” He smiled. “That would create a vacancy here and you are my first choice of who should take over the slot. Of course that would mean that we would still need to work very closely. As you know, the Business Faculty is key to the future of the University.”

  Ralph was stunned. First that Granger was up for promotion to a key post, and second that he was asking him to step into his shoes there at the Business School as the new Dean. On the one hand, something about it appealed to him but on the other, he was quite reluctant. He decided to take the conservative route.

  “I must say that I am a bit surprised,” Ralph proceeded cautiously.

  “It’s all off the record, of course, at least until the VC makes his announcement. But I’m hoping it will be some time before the end of the semester.”

  “But has he actually agreed that I would take over your job? Surely there would be an interview process and there must be a plethora of outsiders queuing up for just this sort of an opening.”

  “Just leave it to me Ralph. Sure there will be a selection panel, but he seemed happy enough when we talked about it and I’m sure you can put up a good showing. Especially with my recommendation.”

  Ralph was still unsure where this discussion was going.

  “Well, naturally I’ll give it some thought. But I’m certainly interested.” Having said that, Ralph wondered why he felt like he had just sold his soul to Mephistopheles. If he did get the job, he was under no illusions. He would be Granger’s man. There would be no room for manoeuvre.

  Just then Margaret came in with the coffee. She smiled at Ralph and he realised that she was considering how she would get on with her new boss. She left discreetly closing the door quietly.

  “I’ve something I want to ask you, Ralph. Drink your coffee and I’ll explain.” Here comes the real agenda, Ralph thought. Now I’ll find out exactly what price Granger expects to exact for this generous gesture of his.

  “I know in the past you were pretty upset at the way the University handled that business with Professor Eggleton. The truth is, I was every bit as upset as you were. I considered it a great loss to the University when she left.” Ralph could not believe his ears. She had been thrown to the wolves, pure and simple. And Granger had been the first one to ring the dinner bell for them to ‘come and get it’.

  “I’m hearing a lot of good things about Doctor Eggleton these days. I understand that her paper at the Prague Conference while she was at the Sorbonne won some sort of prize from the EU for her contribution to cultural diversity. And a good friend at University College London tells me that they’re delighted she’s accepted a senior post there. When I told the VC about her achievements he was delighted for her. I can tell you, Ralph, we would like to get her back.” Ralph had not forgotten that only a short while before when he and Katie were offered honorary doctorships from an American University, the VC had out and out refused on their behalf on the basis that he did not want Kingston’s reputation sullied by any association with the now seemingly revered Doctor Eggleton. What a bunch of hypocrites, he thought, but he said nothing He wanted to see where all of this was going.

  Katie had told Ralph that she had presented a Paper at the Prague Conference, but this was the first he had heard about any prize.

  “But what I wanted to ask you, Ralph, is if you and Professor Eggleton would accept an invitation to join Ruth and I as our guests at Glorious Goodwood? It’s on the first Saturday in August.” Ralph nearly dropped his coffee. First an offer of a job as Dean, then Katie virtually being re-instated and now and offer to go to one of the most prestigious horse racing events in the English Summer Sporting Calendar.

  “We would love to, Rupert. I’ll have to check with Katie first, of course. Will it be just the four of us?” Ralph queried.

  “No, not exactly. When we were on holiday in France I met this chap, Roberto Sparini. It transpired that he was at Cambridge when you were both students. He’s Managing Director of an industrial conglomerate over in Italy, just outside Milan. He’s interested in putting some investment into the University, and naturally the VC is delighted.” Now everything was beginning to make sense. Ralph remembered a suave and well-heeled young Italian who told everyone that he was a Count. Of course at that stage in life the important accolade was to be able to buy the next round of drinks and play rugby or row for your college.

  Granger continued.

  “He’s invited us to be his guests at Goodwood. He tells me that he’s looking forward to meeting up with you again.”

  There’s no such thing as a free lunch, Ralph mused. But on the other hand, a nice summer’s day at the races, and not to mention a chance for Katie to watch Granger offering the pipe of peace. It could be a bit of fun. They chatted on about the upcoming Faculty Board meeting and some rooming issues before Ralph took the initiative and made his exit.

  Back in his office the meeting with Granger and all that had happened in Gibraltar intruded into Ralph’s efforts to wrap his mind around his afternoon lecture.

  ***

  He was unable to reach Katie. He assumed that she was tied up with her new job and would call him as soon as she was free. After lectures he went to the staff bar to see if any of his pals were around. He was pleased to see Peter sprawled out, a pint in his hand, talking to two students. He walked over just as the students were leaving.

  “Hello, chum,” Peter said as he picked up some music scores he had left on the counter. “It’s funny how sometimes just when you think it’s all a waste of time, you come across a couple of students that give you hope. That tall one is a first rate musician. The other chap wants me to look at some work he’s done, off his own bat mind you, that I think might get him into the Royal College. Funny old world.”

  “Indeed it is,” Ralph agreed. “Speaking of which, I just had a most interesting little chat with Granger.”

  “I want to hear all about it. But let me get you a beer first. You look like you could do with one.”

