Page 46 - The Chronicles Ser2 (6-10)

“You forget about that. I’ll fend off the trouble makers in that quarter. In the meantime, I
suggest you go and see the widow. I’ve something I need to check out first. I recognised
something else, that 100 Groat was a forgery and I know who made it!” Lomax winked as he
left to join Dreck in their car. Krank had done this duty many times in his long service. Telling
a loved one that their wife; husband, son, daughter or relative was dead had to count as the
hardest part of the job for any policeman. In this case it was harder as Silvie had been one of
Felix’s informants in the heady days of his youth on the force. She had still kept giving drips
and titbits of information to the force long after Felix had made Detective Inspector. He
headed back to his garret and took off his arm band. She’d recognise that meant this was off
the record, and an official visit would come a little later. He picked up his keys and went to
the lock up where he kept his car.

The drive over to Whelks’ mansion was done in complete silence. He parked a short
distance away and walked up to the gates. A security camera swung around and the voice of
Arthur, the Whelks’ doorman came from a speaker.

“The mistress is expecting you Mr Krank. We had a call from Mark Wiggins a moment ago”
There was a buzz and a click followed by the pedestrian gate opening. He strode up the path
and the door was opened as he approached. “She’s in the drawing room, third door on the
left sir” Arthur said and pointed down the hallway. He opened the indicated door and went
in. Sylvie was stood by the large marble fireplace. It was obvious she’d been crying. She
turned to Felix and sighed.

“Mark thought it best that I knew before you crashed your way in. I’m shocked, but I knew it
was inevitable. Jaden had been up to some shady deal with a broker in the Unity. I said it
would all end in tears, but he wouldn’t listen. You know how he was when money was
involved.” She burst into deep sobs. “I know he was a scoundrel but I loved the big lug” She
sat down on a sofa and signed him to sit beside her. He sat down and took her hand in his

“I hope your nephew Mark has not said too much. The Chief wants a complete Media Block
on this. Apart from the way this looks for him there’s the fact he was murdered, by
Assassins no less, that sort of attention don’t come cheap!” he interrupted her then added
“That broker wasn’t legit. Jaden had a wad of Unity Currency on him with a 100 Groat
wrapped in. That means the Broker was with the Caveat Brigade” Her eyes widened he put a
finger on her lips “I’d suggest a closed casket for the service; the Assassins cut him up very
bad. Have you got anyone you want here with you?” he asked

“My cousin Leonie and her husband are the nearest. She’s a nurse too, so can help me with
Victor. He’s not going to take this well. He had a bad relapse last month and still hasn’t
recovered. This is going to make him worse.
There’s some sort of specialist with him right
now” she said sighing again. Felix nodded
agreement. She was taking this better than
he’d expected she would Felix thought. Victor
was her son from her first marriage. He had
been in the Black Guard and was a promising
lieutenant. That was until his patrol came
across a rabid Gantrax, sole survivor of a
crashed scout vessel. Unable to link with the