The Fruit Gum Murders Read Online Free PDF

face with Juliet Gregg, the star of the show.
    She smiled … that enigmatic look … the mystery of a beautiful woman. ‘Inspector Angel,’ she said gently.
    Angel held out his hand. Her small, cool hand gripped his firmly and shook it heartily.
    â€˜Congratulations, Miss Gregg. I hear it’s a great promotion. I will miss you.’
    â€˜Thank you, Inspector. Thank you very much. But I will not be leaving Bromersley for a good while yet. And my new chambers will only be in Leeds, half an hour away.’
    They exchanged smiles.
    A man behind Juliet Gregg was pulling at her left arm and muttering something out of Angel’s earshot.
    â€˜Excuse me,’ she said as she was dragged away into the crowd.
    Angel continued weaving his way through the chattering throng. Then he saw her. The fat girl called Tina. She was on her own, leaning against a desk that had a white sheet cloth spread out on the top of it, and on that were several plates of sandwiches, meat pies and sausage rolls. There were also serviettes, champagne flutes and paper plates.
    Tina was eating a sandwich. She looked at Angel and tried to smile. She chewed rapidly to empty her mouth, and tried smiling again.
    â€˜Hello, Tina,’ he said. ‘I’m glad I found you. Are you enjoying yourself?’
    â€˜Yes, thank you, Inspector. These sandwiches are nice. Smoked salmon. Mmm,’ she said. ‘Help yourself.’
    Angel looked at the spread. There wasn’t much choice, but what there was looked inviting.
    â€˜No, thank you,’ he said. Then he lifted up the bundle of files and added, ‘I’ll tell you what, Tina. I’ve got these case notes for the O’Riley murder. Will you give them to Mr Twelvetrees when the party’s over?’
    â€˜ ’Course I will, Inspector Angel,’ she said, transferring a sandwich to her left hand to take the bundle from him. ‘Any message?’ she said as she pulled open the big bottom drawer of the desk beneath the food and lowered them in.
    â€˜No. He’s expecting them.’
    â€˜You got that rotten so-and-so that murdered Mrs O’Riley?’
    â€˜Yes. It’s the son-in-law.’
    Her chubby face brightened. ‘You are wonderful … the way you make out a case from nothing, bring the murderer to court and get a guilty verdict … every time.’
    Angel frowned. He wriggled uncomfortably. He wished people didn’t talk about him like that.
    â€˜I read somewhere,’ Tina said between bites, ‘where it said that you are like a Canadian Mountie … that you always get your man.’
    He winced. One of these days he was going to be given a case that was actually impossible to solve … that would shatter his record and he would look a real fool.
    â€˜Well, Tina, I hope my team will always get the man, but the odds are that one day we won’t.’
    â€˜Nah,’ she said, and took another bite.
    He waved at her and said, ‘I’ll have to go. Goodbye.’
    He weaved his way back through the chattering CPS workers, solicitors, court ushers and clerks, and returned to the station. He went in through the front door, waved at the PC in the reception office who pressed the button to release the catch on the security door. He pulled it open and made his way down the long corridor to his office.
    PC Ahmed Ahaz was standing outside the door holding a scrappy piece of paper. He didn’t look happy.
    As Angel drew closer, Ahmed sighed and almost smiled. ‘Ah, sir,’ he said with relief.
    Angel sensed the young man had a problem. ‘What is it, Ahmed?’
    â€˜Oh, sir,’ he said, ‘do you know a Mrs Mackenzie?’
    Angel looked heavenward. ‘Yes, lad. Why? What’s up?’
    â€˜She’s rung up, sir. Insisted on speaking to you. Wouldn’t leave a message. Said it was very important. And would you ring her back as soon as you come in. I’ve got her number