Read Online Death Dues by Geraldine Evans - Free Book Online

day, he wasn’t inclined to argue. Disgruntled that the one thing they’d managed to agree on — the month of their wedding — now looked kicked into touch, Rafferty, after he left his Ma’s house, drove to the Chinese takeaway to pick up the food he’d rang through an order for earlier, his Ma’s colourful and highly prejudiced descriptions of most of the main suspects chasing each other round in his head. Wait till he told Llewellyn.
    There again, it was probably better if he kept shtoom about his source of all the scandal. Llewellyn was a by-the-book sort of man. He’d be sure to consider consulting his Ma, the neighbourhood Oracle on all things to do with people, as very unprofessional.
     

Chapter Five
    It was gone ten by the time Rafferty left his Ma’s house. He popped into his local Chinese takeaway.
    As he waited for his order, he ruminated on the day’s developments. Was Ma’s description of the suspects they so far had, accurate? Ma wasn’t beyond exaggeration to improve a tale. Had Jaws Harrison gone into the alley for the reason he had surmised — that of gaining access to the homes of the debtors who left front door knocks unanswered? Or had he had another reason for sneaking around the back alley?
    The weather was still cold and damp and though the rain had eased off markedly, the wind had turned even more blustery with evening. Rafferty was glad to get back in the car and head home to Abra.
    When he reached the flat, he took off his still damp raincoat and hung it in the hall above the radiator, hoping it would be dry by morning. He paused for a few seconds to admire the newly-decorated hallway; he’d done a good job, even if he said so himself. Taupe walls with white woodwork. It still looked smart, though, he supposed, if Abra was still keen on buying a house as she’d said that morning, it would be back to square one on the decorating front. He breathed in on a sigh, opened the living room door and said hello to Abra.
    He found her once again deep in her piles of Bride and Wedding magazines. What extravagance was she planning now? he wondered as he took in her bent head. The Philharmonic Orchestra for the reception? A vintage Rolls Royce to ferry her to the ceremony? He wished he knew how to get her down off her rose pink cloud of romance. It seemed to be taking her over.
    Abra looked up briefly from her study of diamond-studded tiaras. ‘Hi Joe,’ she said. ‘You're late. Had a good day?’
    'Not so's you'd notice. I've a murder case to solve on top of the muggings. Bloke called Jaws Harrison was killed. A collector for a local loan shark.'
    Abra's lips turned down. 'I suppose that means you're going to be late every night for weeks. When are we supposed to be getting on with planning our wedding?'
    Oh God, thought Rafferty. Not that again. Can't I have some peace? 'It's my job, sweetheart,' he said peaceably. 'I've no choice. And my income will help pay for the wedding you've set your heart on.'
    'Will it, though? When you never seem to have time to discuss it. I seem to be the only one interested in our wedding.'
    'Now that's not true. You know it's not. Please don't start. Not tonight. I'm bushed. I'll go and dish up.'
    Abra followed him into the kitchen, seemingly determined to carry on the wedding conversation. He told her what his Ma had said about a May wedding, thinking to get all of the bad news out of the way in one go; that way, maybe he could spend what remained of the evening in peace. ‘She didn’t think much of the idea, sweetheart. Said something about marrying in May and rueing the day.’
    ‘Superstitious nonsense,’ was Abra’s forthright response. She seemed to be on a roll with her dissatisfaction with the Rafferty family. ‘I seem to recall something similar about marrying on a Saturday, though that doesn’t stop thousands getting married on that day every year.’
    ‘Maybe. Though it would go a long way to explaining the divorce statistics.’
    ‘Not