Walking a Fine Line: Day 15

Word Count: 90,068

Summary of Events:

Although Joseph promised Mr. Sowards he'd go to the police, fearing that he'd get in trouble for pretending to be an insurance agent, he didn't. Instead, he went to call on Mr. Varley — whom he was sure now was Mr. McElligott — whom he presented with all he'd learned since they'd last seen one another in order to see his reactions, including revealing that he'd found a piece of jewellery, which had been pawned by a Mr. O'Toole. Mr. McElligott denied knowing the man initially, but then seemed to realise something, and so asked Joseph to describe the man, which Joseph obligingly did…

Excerpt of the Day:

Mr. McElligott nodded throughout the description. “He is the Sonny O’Toole that I knew. He’s also the one who told police that Mrs. Bradley’s description of the robber sounded an awful lot like me. We used to go to school together. He was a year older than me, but he was one of those ones who didn’t really care to learn anything, so he got held back to improve his marks. I never had a lot to do with him in school, as I didn’t socialise with him and the other rowdy, disobedient boys, I wanted to do well in school to please my parents. After I finished school I never saw Sonny, I’m not even sure if he finished school, or if he didn’t drop out before the end.”

Joseph nodded. A connection at last.

“Considering who he was in school, and who he spent time with, I can’t say I’m surprised he’s on the wrong side of the law,” Mr. McElligott said. “He was probably in on the robbery and chose me as a scapegoat for him and his actual accomplice.”

Mr. McElligott’s gaze was pointed. Joseph drew his face into a sceptical expression.

“Honestly, Mr. Neil,” Mr. McElligott said. “Does it make any sense to you why I would let some of the jewellery be found in my own backyard? Sure it was only the least-valuable pieces, but still, if I were guilty, why would I not have planted the evidence somewhere else to prevent people from believing me to be guilty? What crook wants to be hunted down and thrown in jail by the police?”

It was a valid point, not that Joseph wanted to admit it.

“Nevertheless, I’m not convinced of your innocence,” Joseph replied. “You seem to be a very good actor, with your reactions being impressively genuine, and you’ve done well to not yet slip up and admit something you shouldn’t.”

Unenthused, Mr. McElligott crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Joseph. “I need remind you, it seems, that you aren’t a licensed private investigator. You’re just a store clerk, like me, and your nosing about in all this business isn’t exactly legal as a result, thus I could call the police and have you thrown in jail for having broken into my home, especially through subterfuge, even if I haven’t yet discovered you to have stolen anything.”

“I’ve not turned you in to the police yet,” Joseph retorted, crossing his arms and glaring likewise.

“I’m surprised,” Mr. McElligott snapped bitterly. “And even though I should get you arrested, all I’m going to tell you is to get out of here, and not to come back under any guise whatsoever if you’re going to continue to believe me guilty of a crime I didn’t commit even though I so foolishly told you the whole truth of the matter.”

Joseph gave a succinct nod, took up his hat, and stepped out the door which Mr. McElligott had opened as he’d made his concluding remarks.