  He waved at the student who was manning the bar. “A beer for the Professor.” The student grinned and brought Ralph a chilled Heineken and a glass.

  Ralph explained what had transpired but left out the bit about Granger’s promotion and his own chances of becoming Dean. Peter expressed scepticism about the University’s apparent change of heart about Katie, although he was happy that they wanted to welcome her back.

  “No doubt she’ll tell them all where to get off,” Peter laughed. “She probably knows that she’s better off where she is. In my experience, it’s not a good idea to go back. It’s never the way you remember it and all the people you knew will have moved on. It’s just the old mud unfortunately that seems to stick.”

  “Well. she’ll have to cross that bridge when she gets to it,” Ralph said. “Much as it would be nice to have her here, it’s a decision she’ll have to make on her own.”

  “But the invite to Goodwood sounds great. Any chance of wangling a slot for me and Marcia? Only joking, pal.”

  “Believe me, I wish we were going with you and Marcia instead of Granger and that would be Count from my Cambridge days. But you never know, it could be a real eye opener.”

  “I hope you aren’t thinking of driving. The traffics awful down there. Marcia and I went some years ago when she was doing a lot of modelling for Vogue Magazine. It’s a great venue. And if you want to see some world class schmoozing, that’s the place to see it,” he laughed.

  “I suppose we could go by train to Chichester and get the courtesy bus.”

  “You must be joking. Look Jack Warmer, he’s the guy that does our landscape gardening, been with us for years, anyhow, he has a son, Nicholas, who works for this Executive car firm over at Syon Park, y
ou know, over near Kew. I’ll call him and see if his boy is free to give you a lift down. From what I understand, it’s a top notch firm. Warmer told me that they only employ ex-military.”

  “It might be a lot less hassle if we used one of those executive cars,” Ralph agreed. “Just as long as we don’t get some bloke who doesn’t know how to drive.”

  “It doesn’t sound like they’d employ anyone who wasn’t first rate,” Peter assured him. “Trident Chauffeurs, that’s the name. Evidently, from what Warmer tells me, they have a fleet of top of the line Jags and I think he said Land Rovers. He told me his lad recently completed his third tour over in Iraq or Afghanistan, I can’t remember which. I think he told me his boy was with the Irish Guards. Anyhow, I’ve seen the webpage and the bugger’s got himself plastered on the front. Jack says he’s a bit of a James Bond type, but it sounds like he could get you there and back in one piece, and without the hassle.”

  ”Thanks Peter, but that would cost a fortune. It’s a long way from London to Goodwood.”

  “You worry too much, Ralph. It can’t break the bank. It’s about time you stopped living like a skinflint and splashed out a little. I’m sure your Katie would appreciate a bit of extravagant living once in a while. Especially as the rest of the thing is on old Granger or this Sparini chap. So why not travel down there in style, my man. Polish up your image a bit.”

  Ralph had to admit that he was tempted. He hated to get stuck in traffic or to queue up so that some little jumped up official could tell him where he could or could not park. Then you could never get out of the car-park when it was time to leave. The more he thought about it, the more he warmed to the idea of leaving it to the professionals to worry about the logistics and just enjoying their day out.

  Ralph and Peter chatted on about the recent trip to Gibraltar and how nice it had been to get to spend a bit of time doing things together outside of the University. Peter told Ralph how glad he was that he and Marcia seemed to back on track, and that things had never been better between them. Ralph believed him. His old friend looked happier than he had in years.

  When Peter asked him whether he had given any thought to a more permanent relationship with Katie, he decided to tell his friend frankly how he felt. He confessed that he had realized just how much he had come to rely on her. He knew that although Peter wouldn’t dream of mentioning it, he was well aware of Ralph’s tendency to withdraw into himself. Ralph told him that Katie seemed to understand that about him and that at least when they were on their own she seemed to be able to get him out of those moods.

  “But you know how it is,” Ralph said. “The temptation is to rely on old memories and past experiences and sometimes I forget that Katie is a different person altogether to anyone I may have known in the past.”

  “And thank goodness for that,” Peter laughed. “I doubt we could take a steady diet of that barmaid you used to keep company with a few years back.” They both relaxed and drank their beers. Ralph reflected that there were no friends like old friends. He was just glad he had such a good friend in Peter.

  They chatted on and agreed that it would be good if they all got together to share some of the photos they had taken on their sail to Gibraltar. It was late when Ralph dropped Peter off at his house and so he declined the offer of a night cap. After the two friends bid each other goodnight, Ralph reflected on their conversation as he made his way home. He reckoned that in all the years they had known each other it was the first time he had ever revealed his feelings like that, and he felt better for it. As for him and Katie, much as he cared about her, he knew that they would clash if they were together all the time.

  Ralph realized that all of that soul-baring must have tired him out. He looked forward to his nice comfortable bed and a good read as he turned the key in his apartment door. When he checked his voicemail he found he had one message. It was from Inspector Linham at Kingston Police station and it asked Ralph to call him as soon as he got in.

