Read Online The Lately Deceased by Bernard Knight - Free Book Online Page B

a message slip. As he rapidly scanned it through, Meredith’s black brows rose.
    â€˜This is all we wanted to make our day. Take a look at that!’ He tossed the flimsy across the table at Stammers.
    The inspector picked it up and read it aloud for the benefit of the other two.
    â€˜â€œMartin Myers admitted to Whittington Hospital early this morning. Unconscious state following head injury. Found by police officer at bottom of basement steps leading to his flat in Canonbury. Presumed accidental.”’
    Grey whistled.
    â€˜That accounts for one of the missing three, anyway,’ he said. ‘If we find the two Moores with their skulls bashed in, we’ve accounted for them all!’
    â€˜Very funny, Grey,’ said Old Nick acidly. ‘Where did that report originate from, Stammers?’
    His deputy consulted the top of the telephone message form.
    â€˜The nick in Dalston Lane, Super. That’s near Canonbury.’
    â€˜Right! Masters, get to the hospital, and see what goes on. How many of these glamour boys are still outside?’
    â€˜Four, sir.’
    â€˜Right, wheel the next one in; we’ll hear the same old story again, I suppose.’
    As each witness finished and signed his statement, he was released with the standard warning to stay within reach. Geoff Tate, who had already been in once and had been asked to wait over, was the last on the list and, when he came out, he found Eve waiting for him.
    â€˜Let me give you some tea,’ he said, taking her by the arm. ‘Gordon’s staying with me for the time being, but there’s no hurry for me to get home. I gave him a key and he knows the flat well enough to look after himself for a bit.’
    They left the station and went by taxi into the bustle of Oxford Street. The cab pulled up at an Italian restaurant at the top of Dean Street, where they suddenly found that they were very hungry. In spite of the time and the upheaval of the day, they did justice to a large omelette followed by continental pastries and a pot of tea.
    Sitting opposite each other in the snug warmth of a panelled alcove, with the grey drizzle outside forgotten, they suddenly became silent and shy. Eve sat demurely, gazing at a pink fingernail, and waited for Geoff to say something.
    His main emotion was one of surprise that Eve should seem so different now from the coquettish, shallow woman he’d always imagined her to be.
    Perhaps it’s just that I’m sober , he thought, as he gazed at her slim neck nestling in the little fur collar of her suit. Embarrassed, he made an effort to break the silence.
    â€˜Funny what twenty-four hours can bring, Eve! This time yesterday, we were just looking forward to another of Gordon’s binges.‘
    Eve looked up at him and frowned.
    â€˜I can’t take it in yet, Geoff,’ she said. ‘I’ve never been anywhere where there’s been a death before. Now all this fuss about police and statements, the lot. What’s going to happen, Geoff?’
    He was suddenly conscious of a desire to put his arm around her. He’d done it often enough before at parties, but then it had been just a meaningless act. Now it was somehow different, and he kept his arm at his side.
    â€˜God knows how it will all end,’ he said quietly. Then, smiling at her, he added. ‘Let’s let the police do the worrying, it’s their job. My job is to keep your mind off unpleasant things and this I propose to do by taking you out to a show tonight.’
    At seven thirty that evening, the CID team met in the detective inspector’s room at Comber Street. The Manchester police had contacted the two girls, who clearly knew nothing of any importance about the affair. There was still no sign of the Moores – their telephone and doorbells had been rung regularly with no result.
    â€˜Much more of this and we’ll have to put out a general call for them,’ said