False Picture Read Online Free PDF Page A

Oliver, who had pounced on a handwritten note in the pile. ‘Five ten, dark, clean-shaven, dresses formally except at weekends when he shifts into casual gear. Works out at the local Virgin Active gym, no particular girlfriend, no car. Wonder if he’s gay.’
    Bea hadn’t thought of that.
    â€˜He’s not gay,’ said Maggie, still focused on the photo.
    Oliver flicked a glance at Bea, and looked away. Would Maggie know if he were?
    â€˜The thing is,’ said Bea, ‘that our client would like Maggie to take up a vacancy in the flat where Philip lives. Get him to talk about himself, his finances, that sort of thing. Particularly his finances. Apparently he doesn’t get on very well with the other people in the flat, so a bit of sympathy from a nice girl like Maggie should do the trick, right?’
    Maggie punched the air. ‘Do I go in as myself, or under another name?’
    â€˜As yourself. You’ve been project-managing the make-over of the agency rooms here and that’s your day job, but you need to crash out somewhere else at night. Stick to the truth about yourself. If asked, tell them about your ex-husband, how he did the dirty on you with the bimbo from the telly, that you haven’t yet got the money from your half of the marital flat, that you went home when the marriage first broke down and then moved in as a lodger here, but need your own space and so on and so forth.’
    â€˜Couldn’t I invent another name for myself? “Maggie” is so, well, ordinary.’
    â€˜Mrs Abbot’s right,’ said Oliver. ‘If you tried to call yourself something else, you’d be bound to forget and they’d notice.’
    â€˜Boring, boring,’ chanted Maggie.
    â€˜Maybe,’ said Bea, through gritted teeth, ‘but I agree with Oliver. Now Mrs Weston is going to fix it for you with the estate agents, pay your deposit and a month’s rent in advance. She would like you to move in tomorrow’ – and the good Lord knows, I’d like it too, thought Bea – ‘but only if you think you can pack up and move there in time.’
    â€˜Where is it?’
    Oliver had been shuffling through the remaining paperwork. ‘It’s one of those flats in that old block that faces on to Kensington High Street. You are to share a large bedroom and bathroom with another girl. It’s not far. I could help you over there with your suitcase tomorrow morning, if you like.’
    â€˜All you have to do,’ said Bea, having guilty thoughts about pushing the girl in at the deep end of what might prove to be a very murky pool, ‘is act naturally. You’re a working girl, been around a bit but not too much. Listen and learn everything you can about Philip. Go out for a drink with him, that sort of thing. Turn up here every morning when it’s time to open up the agency, and tell us what you’ve found out. That’s all.’
    Maggie was so excited that she had to get up and dance around. ‘I’m going to be an undercover agent, I’m going to be a star in my own movie!’
    Again Oliver and Bea flicked glances at one another, and disengaged.
    â€˜Don’t overdo it,’ said Oliver. ‘Remember, this guy may have killed an old lady.’
    â€˜Oh, surely not, he looks such a sweetie,’ said Maggie.
    Bea sighed. Maggie never had been a good judge of character, had she? Bea was having second, third and fourth thoughts about this. ‘Maggie, Oliver’s right. You are not there to investigate anything. You’re there to gather impressions and pass them on to us. Keep your mobile with you at all times, and keep it charged. Walk out of there the moment you feel uneasy. Understood?’
    â€˜I’m going to be an undercover star,’ carolled Maggie, waltzing herself out of the room and up the stairs. As the thunder of her footsteps receded, Oliver sat back in his chair and