Carnage on the Committee Read Online Free PDF Page A

Georgie's afraid of and why Knapper's so delighted to have you signed up.'
    Amiss's phone rang. He looked at the screen. 'Seven-fifteen a.m. and Geraint Griffiths is ringing again. He left four messages last night - the last one at one-thirty in the morning, after which he favoured me with no fewer than five e-mails.'
    'Who he?'
    'Geraint Griffiths. One of your committee.'
    'Sounds like a pushy Welsh git.'
    'Hard to quibble with that description, though I think his Welshness is a bit exaggerated. I believe he was known as "Gerry" until he began a career as a broadcaster and pundit and decided Geraint carried more weight.'
    She rolled her eyes. 'Celtic codology.'
    'Geraint uses whatever weapons are available. Rather like you.'
    'Why's he pursuing you?'
    'To enlist my aid in making him chairman.'
    'Why don't you tell him to get lost?'
    'No point, Jack. With a bit of luck, your appointment will have been announced before I have to speak to him.'
    The phone rang again. After scrutinising the number. Amiss answered it. 'Morning, Georgie. Everything still OK? . . . Yes, I'm with her now. We're on our way to Cambridge ... Yes, of course I'm briefing her. Why do you think I'm not at home tucked up in bed? ... OK, OK . . . That sounds fine. I'll run it past her and call you back. Bye.'
    'Run what past me?'
    'He read me the press release he's putting out as soon as you've given it the all-clear and the committee have been notified. He's evading Geraint Griffiths until he's got Den and Rosa onside, but it's still too early to ring them.'
    'They're not being asked their opinion, I hope?'
    'Certainly not. Knapper chose Hermione and now Knap-per's chosen you. The press release expresses the grieff of the Warburton group and everyone involved with the prize at the loss of Hermione and welcomes to the chair the distinguished Mistress of St Martha's. You are quoted as saying something along the lines of "The circumstances are tragic and we all mourn Hermione Babcock, but in the interests of literature I have agreed to step into the
    breach and I very much look forward to working with the distinguished committee.'"
    Tack of lies and banalities, but noblesse oblige, I suppose.'
    Amiss rang Prothero. 'Jack's happy with that press release . . . Oh, really? . .. No, I don't know . . . Well, they'll just have to look up cuttings. Or the Net. Or ask her when you talk to her ... I do understand. But no one can blame you. Just keep saying it was Knapper ... Yes, I'll tell her ... Don't know. Maybe ... Good luck.'
    'What was all that about?'
    'He couldn't understand why you aren't in Who's Who.'
    She snorted. 'Used to be, but I'm not any more.'
    'Because?'
    'Because I don't want every Tom, Dick and Harry knowing things about me.'
    'You are, I think. Jack, the only secretive exhibitionist I know.'
    'It's more fun just to show what you want to show, as any stripper will tell you. What else was he saying?'
    'He wants to talk to you this morning. And wants you to talk to Knapper as well. And, if possible, every member of the committee.'
    'I'll talk to Georgie Poofdah. Knapper yes. Judges, certainly not. It would give them ideas above their station. Poofdah's paid to keep them happy.'
    'Prothero, Jack. Please register that. Prothero, Prothero, Prothero.'
    His phone rang again. He looked at the caller's number, groaned and switched the call alert to vibrate. 'Where were we?'
    'Talking about murder, what did she die of, anyway? Nothing painful, I hope. If I'm to be a target I'd like the murderer to be inclined towards well-placed bullets in the back of the head.'
    'Nastier than that, I'm afraid. According to what her husband told Knapper, the medics suspect poison. She was in good health and there's no obvious natural explanation.'
    'Well this certainly livens things up - in a manner of speaking.'
    'You do realise this has to be kept quiet. It's only speculation.'
    'Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! Have you been on to our friends in the fuzz?'
    'Couldn't