When the body of Bill Gibson is found on a piece of waste land beneath the bypass Detective Inspector Steve Winwood has no clues as to how or why as the victim lived over twenty miles away. He discovers from the rather eccentric antiquarian bookseller John Cherry that Gibson was a book illustrator.
Whilst Winwood and his Sergeant Archie Tibbs uncover more about Gibson’s reclusive lifestyle others in town are reminded of a previous proposed housing development on this piece of waste land. The rebellious Councillor Bob Ball works with the local journalist Tony Meehan to see if there is another planning application about to emerge as he is wary of businessmen in suits wandering through the town on their mobiles and taking photos.
Tony has become attached to the local doctor, Rose Collins who has a history of protesting about local issues imposed by levels of local Councils. She tells Tony that she has been receiving strange gifts and believes that when a burglar entered her house and nothing taken they were looking to find ways to discredit her.
Trevor Cole Project Manager for Ferris Developments sees the body on waste land and the old planning application as a welcome distraction. He has been busy convincing Chrstine Grey, Leader of the Council and Stephanie van Dyk, Head of Planning to delay public knowledge of Ferris’ real intention of building on green belt land on the other side of the bypass. Various schemes to connect the new build and the town centre are put forward but they all involve demolishing The Green Man, the favourite pub of Bob Ball. It also involves either a bridge over or a tunnel under the graveyard of St Josephs church. It is not a popular move with Christine Grey who does not want to fight an upcoming local election on such an issue
Tibble’s investigations lead to the identity of the taxi driver that collected Bill Gibson and dumped his body. Unfortunately the driver Simon Ashe is found dead in his own limousine bound and gagged with a fatal blow to his head.
With one murder and possibly two the parallel enquiries being made by the police and concerned public figures are joined together by Winwood who investigates who is behind the burglary, bringing on Gibson’s heart attack, dumping his body and causing the death of Ashe. This is on top of what becomes a case of corruption and blackmail of public figures and illegal pornographic websites.
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More from the The Inspector Winwood Series
Read a background to the town of Rutherford and of D.I Steve Winwood here.