Read Online The Godson by Robert G. Barrett - Free Book Online Page B

knew and was in a shout. The hotel was rocking. The Eddys had the crowd dancing in the street and on the median-strip too and the Hahn on tap was delicious. It was a great evening, but after about eight middies Norton thought it might be best if he went home and tried to ring Price again. He bought another shout and left.
    When Norton stepped through the door of his house, Warren was sitting in the lounge room drinking Jack Daniel’s and Coke with three of the best sorts Les had ever seen: a brunette and two blondes in the tightest-fitting, crutch-hugging jeans imaginable. Norton thought for sure his luck was about to change but the first words Warren spoke, without even bothering to introduce Les, told him who the girls had come to see.
    â€˜Well,’ said Warren, coming straight to the point. ‘Where is he?’
    â€˜Where’s who?’ grinned Norton. ‘I’m right here. What more do you want?’
    â€˜No, not you, Les,’ sneered Warren. ‘Peregrine. What have you done with him?’
    â€˜Yeah, where’s this rich baronet?’ trilled one of the blondes.
    â€˜He’s at the Sebel Town House,’ replied Norton.
    â€˜The Sebel Town House?’ Warren rolled his eyes with mock disbelief. ‘You mean to tell me the ignorant pommy bastard chose to stay at the Sebel rather than take the spare room? I don’t believe it.’
    â€˜Neither do I,’ replied Norton, avoiding Warren’s stare.
    â€˜We could go up the Sebel and see him,’ said the brunette.
    â€˜No.’ Norton shook his head firmly. ‘He’s just come off a thirty-hour flight and he’s buggered. He wants to go straight to bed.’
    â€˜Oh,’ said the brunette.
    â€˜But not to worry,’ said Norton brightly, giving his hands a rub. ‘All’s not lost. Why don’t we have a little party here?’
    The two blondes looked at Norton like he was something the police had just exhumed. ‘Can you take us to the Sheaf?’ they asked Warren, as the brunette rose from the lounge and zipped up her jacket.
    â€˜Sure.’ Warren finished his Jack Daniel’s and Coke. ‘You want to come down the Sheaf, Les?’
    Norton shook his head. ‘No, mate. I got to make a few phone-calls and I want to have an early night. I got a fair bit to do tomorrow.’
    â€˜Okay. Well I’ll see you when I get home.’
    â€˜See you then.’
    Warren ushered the girls down the hallway. They didn’t say goodbye to Les. Les didn’t bother to say goodbye to them.
    After throwing some chops under the griller Norton tried once more to ring Price and Eddie, but got the same answer as before. He finished his meal and after another couple of unsuccessful attempts settled back to watch a Chevvy Chase movie on TV. He was in bed by eleven. Warren came home alone about twenty minutes later.
    B Y M ONDAY THE weather was noticeably warmer. The sou’wester had swung around to the north and although there was the odd bunch of grey clouds pushing across the sky there was more than enough sunshine. It was an ideal day for a run in Centennial Park. Norton did exactly that, plus some exercises after he got up at seven. Warren was still in bed when he left, but was up and finishing breakfast when a perspiration-streaked Les returned home at eight-thirty. In contrast to Norton’s sweaty florid appearance Warren had the look of a cat that had just drunk all the cream and was almost whistling to himself when Les walked into the kitchen.
    â€˜Hello, Les,’ he said airily, looking up from his coffee. ‘How was the run?’
    â€˜Good,’ replied Norton. ‘You should get up and try it yourself one day.’
    â€˜I was going to, but the alarm never went off.’
    Les opened the fridge and took out a bottle of spa-water. ‘What happened with your three girlfriends last night? Friendly little trio, weren’t