Golden Mile to Murder Read Online Free PDF Page B

already saddled with the nickname. You know how it is – nobody can remember where the names come from, but once they’re there, they tend to stick.’
    â€˜So you’ve no complaints about Davies?’
    â€˜None at all. He was never going to be what you might call a “great” bobby, but you couldn’t fault his commitment to the job. You’ve only to look at his arrest record.’
    The words had come out far too pat, Woodend thought, almost as if they’d been rehearsed. Now why would that be?
    â€˜So what was his problem?’ he asked.
    â€˜His problem?’ Turner repeated, as if he had no idea what the other man was talking about.
    â€˜Bit too fond of the sauce, was he?’
    â€˜He didn’t drink at all.’
    â€˜What? Never?’ Woodend exclaimed, as if the idea were inconceivable to him.
    â€˜Not as long as I’ve been here.’
    â€˜Gamblin’, then?’
    â€˜The odd flutter on big races like the Grand National, but always well within his means. If he’d been in debt, I’m sure that Edna would have told me about it when I went round to see her.’
    â€˜Women?’
    â€˜Billy would never have so much as looked at another woman. He was devoted to Edna.’
    â€˜Punch always says how much he loves Judy – but it doesn’t stop him beatin’ her to death,’ Woodend pointed out dryly.
    â€˜There’s no evidence that Billy ever mistreated his wife,’ Turner said, and though he was obviously trying to avoid it, he couldn’t stop himself glancing concernedly at Monika Paniatowski.
    â€˜There very rarely is any evidence of maltreatment,’ Woodend told him. ‘Not the least because the wife in the case often proves the most reluctant of witnesses. Still, you don’t see it as a strong possibility, an’ I’m prepared to take your word – for the moment.’
    Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Paniatowski’s hands were gripping the arms of her chair very tightly – so tightly that her knuckles were turning white. He wondered why that might be – but knew that now was not the time to go into it.
    Woodend lit up a Capstan Full Strength. ‘Let’s get down to practical details, shall we? Where are me an’ my sergeant stayin’?’
    â€˜We’ve booked you rooms at a boarding house,’ Turner said, almost apologetically. ‘I’m afraid it’s nothing like as grand as one of the better hotels like the Metropol, but at this time of year—’
    â€˜Where is it?’ Woodend interrupted.
    â€˜Just south of the Central Pier.’
    â€˜Then it’ll do fine.’
    â€˜We’ve also assigned you a murder room. Actually, it’s the police basement, but we’ve cleaned out all the rubbish, and the Post Office assure us they’ll have installed at least four telephone lines by tomorrow morning.’
    â€˜I can’t talk on four phones at once,’ Woodend told him.
    â€˜No, but your team will need them.’
    â€˜Team? What team?’
    â€˜I’ve assigned you a detective sergeant – Frank Hanson’s his name, he’s an excellent man – and three detective constables. When you want to use the uniformed branch, you’ve only to put in a request.’
    â€˜Bloody hell, why would I need
any
detectives?’ Woodend asked. ‘I’ve only just arrived here. Until I’ve clogged it around a bit, I’ll have no idea what kind of help I’m goin’ to need. Why don’t you put your lads on some other job? Don’t tell me you couldn’t use them somewhere else. There’s not a police force in the whole country that isn’t short-handed.’
    Turner looked at Paniatowski again, but this time there was awkwardness, rather than concern, on his face. ‘I . . . er . . .’ he said.
    â€˜Would you excuse us for a few minutes, Sergeant?’ Woodend