Headline Murder

  I said: “Found anything worth knowing about in the search of Darke’s home and office?”

  “We’ve taken possession of three unlicensed handguns. There’ll be charges on them and we also think one may have been used in the shooting of Bert ‘I Always Pay’ Biggins, the bookie who was killed up at the racecourse last year.”

  “So, Darke is facing a potential capital charge?”

  “Yes. Not to mention whatever we find in the stack of books and records we’re going through.”

  “This story will run and run,” I said.

  Wilson said: “There’s more. I took a call from the Portsmouth police forty minutes ago. They’ve arrested Cross. Apparently, he was Brahms and Liszt and in a highly confused state. He’d boarded the Isle of Wight ferry singing ‘Mademoiselle from Armentières’. Seems he thought he was fleeing to France.”

  “The Cross arrest is official, is it?”

  “Yes.”

  “That means I’ll have to rewrite my intro. But thanks for the information. See you soon for a drink.”

  I replaced the receiver, and rummaged through the completed folios of my story. I found the one with the intro, rolled new copy paper into my typewriter and started on the rewrite.

  And was interrupted a third time by the phone. I snatched up the receiver and a familiar voice said: “Here’s one in the eye for you.” It was Jeff from Prinny’s Pleasure.

  I said: “What do you want? I’m trying to finish a front-page story here.”

  He said: “Someone’s bought the Scotch egg. Remember you bet me I wouldn’t sell it? That’s a quid you owe me.”

  I said: “I’ll pay you next time I see you. And, for what it’s worth, I pity whoever’s eating it.”

  “As it happens, it’s a nice class of customer.”

  “You don’t say?”

  “Young lady. Tells me she comes from Australia.”

  I suddenly felt hot. I loosened my tie. I wiped my sleeve across my forehead.

  I said: “Does she have blonde hair that curls round her face and eyes that are as blue as turquoise?”

  “Looks a bit like that, I suppose. She’s certainly got a healthy appetite for good grub. Talking of having the sausage roll as well.”

  “Jeff, listen. Tell her that I’m coming round to the pub right away and not to leave until I get there.”

  “Friend of yours is she?”

  “Yes. And tell her something else.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Not to eat the sausage roll.”

  I slammed the phone down, got up and reached for my jacket. I scrambled into it. I was trembling with excitement. I took a few deep breaths to steady myself. This situation called for a calm approach. I needed to be in control.

  I sat down again and pulled my Remington towards me. I started typing. Slowly at first, then faster. Rhythmically as the sentences rolled from my mind. The sharp clack of the typewriter keys hitting the carriage filled the silence of the newsroom.

  I’d decided I would finish the new intro for my front-page splash before walking round to Prinny’s Pleasure.

  After all, if Shirley had just eaten Jeff’s Scotch egg, she wouldn’t be going walkabout for quite some time.

  READ MORE CRAMPTON OF THE CHRONICLE STORIES FREE AT:

  www.colincrampton.com

  ABOUT PETER BARTRAM

  Peter Bartram brings years of experience as a journalist to his Crampton of the Chronicle series (www.colincrampton.com). His byline has appeared in scores of newspapers and magazines on articles covering many subjects from film-making to finance. His 21 books on biography, current affairs and popular how-to topics have received coverage in newspapers as diverse as The Daily Telegraph and Daily Mirror – and he’s promoted his work on radio and television. Peter’s versatile range of work includes a radio play, a comic strip and a magazine serial. He lives in Shoreham-by-sea and is a member of the Society of Authors. His website is www.peterbartram.co.uk.

  Acknowledgements

  Many people have helped to bring Colin Crampton to life.

  First, there is the team of publishers, editors and publicists at John Hunt Publishing. As a veteran of 21 books with other publishers, I am amazed at how efficient they are.

  Barney Skinner created the wonderful website (www.colincrampton.com) which made Colin seem real even before the book had found a publisher. Caroline Duffy realised in fine caricatures on the website the principal characters just as I’d imagined them.

  Most important of all, my family has been a constant of source of love and encouragement through the long hours at the laptop.

  Peter Bartram

  At Roundfire we publish great stories. We lean towards the spiritual and thought-provoking. But whether it’s literary or popular, a gentle tale or a pulsating thriller, the connecting theme in all Roundfire fiction titles is that once you pick them up you won’t want to put them down.