Coffin Knows the Answer Read Online Free PDF

nice present,’ she said.
    He would like to have said ‘Nothing personal’, but the figure dropped in their home suggested it was. ‘It’s part of a wider affair that is under investigation,’ he said. Publicity about the paedophile case had been discouraged.
    â€˜The murders of the girls?’ asked Stella.
    â€˜Oh, you’ve read about them?’
    â€˜Of course, it’s not the moon up here as I just pointed out. The sins and violence of the Second City of London are dwelt upon with enthusiasm in Edinburgh and places north,’ said Stella.
    There was worse, but he was not going to tell her about the other victim.
    â€˜As things are it’s not easy to know what is connected with what, and what fits in where,’ he said honestly.
    â€˜I bet you’ve got a feeling,’ said Stella, who knew her man.
    â€˜Then you also know that feelings can be wrong.’
    â€˜Yes, but I also now that those feelings that turn out to be wrong, can lead you to the answer. Underneath they can sometimes have a sort of truth.’
    â€˜How did the show go?’ said Coffin to change the subject. When Stella became philosophical it was often the beginning of a quarrel.

    â€˜Oh pretty good, ‘said Stella, willingly diverted to her own interests. ‘I don’t think it will go to a second series but my part was a beaut and there were hints of another home for it … a development of it built entirely around my part … I am to be a kind of modern witch.’
    â€˜You will play it beautifully, my darling.’
    Stella considered this, decided not to take offence, he might have said ‘naturally’ and in certain moods might have done upon which she would have felt bound to show irritation, even anger, but he had not said it, so she said it herself.
    â€˜Naturally.’
    And then they both laughed. Their marriage was based on laughter rather than anger. Marriages could be built on anger, she knew that too. Look at the Macbeths … that was anger all right.
    â€˜What are you laughing at?’ demanded Coffin.
    â€˜I was feeling glad you weren’t King Macbeth.’
    â€˜Quite glad myself.’
    â€˜I’m flying down tomorrow.’
    â€˜I’ll send a car to Heathrow.’
    He would not go himself: he knew he had another duty. Superintendent Miller and Inspector Winnie Ardet had told him that they wanted him to see the body of the latest murdered victim; and that he then might want to see where the body had been found.
    He considered the message from Jack Miller and Winnie Ardet which Paul Masters had recorded and passed on.
    Coffin had an uneasy feeling that a ghost was walking.
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    â€˜Superintendent Miller rang,’ Paul Masters said. ‘He wanted to talk to you himself, but of course, you were at the committee meeting in Whitehall.’
    â€˜And a waste of time that was.’
    Paul had come into Coffin’s office to talk over a cup of coffee, carefully brewed by Paul himself from the best Mocha. The two men had an easy relationship. Paul was as neatly
and even elegantly dressed as usual but in contrast when you saw him at his desk, he would peer at you out of a mountain of files and folders. He knew his way through it all but few others would.
    â€˜Miller really wants to talk to you.’
    â€˜And for me to see today’s victim.’ The fourth, not yet named.
    Paul nodded.
    â€˜Jack Miller can be a tricky bastard,’ said Coffin, pouring whisky into his coffee.
    Paul looked thoughtful. He usually pretended not to hear when the Chief Commander let slip a criticism of a fellow officer.
    Coffin added hastily: ‘He doesn’t usually want his hand held though.’
    â€˜I’m sorry it means you can’t meet Miss Pinero off the flight.’ Coffin drained his coffee. ‘Well, wheel them in when they arrive. I take it that Winnie Ardet is coming too?’
    â€˜Oh yes, she rang me up