Brothers' Tears Read Online Free

the high hills, sir.’
    â€˜Yes. Well, as I say—’
    â€˜Scafell Pike on Monday, sir. Crinkle Crags yesterday. Before returning refreshed to the fray, as you suggested.’
    â€˜Me? I don’t think I—’
    â€˜And in the evenings, sir, good food and drink, and then connubial bliss. I find there’s nothing like a damned good—’
    â€˜Yes. There’s no need for any more detail, thank you.’
    â€˜No, I’m sure there isn’t, sir. I’ve no doubt you know all about connubial bliss, sir. Enough said.’ Peach stared at the ceiling, as if he could see there an evocation of his chief in congress with his formidable wife Barbara, whose Wagnerian proportions had led Percy to christen her Brunnhilde Barbara. He shook himself violently, ridding himself of the vision with difficulty. ‘But enough of pleasure, sir. Are you near to an arrest?’
    Tucker’s jaw dropped further at this outrageous suggestion. ‘No, Peach, I am not. And even to suggest that an arrest should be possible at this stage shows how little you appreciate the complexities of this case. You should be out there beginning your belated enquiries, not wasting my time with accounts of your squalid activities in Cumbria.’
    â€˜I’m sorry, sir. I understood that you had asked to see me or I should not be here. I have already visited the scene of the crime this morning. I was expecting you to brief me on the current progress of your investigation.’
    â€˜ Your investigation, Chief Inspector Peach. I have held the breach in your most inconvenient absence. I am now formally handing over the responsibility for this case to you. I shall maintain my overview and conduct whatever media briefings are appropriate. You will be the person with responsibility for the conduct of this enquiry. Is that clear?’
    â€˜Crystal clear, sir. I seem to remember you reminding me last year that the first thirty-six hours on a case are always the most crucial. What can you report to me from this period?’
    â€˜Me? Well, I . . .’
    â€˜DS Northcott tells me you let people leave the scene of this death almost immediately. Is that correct?’ Peach’s black eyebrows arched impossibly high beneath the shining bald pate.
    â€˜There were important people at this gathering, Peach. It was already ten o’clock when I got there. They were anxious to get away to their homes. I could foresee that they were going to become fractious.’
    â€˜I see, sir. I knew you would have a good reason for letting obvious suspects leave so quickly.’
    â€˜There were no obvious suspects, Peach. This was a killing in a car park, with the banqueting hall in chaos during a break before the speeches.’
    â€˜Yes, sir. You didn’t think it politic to keep behind even the occupants of the top table where the victim had been sitting for a few brief questions before they left?’
    â€˜No I didn’t, Peach. These are influential people. They can do the police image a lot of damage in this town, unless we handle this case sensitively.’
    â€˜Yes, sir. Sensitively, you say. I’m not sure sensitivity is my forte, sir. You wouldn’t consider reversing your decision and retaining the case in your own capable hands, sir?’
    â€˜No, I wouldn’t. Get out of here and get on with it!’
    â€˜Very well, sir. What have you done to date?’
    â€˜Me? Well, I put house-to-house enquiries into immediate action, yesterday morning.’
    â€˜I see. I wouldn’t have thought house-to-house would be the most productive line of investigation, with a crime committed amongst sixty-two people at a dinner at Claughton Towers. But that just shows how stereotyped my thinking is, I suppose. That’s where a chief superintendent’s superior intellect and imagination tells. Have you conducted any interviews, sir?’
    â€˜No. I thought I’d leave that