Heirs of the Body Read Online Free PDF

taking notes? She had done it often enough for Alec, when the men he had available were needed elsewhere. Unorthodox and not according to police procedure, but he couldn’t deny that she had been useful. She might as well at least propose it to Tommy.
    Was taking notes at interviews part of Miss Watt’s duties? Daisy decided to wait a few minutes to see if the secretary reappeared and was willing to chat.
    She glanced about the room, looking for something that could conceivably have held her attention enough to delay her departure. A couple of chairs were provided for clients forced to wait, and on a table between them was a selection of magazines, including an issue of Town and Country containing one of her articles. It might provide a subject of conversation but she could hardly pretend to be reading it. Studying the names on the shelved deed boxes would just look nosy. The desk … Aha! On the desk was a shiny new typewriter.
    Daisy stared at it with genuine envy. She didn’t like to go closer to examine it properly lest Miss Watt should pop out and assume she was inquisitive about the document protruding from the roller. How long would be reasonable to linger to ask a few questions about it?
    Luckily, Miss Watt appeared after only a few moments. Seeing Daisy still there, she raised her eyebrows. “Is there something I can help you with, Mrs. Fletcher?”
    “I was wondering … I see you have a new typewriter. I’m thinking of buying one—mine is ancient and rather creaky—but I can’t decide which model to get. The salesmen are all so very persuasive. May I ask, are you satisfied with this one?”
    “Very. It’s the new Imperial 50. You’re a writer, aren’t you? I’ve read some of your articles, and enjoyed them. I didn’t realise you type them yourself.”
    “Oh yes. Some writers prefer longhand, but having learnt to type I find it much faster, and publishers like it better, of course. Do you do a lot of typing? I noticed two typists downstairs.”
    “They deal mostly with correspondence, for all our partners. One of them deals with the telephones, as well, and the other acts as receptionist. Each partner has his own secretary. I type Mr. Pearson’s legal documents and any of his letters that include confidential information.”
    “I should think the legal terminology must get pretty complicated.”
    “Much of it is standard wording, conveyances and wills and trusts, sometimes partnership agreements, though we don’t touch company law, let alone criminal, I’m glad to say. Most of our clients are professionals and businessmen. In any case, I don’t have to understand it, just get it right. No mistakes permitted in legal documents! One misplaced comma can ruin everything.”
    “Goodness, I’m glad I don’t have to worry about every comma. I write shorthand, too, when I interview people.”
    “I take shorthand dictation sometimes, but generally I work from Mr. Pearson’s notes. Most clients don’t much like a secretary listening to their business, even though it’s obvious I’m going to deal with the results of their consultations.”
    Blast! thought Daisy. Not much chance that Tommy would be willing to try to pass her off as an unremarkable part of his office routine.
    *   *   *
    The last post brought a brief letter from Tommy.
    Full of misgivings, Alec watched Daisy as she read it. “Well?”
    “He’s decided to ask each claimant whether he’d have any objection to the presence of a representative member of the family, without mentioning beforehand that said representative will be a junior female member. Junior female! What a revolting description!”
    Alec couldn’t help laughing. “Accurate, love, you must admit. It sounds like a reasonable compromise.”
    “And he says their responses could be revealing. True; what reason could a legitimate claimant have for refusing?”
    “None that I can think of,” he said obligingly.
    “So, unless they’re too stupid to realise it