Body of a Girl Read Online Free PDF Page A

.”
    Bull handed him the folded paper which was sticking out of his right-hand jacket pocket. It occurred to Mercer that people with only one arm must quickly get into the habit of arranging things like that. It was only a short paragraph, mentioning that two boys had discovered a body whilst bathing. There were no names or details. Presumably the real story would be in the Mirror in the morning.
    The landlord came past with the four drinks on a tray. Bull said, “Why don’t you join us? It’s quieter in the small bar. Put a pint of bitter with these, Bob.”
    The small bar was just large enough to hold two tables and six chairs. Three of them were occupied. A small, monkeylike man who was addressed as Johnno was given one of the glasses of Scotch. The brandy and ginger ale went to a grey-faced character wearing heavy horn-rimmed glasses, with untidy hair and untidy clothes, whose hand trembled very slightly as he picked up the drink.
    The light ale was for the girl. She had a head of blonde hair which could have been natural, blue and green shadow over the eyes and an impertinent nose. Mercer was not in the least surprised to be told that her name was Vikki. She looked every inch a Vikki, down to her last pink-tinted toe-nail.
    â€œWhat you see in front of you,” said Bull, “is what you might call the brains of my establishment. The brawn is off drinking beer and playing darts somewhere else. Johnno looks after petrol sales, and tries not to swindle the customers too noticeably. Mr. Rainey looks after our accounts, and Vikki looks after me.”
    â€œYou haven’t introduced your friend,” said Vikki.
    â€œDetective Chief Inspector—?”
    â€œBill Mercer.”
    â€œYou do pick up the oddest people,” said Vikki.
    The smile that went with it just prevented the words from being rude.
    â€œYou mind your manners, Vikki,” said Johnno. “He looks as though he could eat you for dinner, and two more like you.”
    â€œI’m sure I hope he’d enjoy the taste,” said Vikki. Her light blue eyes were weighing and measuring him.
    â€œI’ll tell you what,” said Mercer. “They’ll be throwing us out soon. Why don’t I order another round whilst the going’s good?”
    Johnno said, “Bob won’t throw us out. Not whilst we’ve got the law here.” No one resisted the idea of another round, least of all Mr. Rainey, who had already got outside his brandy and ginger ale. With the arrival of the new drinks the atmosphere warmed up. Jack Bull said, “You’ll enjoy Stoneferry. Some people call it Sinferry. So many men living with other people’s wives. Or little bits of fluff tucked away in bungalows down the river.”
    â€œYou’re a fine one to talk,” said Vikki.
    â€œI’m a bachelor,” said Bull. “I can please myself. It’s these married men who make me laugh. Come sneaking down here on the midday train on Saturday, with lust in their eyes, and crawl back to their wives on Sunday evening, telling them what a tiring time they’ve had at the rep’s conference at Birmingham. What they don’t know is that their wives have already rung up the area manager, just to check that there isn’t a conference at Birmingham, and tooled off down to Brighton with their boyfriend from up the road. I suppose it’s one way of staying happily married.”
    â€œI think you men are horrible,” said Vikki.
    Two drinks later Mr. Rainey got up and drifted off. He hadn’t opened his mouth except to say “Cheers” each time a drink was put into his hand.
    â€œSuffers from ulcers,” said Bull.
    â€œI thought if you had ulcers you weren’t supposed to drink,” said Vikki.
    â€œYou think too much,” said Bull.
    Mercer said, “There’s only one thing wrong with your petrol station that I could see. It’s in the wrong place. Bang in the