The Sleepers of Erin Read Online Free PDF

brave, Mary Queen of Scots on the scaffold. She reeled slightly. I thought that was a bit much, but I steadied her manfully. ‘I’m – I’m married, you see. Lovejoy knew that, didn’t you, darling?’
    ‘Please, love,’ I muttered, all heroic.
    ‘We met in the church. Yes.’ She raised her head so the light from the window stencilled her profile really well. ‘Yes! I admit it! We were . . .’ her voice sank to a piteous whisper . . . ‘
lovers
!’ She said klov-erz.
    ‘I deny it!’ I cried, clearly heartbroken. Sister Morrison’s eyes lasered into me. She didn’t believe a word of it, the suspicious bitch. Women are like that. No trust. I often wonder why that is.
    ‘My card, Major.’ The woman passed him a card and a bulky envelope.
    ‘Detective-Sergeant.’
    ‘My statement is inside, witnessed by a notary public. You’ll recognize his signature, Constable.’ She fluttered her eyelashes. ‘Lovejoy and I were . . . being klov-erz in the church when we saw these four men trying the inner door. Lovejoy sent me away while he tried to stop them.’ She sobbed quite effectively for a quick incidental moment. ‘I saw him run out, holding his arm. The candlestick, that terrible journey to the organist’s cottage . . .’
    ‘And where were you?’
    ‘Too terrified,’ she swept on. ‘Too
selfish
to help! I was in my car down the lane.’
    Ledger’s gaze locked on mine. ‘Is this true, Lovejoy?’
    I faced him nobly. ‘I cannot compromise a lady.’
    Pure hate shone from him. ‘And you, lady. How do I know
your
story’s true?’
    ‘Oh. Didn’t I tell you? My chauffeur was with us all the time. Keeping watch. He saw the men, too. His statement’s in the envelope as well.’ She eyed Ledger shyly. ‘Properly witnessed, of course, Colonel.’
    ‘Darling,’ I reproached her, thinking it was Christmas. ‘You’d do this for me?’
    She took my arm briskly, now quite matter-of-fact. ‘Are you ready, darling?’
    ‘Lovejoy.’ Ledger had ripped the envelope and was scanning the four typewritten pages. He looked up quickly. ‘What’s this lady’s name?’
    I said, ‘Erm . . .’ but she was too quick for us both, simpering, ‘Lena Heindrick. But Lovejoy always calls me Cherub, don’t you, darling?’
    ‘Yes, Cherub.’
    Ledger was now an unhealthy purple and his breathing was funny. Still, if he infarcted now he was in the right place. He’d have ten doctors competing for his remains in a trice. He gave a despairing flap of his arms.
    ‘All right,’ he growled. ‘But one day, Lovejoy. One day . . .’
    ‘Thank you, Corporal,’ I said innocently and drew Lena close. ‘Let’s go, er, Cherub.’
    Had I known it all then, I’d have gone with Ledger like a lamb, and counted myself lucky. Instead I went proud and smiling, like the nerk I am.
    Going down to the car park I asked in a whisper who she was, but she only kept up that determinedly fond smile and whispered, ‘Not yet, Lovejoy. Not yet.’

Chapter 4
    ‘What’s the game, missus?’
    We were in the back of this Rolls the size of a tram. She just smiled and lit a cigarette with a cube of bullion shaped like a lighter.
    ‘Game, Lovejoy? No game. I’m deadly serious.’
    ‘Drop me here, please.’ We were passing the antiques arcade. ‘Ta for the rescue.’
    ‘You’re going to your home with us, Lovejoy.’
    ‘Who sez?’
    ‘Kurak says.’ She pointed with her fag at the chauffeur. He had a neck like a tree-trunk. ‘And Kurak is a good obedient man.’
    ‘Yooorr serffint fur life, modom,’ the bloke said. He didn’t even turn.
    ‘Get him from Goldfinger?’ I joked, but was thinking, funny accent. Keats had once written ‘sea-spry’ for spray, but Keats was sort of Cockney. Funny name too, but us Lovejoys of this world don’t joke about names. She too had a slightly foreign accent. Lovely bird, but older than I’d thought at first. Luscious, though. Edible.
    ‘My husband Kurt is waiting in your cottage,