Coffin Knows the Answer Read Online Free PDF Page A

lay at her side.
    He had seen horrible sights enough in his time, but nothing had pierced his heart and guts like this.
    Gus moved towards the arm, to sniff,
    â€˜No, no, Gus, don’t. Don’t touch.’
    Then he steadied himself.
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    â€˜Good thing I telephoned,’ said Stella, her voice clear and strong.
    She was talking to Coffin later that day, late at night, after her day’s filming. He was in their own sitting room in the tower of St Luke’s drinking some claret.
    â€˜I’ve been trying to telephone you for hours.’ He had not had a good day, he had been frightened and made a fool of over the mock body.
    And there was a new horror which, at the moment, only he knew of.
    â€˜Only to tell me I was dead …’
    Coffin could pick up the hint of amusement. ‘Only because it was you.’ he said hotly. It had not been funny. ‘Or was pretending to be you. Plastic or some imitation. Pretty old and work-used mannequin.’
    â€˜Oh thanks.’
    Coffin ignored this. ‘Forensics have taken it away to check.’
    â€˜I hope it wasn’t wearing any of my clothes.’
    â€˜I don’t think so.’ About this he could not be sure, but they had not looked the quality of clothes that Stella wore.
    â€˜And how did the pseudo me get into the house?’

    â€˜Through a small door at the side. It is locked, of course, but doesn’t have all the security of the other door.’
    â€˜That’s because it’s left for whoever is looking after Gus to get in and out for him and with him as necessary.’
    She didn’t sound in the least alarmed, but that was because he had not told her about the stalker business. Also because once, early in their relationship, she had said: I know you’ll always look after me. She probably still believed it.
    They looked after each other, of course, and sometimes he guessed he needed it the more. He never got used to the really horrifying details of some murders, although he had learnt not to show it.
    â€˜Any post?’ she asked.
    â€˜Er … No,’ said Coffin. No need to tell her yet of the parcel dripping with blood. Later he would have to question her, just in case she could suggest a sender and a motive. ‘Might be a few bills. Why?’ He thought he detected a nuance in her voice that made him want an answer.
    â€˜No deliveries?’
    â€˜Were you expecting anything?’ he prevaricated.
    â€˜I had a kind of a bill here.’
    â€˜In Edinburgh?’ He couldn’t keep the surprise out of his voice.
    â€˜Yes,’ said Stella sharply. ‘It’s not on the moon, you know.’
    â€˜All right, all right. Apologies to Scotland.’
    â€˜Oh you’re such an old Londoner.’
    She was talking away because she didn’t want to tell him about the bill received. They both knew it.
    â€˜Come on, Stella. It’s this bill, I want to know. And you want to tell me, love, so don’t dilly dally.’
    Slowly, she said: ‘It called itself an invoice …said it was for the delivery of a parcel and that I would receive the bill.’
    â€˜What was named in the invoice?’ Coffin asked.
    â€˜Didn’t say. Nor the price. Funny invoice, I thought.’
    Funny altogether, thought Coffin.’

    â€˜Have I had a parcel?’
    He was going to have to tell her, but not now, not over the telephone. ‘I will find out and let you know. But you will be home tomorrow.’
    There was a pause. ‘As bad as that? One of those things that I have to see with my own eyes.’
    â€˜Not quite … it’s in the forensic lab at the moment.’
    â€˜So I won’t even see it?’
    â€˜Better not.’
    Coffin realised he would have to tell Stella something of what was in the tin box, blood and all. He told her briefly.
    Stella received it with some calm, but then she had not seen the offering, Coffin reflected.
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