The Devil in Disguise Read Online Free PDF Page A

us out. A bit incestuous, perhaps, but it wasn’t exactly a big enough contract to be put out to tender.’
    â€˜I quite understand,’ Harry said hastily. ‘Very good idea. Excellent.’
    Inge beamed. ‘I suppose I’d better leave you two to it, then.’ She wagged a finger at Matthew. ‘And no more distractions!’
    She disappeared through a door into an anteroom and Matthew motioned Harry into a deep leather armchair. ‘I don’t think you’ll be disappointed in the service or the food, Harry. Of course, this is only a sideline. Inge doesn’t need to work. But it keeps her out of mischief. Or at least it does if I’m not around.’
    â€˜Frances has spoken to you about Luke, I gather,’ Harry said.
    â€˜Ye-es,’ Matthew drawled. ‘I must admit, I wasn’t quite sure why she was getting so steamed up.’ He yawned and started to take papers out of a leather briefcase which bore his initials in gold. ‘Oh well, what have we got on the agenda tonight? The usual begging letters from gay and lesbian watercolourists, another approach from that docker who re-wrote Hamlet in Scouse dialect?’
    â€˜Vera Blackhurst is the main item on the agenda.’
    Matthew’s face darkened but before he could speak, the door was flung open and a breezy voice said, ‘Evening, folks.’
    Roy Milburn’s dark hair was tousled and his tie askew. His cheeks were flushed and, as usual, he was accompanied by a whiff of alcohol. He walked with a noticeable limp, the legacy of a recent crash when he’d driven his old banger into a lamp-post after a night on the ale. Although he was only in his early thirties, the broken blood vessels on his nose and the dark rings under his eyes made him look ten years older. Yet despite that and his developing paunch, he always reminded Harry of an impish schoolboy.
    Roy looked around the room. ‘Nice place, even if it is a bit spooky. I’m sure I saw two corpses playing whist downstairs. Any chance of a squint at the dirty books after we’ve finished? After all, we’re famous for being dedicated to the cause of the arts in Merseyside.’
    Matthew’s eyes gleamed. ‘The collection is reserved for the eyes of members and bona fide students only, I’m afraid.’
    â€˜Very unfair, when you remember we’re all donating our valuable time out of the goodness of our hearts. There’s no bloody money in it for us, so surely there ought to be some perks.’ He turned to Harry and grinned. ‘And how’s my favourite legal eagle? Did I ever tell you why they bury lawyers under twenty feet of dirt?’
    â€˜Go on,’ Harry said gloomily. Roy had an inexhaustible supply of lawyer jokes.
    â€˜Because deep down, they’re really good people.’
    Matthew raised his eyebrows as Roy belly-laughed at his own wit but merely said, ‘Do I hear footsteps on the floor? Yes, here are Frances and Tim.’
    A large heavily built man in an ill-fitting tweed jacket and shapeless trousers held the door open, ushering Frances through before him. ‘Sorry I’m late,’ Tim Aldred said as he shambled towards a vacant chair. His tone was defensive, as though he had an excuse ready to deflect any criticism of his tardiness. ‘Where’s the chairman?’
    â€˜A very good question,’ Frances said grimly.
    â€˜He’s otherwise engaged,’ Matthew said. ‘No matter. The catering is all laid on.’
    Harry was tempted to say that if he hadn’t butted in, the caterer might have been laid, but he thought better of it.
    â€˜Well, that’s the important thing,’ Roy said. ‘Let’s not worry about the Dinosaur, eh?’
    â€˜But where is he?’ Tim asked. ‘I’ve never known him miss a meeting before.’
    Matthew gave a dismissive wave. ‘Just one of those things. Now, if you don’t mind, I might as