The Armada Boy Read Online Free PDF Page B

raised his bushy grey eyebrows. 'Now who the heck would want to do a
thing like that?' His slow American drawl made it sound as if he were asking who
had taken the last piece of apple pie on the plate.
     
    'That's what we're trying to find out,
sir. Can you tell me about this reunion ... who arranged it, that sort of
thing?'
    'Haven't the others told you?'
     
    'Yes, but we'd like to hear things
from your point of view.' Wesley tried a bit of flattery. 'After all. you were
the sergeant, I believe.' Boratski nodded proudly. 'You must have got to know your
men pretty well.'
     
    'You ever been in the army, boy?'
     
    Wesley shook his head: the army,
encouraging physical rather than intellectual activities, was hardly Wesley's
cup of tea. His basic police training had been a little too hearty for his
taste and he had made every effort to join the CID at the first available
opportunity.
     
    'Everyone should join the army, son.
You're a cop, right? If all these kids today had to do their bit for their
country. I reckon you'd be out of work.'
     
    Heffernan couldn't resist the
challenge. 'And we'd end up with villains who could run faster and shoot
straight... we wouldn't stand a chance.'
     
    This wasn't what Boratski wanted to
hear. He gave the   disreputable-looking
inspector a contemptuous look and concentrated his attention on his smarter-looking
subordinate. Wesley could see the mischief in his boss's eyes... Heffernan
relished the role
of devil's advocate.
     
    'Mr Boratski.' Wesley made a determined
effort to steer the interview back on course. 'What can you tell me about
Norman Openheim? '
     
    'Norman? Norman was John Doe.'
    'Sorry?'
     
    'John Doe ... an ordinary, regular
guy. He owned a garage up in Buffalo; that's where we all live, up near the Canadian
border. We're the Buffalo Normandy Veterans Association.'
     
    'Did you see him often?'
     
    'We all meet up for a reunion once a
year... it's quite an event. The wives come too.'
     
    'And his marriage? Was it happy as
far as you could tell?'
    'You can't judge what goes on in other folk's bedrooms.
    Sergeant.' Boratski looked thoughtful. He was hiding something. 'You think
there was something wrong? Did Mrs Openheim confide in anyone? Your wife, for
instance? Maybe the women confided in each other.'
     
    I'm a widower. Sergeant, and I
wouldn't say Dorinda was one for girly talk.'
     
    'But there was someone she was
confiding in?' said Heffernan, leaning forward.
     
    'I don't want to talk out of turn.'
     
    'This is a murder inquiry, Mr Boratski,'
The jovial expression had disappeared from Heffernan's face. It was time for
the truth. 'Hitler didn't get Norman Openheim all those years ago but now someone
else has .. and I'm going to find out who it was. Now what do you know about
Dorinda Openheim? Whatever you tell us will go no further if it's not
relevant.'
     
    'I can't say anything for certain.
It's just... Dorinda's a very discreet woman, you understand.'
    'Are you trying to tell me she's
having a bit on the side?' Heffernan was never one to call a spade a digging
implement.
     
    'A bit on the ... ?' Boratski looked
genuinely puzzled.
     
    'An affair." Wesley translated
helpfully.
     
    Litton Boratski sighed. 'If you must
know, she's been mighty friendly with Todd Weringer since his wife passed
away."
    'Did Norman know about this?"
     
    Boratski shrugged. 'Didn't say
anything if he did.' He leaned forward confidentially. 'I guess he was glad
someone was taking Dorinda off his hands for a while, if you know what I mean.
She can be a touch ..." He searched for the word. 'Overpowering. My
late wife always used to call her the Mighty Atom.'
     
    Wesley smiled. The Mighty Atom was a
good description of the diminutive Mrs Openheim. 'So you don't think there was
any antagonism between Mr Weringer and Mr Openheim ... no jealousy?
     
    'Not that I saw ... they seemed to
get on pretty good.'
     
    Intrigued as he was by this senior
citizens' menage a trois, Gerry