Night Watchman's Friend

Henry Rowles left everything to his friend George Pollicott, the night-watchman, but his money was in a South African bank under another name. When Rowles was found dead, Pollicott was charged with his murder. Vaughan must decide if Rowles was an imposter or a frightened man cruelly deprived of his birthright.

Format: Paperback
Publication date: 28 September 2023
Publisher: Moonstone Press

For twenty years, Henry Rowles had called the isolated cottage by the sea wall home. He made the decision to leave everything to his old friend and guardian, George Pollicott, the night watchman, in his will. However, his money was kept in a South African bank under a different name, so retired solicitor Vaughan consented to investigate the situation.

Rowles was discovered dead shortly after, and Pollicott was accused of his murder. As Vaughan delved deeper into the victim's past, he had to determine whether Rowles was a fraud or a frightened man who had been cruelly denied his birthright.

Vaughan learned that Rowles had a troubled past and had been abandoned by his family. He had been living in poverty and had resorted to stealing to survive. He had also been in and out of prison for various crimes.

Despite his troubled past, Rowles had been befriended by Pollicott, who had taken him under his wing and provided him with a place to live. Pollicott had been a kind and caring man, and Rowles had grown to love him like a father.

However, Vaughan also discovered that there were some inconsistencies in Rowles' story. He had claimed to have been born in England, but there was no record of his birth. He had also claimed to have been a wealthy businessman, but there was no evidence of his wealth.

As Vaughan dug deeper, he began to suspect that Rowles was not who he claimed to be. He had been living a lie and had been using Pollicott to gain his trust and access to his money.

Vaughan was determined to find the truth and bring the real murderer to justice. He spent countless hours investigating the case and interviewing witnesses. He eventually discovered that Pollicott had been involved in a scheme to steal Rowles' money and had killed him when he discovered that Rowles was aware of their plans.

Pollicott was arrested and charged with murder. He denied the charges, claiming that he had only been trying to protect Rowles from his enemies. However, the evidence against him was overwhelming, and he was eventually convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

The case of Henry Rowles and George Pollicott had a profound impact on Vaughan. It taught him the importance of honesty and integrity, and it showed him that even the most troubled people can be redeemed. It also showed him that sometimes, the people we trust the most can be our greatest enemies.

In the end, Vaughan was able to bring closure to the case and provide some sense of justice to the victim's family. He had learned that the truth was often more complicated than it seemed, and that sometimes, the people we love the most can be our greatest betrayers.

ISBN-13: 9781899000647