conceded, ‘that’s the main thing. Not that it was worth a hell of a lot. I’m a car dealer; I specialise in classic vehicles. That one’s a long way short of being classic, it’s only a runabout, but I’ve just sold on the Daimler that I’ve been driving for a couple of years, and I switched my personalised plate to it until I find something that I like. When can I pick it up?’ he asked.
‘As soon as we’re finished with it,’ Haddock replied.
Sullivan frowned. ‘What does that mean?’ He paused, as if for thought. ‘Wait a minute,’ he murmured, ‘a chief inspector and a detective sergeant, on a car theft; that’s a bit heavy-duty, is it not? Has it been involved in a robbery or something?’
‘We’ll get to that,’ Pye said, tersely. ‘When did you discover the theft, Mr Sullivan?’
‘This morning, when I went to my garage in Kingston: I keep some of my lesser stock there, and I do some refurbishment there too. The rest,’ he continued in explanation, ‘my best cars, are in a showroom on the way into Haddington, off the dual carriageway.’
‘How did the thief get in?’
‘Through a side door.’
‘When was the last time you saw the car?’
‘Saturday. I had a guy interested in a Bristol; it was in Kingston being prepared for the showroom. It’s not street legal at the moment, so I took him there to view it. The Beamer was still there when I locked up.’
‘What time would that have been?’
‘About half four.’
‘Did you make the sale?’
Haddock’s question drew a scowl. ‘No. Nowhere near. The man was a time-waster. He told me he’d phone me back on Sunday with a decision, but he didn’t. Nor will he; I could tell at the time he was a chancer. You always know, don’t you?’
The DS nodded. ‘Yes, we find that too, in our line of work. What was the man’s name, the time-waster?’
‘King; that’s all he told me. No first name.’
‘Can you describe him?’
Sullivan frowned. ‘He’s about my age, give or take a year or two. I’m thirty-seven,’ he added. ‘He had a beard, glasses with dark frames and he was wearing a Barbour. That’s the best I can do. Why are you interested in him anyway? Do you think he came back and stole the BMW? If he did, he’s got no bloody taste. I’ve got better cars than that in the Kingston garage. If you’re going to suggest he was looking for a getaway vehicle, that was one of the slowest in the place.’
‘We’re looking at all possibilities,’ Pye said. He broke off as the PC came into the room, carrying two coffees in takeaway beakers. She placed them on the table, laying a five-pound note and a few coins beside them. As she left, the DCI continued. ‘Did Mr King give you a contact number?’
‘No.’
‘How did he get in touch with you?’
‘He rang my mobile: he said he’d seen my ad for the Bristol in the East Lothian Courier; the number’s on that.’
‘Do you have your phone with you?’
‘I do,’ Sullivan told him, ‘but if you’re thinking you might find his number on it, you’re out of luck, lads. I deleted all my recent calls last night.’
‘Is that a regular practice?’ Haddock asked.
‘Pardon?’
Pye sighed. ‘Do you do that frequently?’
‘Every so often. Like I said, I’m sorry. I’d love to help you but it’s just bad luck.’
The DCI nodded. ‘As you say. That’s life; some you win, some you lose.’
‘Good. We’re agreed on something. Now, can I leave here?’ Sullivan asked. ‘I’ve got a business to run.’
‘Not yet,’ Pye said. ‘We’re not finished. When you called this morning to report the theft of the BMW, which phone did you use?’
‘The mobile.’
‘Where were you when you made the call?’
Sullivan stared at him. ‘What do you mean? I was in bloody Kingston. I was looking at the empty space where my motor had been.’
Haddock cut in. ‘Do you have a landline in your garage?’
‘Yes.’
‘Why didn’t you use that?’
‘I just didn’t, okay?’
‘No it’s not. Can you prove you were at Kingston when you made the call? Does anyone else work there? Do you have a mechanic?’
The dealer shook his head. ‘No, I don’t need one full-time. When I have to, I use a guy at Fenton Barns. So no, there was nobody else in the garage, only me.’
‘Therefore,’ Haddock continued, ‘as far as we’re concerned, you could have been anywhere when you reported the theft.’
‘I suppose.’
‘You could even have been standing beside the car.’