  _____________________

  Chapter 5

  Inspector Linham welcomed Ralph and led the way up the dreary grey stone staircase. “It hasn’t changed much since you were last here, Professor Chalmers.” Ralph noticed that Linham was slightly out of breath.

  “Too much paperwork and not enough action,” Linham explained. “I saw that look on your face, Professor. I’m just a bit out of condition. Here we are. Take a seat I’ll get Sergeant Wilson to get us some tea.”

  Inspector Linham sat behind his desk and offered Ralph a straight backed chair that was obviously reserved for visitors. Wilson knocked lightly before he came in and greeted Ralph. The Inspector asked him to get some tea.

  “No sugar for me Sergeant and none for you, sir, if I remember correctly,” he said as Wilson nodded and hurried out.

  Ralph had known the two men for quite a while. During that time they had been involved in tackling some messy cases. But he still felt slightly ill at ease talking to the police. He figured it probably stemmed from a few run-ins with them during his youth when they had fingered his collar once or twice for some misdemeanour or other.

  “Thanks for coming in, Professor. I’ll just cut to the chase if I may. I’m aware that you’ve just returned from Gibraltar and you must have a lot to catch up on.”

  The Inspector leant forward his hands clasped tightly together. He looked a bit uncomfortable to Ralph.

  “When all that mess was happening down there the local police in Gibraltar telephoned around to ask about you. They were relieved to hear that far from being one of the bad guys, you had actually helped us out in the past. I told them that you were party to the Official Secrets Act and that seemed to put their minds at ease as well. I told them that you had signed it a few years back.”

  Just as Ralph started to say something, Wilson came in with three mugs of tea and a plate of plain biscuits. He sat down and opened his note book. After giving the Sergeant a nod of thanks, Ralph turned his attention back to what Linham had just said. It was obviously a prelude to something more important. He wondered what.

  “But Inspector, what we did had nothing to do with official secrets. We only tried to save some poor chap who had fallen in the sea.” Having said it, he realized that he must sound like one of his students protesting innocence over missing an assignment deadline. He began to feel uneasy. The Inspector put down his tea.

  “Quite a lot actually, sir.” The Inspector paused. “You see, Her Majesty’s Government have been keeping a special eye, at a diplomatic level of course, on actions the Spanish authorities have been taking to challenge our rights to what the Spanish allege is Britain’s illegal occupancy of The Rock. They put one of their Navy ships among some of our military training exercises in the Bay recently and have done some other minor things to try to upset the status quo. Evidently they even fired live rounds of ammunition at some holiday makers who were out on those speedo water bikes.”

  “ I had no idea there was still so much contention down there,” Ralph said.

  “Oh, that’s not the half of it, Professor. They even complained that we were ruining their fishing when we dumped a load of concrete blocks in the sea around there to make a marine habitat. Anyhow, it’s a long list, but I won’t bore you with the details.”

  “I still don’t see what that’s got to do with trying to save some chap’s life. The local police interviewed me and Ms Eggleton and seemed satisfied. That Eta business and the fact that the man who was killed was a French Commissioner was pretty much common knowledge. In fact a waiter at our hotel told us about the conference.” Having said it he wished he had kept quiet.

  “It’s not about you, Professor. Well I suppose that in some ways it is. Let me try to explain.”

  Ralph glanced over at Wilson. Linham’s Sergeant obviously knew what this was all about and by the way he looked at his boss Ralph could see that he wondered why the Inspector did not just come out and say what was on his mind instead of beating around the bush.

  “Let me s
tart again.” The Inspector took a breath. He explained that the British government wanted to play down the murder of the French representative and the diplomatic row over the Eta arms decommissioning programme.

  “The Brits and the French are all for decommissioning talks, but the Spanish refuse to negotiate with Eta. They just want the whole lot handed over lock stock and barrel.”

  He took a sip of his tea and then picked up a biscuit and dunked before he continued.

  “I can see you’re wondering where you fit in to all this, Professor. It’s because of your association down there with Colonel Stigart.”

  “What do you mean by association, Inspector? I hardly know the man.”

  “Our sources say that you were seen being entertained by him.”

  “Our boat was moored near his and he invited me and my friends to come on-board his motor cruiser for dinner one night. That’s the long and short of it, but I’d hardly call it an association. It was just a dinner party on his boat for gosh sakes.”

  “We’re aware of all that. But you were also reported by the Moroccan police as being in Tangier on the day before they arrested some local crooks for drug smuggling. Apparently you sailed in and then left without registering with them. But that’s a minor matter.”

  Ralph wondered what was major if that was minor. He waited for the Inspector to go on.

  “The Moroccan police failed to catch the people who were doing the deals with the local smugglers. Evidently they managed to get away in a yacht, although I don’t have the details. They’re linking the sale of drugs to arms running into Gibraltar and a possible arms supply chain from Morocco to Eta terrorists in Northern Spain. They believe the money is being funnelled through Italy and they think some of the big mafia groups are involved.”

  Ralph tried to take it all in.

  He was not even certain of whether he was he being accused of involvement in all this or what.