Joint Enterprise (The Romney and Marsh Files Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

death is as a result of a deep stab wound to the heart made through the front of the body. Naturally, you will have this verified by your own medical examiner.’
    ‘Did you find the body?’ asked Romney, ignoring the man’s medical opinion.
    ‘No. But as soon as I heard there was a serious injury, I naturally made myself available to assist in any way that I could.’
    Still discounting the good doctor’s efforts, Romney asked to no one in particular, ‘Who did find the body?’
    One of the orange vests said, ‘Some of the French soldiers over there.’ He indicated a small group of men leaning on their rifles looking a mixture of sorrowful and angry a short distance away. ‘I’ve asked them to wait for the police.’
    At least someone was doing something right, thought Romney. ‘Where is the on-site medical team? Shouldn’t there be one?’
    The orange vest said, ‘There is. They were here, but because there’s nothing to be done for him, they’ve gone to attend to the other wounded.’
    ‘Other wounded? What other wounded? I thought that this was supposed to be a mock battle.’
    ‘If I may, Inspector,’ said DuPont. Romney treated him to a look that said, are you still here? but the man seemed impervious to it. ‘I am well experienced in these events, a veteran one might say. You will permit me to share something of my experience and opinion with you?’ Clearl y, it was a rhetorical question as the man continued without waiting for permission. ‘Of course this is a mock battle, but when one has several hundred combatants involved in a dynamic and physically interactive display; when one factors in the inevitable adrenalin and excitement, not to mention the patriotic fervour involved, there will inevitably be injuries suffered. Everyone who takes part accepts that. It is understood. Sometimes people simply get swept away with the history of the occasion and temporarily blinded to reality. Despite everyone’s best intentions, there are, regrettably and occasionally accidents. To be frank, to obtain that elusive quality of authenticity, especially for something as critical as the camera’s unforgiving lens – for the filming – it is necessary for both sides to show, shall we say, a certain amount of zeal? It is not uncommon for minor wounds, broken bones even, to be sustained in the heat of mock battle.’
    ‘What about dead people?’ said Romney , without feeling.
    DuPont clearly didn’t like that. ‘That is as unusual as it is lamentable, Detective Inspector, especially when it is one of our own troops.’
    ‘Would it have been more acceptable if it had been one from the other side?’ said Romney.
    There was a silence from the group then. Feet shifted. Eyes darted and flitted and then found something interesting either on the ground or in the distance to focus on. Romney half expected to be called out for a duel by the anachronism in front of him. Instead the Frenchman treated him to only a cold stare before saying, ‘I will be available should you need to speak with me further, Inspector, but now I am, perhaps, just in the way. One final thing I should like to be said however: despite my remarks about the inevitable sustaining of minor injuries in events such as this, I, for one, witnessed levels of violence from wearers of British uniforms that I have never seen before. This is essentially a non-violent affair. There were elements of the British forces that appeared determined to inflict injury.’
    ‘Thank you. You can expect to make a statement later. Sergeant Marsh, take Mr DuPont’s details before he pushes off back to his camp.’ Romney turned away from the pair and his attention towards the talkative orange vest. ‘What’s your name?’
    The young man seemed quite intimidated by Romney’s performance so far. ‘Chris Perch.’
    ‘Right, Chris. You strike me as someone who might be able to help. Until you are relieved by a police officer I want you to make sure that no one, and