Read Online 02 Blue Murder by Emma Jameson - Free Book Online Page B

investigation.”
    “ But what
if Sir Duncan has a new protégé? I saw the footage.” Sharada
gestured toward the telly. “All those half-dressed tarts remind me
of her .”
    Sharada had a habit of refusing to name
those females who seriously angered her. Her husband’s mistress had
long been referred to exclusively as “that slut.” And this other
woman, whom Sharada despised at least as much as her own rival, was
spoken of only as “she” and “her,” usually in the sort of withering
tones that served as auditory italics.
    Bhar rubbed his eyes. They were dry and
scratchy after his long night, the lids slightly gummed with
interrupted sleep. “Come on, Mum. You know Tessa wasn’t a scrubber.
She behaved like any nice girl. You thought she was wonderful.”
    “ I thought she was
adequate,” Sharada said grudgingly, still holding his hand. “But in
the end, she was as evil as Sir Duncan.”
    Bhar smiled, as grateful for her unstinting
devotion as he was suffocated by it. “Mum. Let’s be honest among
ourselves. Tessa fitted me up royally, but she wasn’t evil. And for
the mistakes I made, I should’ve got the sack. The only reason I
didn’t is because the guv spoke up for me. I can’t ask him for
another favor. As long as he wants me on the case, I’ll be
there.”
    “ You were young! Foolish! In
love!” Sharada cried.
    “ Love?” Bhar groaned. “That
only exists in your books.”
    “ There is real love between
a mother and son,” Sharada said. “So I say this with love. If you
continue as a part of this investigation, and Sir Duncan proves to
be involved, you will be considered a detriment to the case. Can’t
you see Lord Hetheridge would thank you for requesting a
reassignment?”
    Bhar stared at his mum, surprised by her
acuity in matters he’d assumed beyond her understanding. For all
her protests about despising politics and finding the Met’s
infrastructure impossibly dense, she had checkmated him. If Sir
Duncan was even peripherally involved to the murders at 14 Burnaby,
Bhar’s presence on the investigation team would be a defense
counselor’s dream.
    Playing for time, he sniffed the air. “Is
that coffee?”
    “ I thought you wanted to go
back to bed.”
    “ Not anymore. If you’ll make
me breakfast, I’ll tell you what we know so far.”
     

 
    Chapter Eight

    D etective Sergeant Kate Wakefield arrived back at the Yard just
before seven the next morning. She was unsurprised to find
Hetheridge already at his desk, his neglected breakfast plate
pushed away. There’d been some murmurings about Hetheridge’s
singular habit of bringing in breakfast each morning. A couple of
anonymous complainants had suggested all officers be required to eat
together in the canteen, not merely to cut costs but to promote
interdepartmental unity. Hetheridge had responded with a single
concession — paying for the catered daily breakfast out of his own
pocket. It wasn’t that he considered himself or his team above
rubbing shoulders with the other detectives. He simply preferred to
work while he ate.
    That, and he can’t abide
the canteen’s rubbery eggs and cold toast ,
Kate thought with a smile.
    Reading glasses positioned slightly down the
bridge of his nose, Hetheridge was intent on his computer monitor.
Though his shirt and tie were fresh, that signified nothing. The
ghastly Mrs. Snell, revenant of an age when secretaries stood in
for wives whenever necessary, might have provided him with that
incandescently white shirt and blue striped tie. And if Mrs. Snell
somehow failed to fulfill her calling, Hetheridge’s devoted valet,
Harvey, would have hurried to New Scotland Yard with a
mini-wardrobe in tow. What was it about Hetheridge that made people
cheerfully, spontaneously want to serve him?
    “ Work all night,
guv?”
    Hetheridge smiled. “Why, DS Wakefield.
You’re quite punctual this morning.”
    “ Tony.” Kate enjoyed the way
his pale eyes gleamed when she committed the tiny