Death Trap Read Online Free Page A

they say they’ve been there since the war – and there were a couple of thugs with an Alsatian dog round there yesterday threatening them, more or less telling them they had to go. It was awful. We were thinking of going to the police to complain but I thought I’d ring you first and check if it would do any good.’
    Barnard sipped his coffee and looked at her thoughtfully through the steam. ‘Do they put something into the water in Liverpool?’ he asked. ‘Something special from the River Mersey, is it?’
    â€˜What do you mean?’
    â€˜You must get this battling crusader spirit from somewhere,’ he said. ‘It’s not natural.’
    â€˜My da was a docker for a while, till he did a flit. And my mam was always playing hell about something in the neighbourhood. It was never a quiet life at ours, so I suppose it must be born in. My parents were both as tough as old boots. I don’t like to see nice old people being bullied. It’s not right. But I don’t know what I can do about it.’
    â€˜Right,’ Barnard said.
    â€˜So I go to the police?’
    â€˜Well, you could try, but I think they’ll just tell you that tenancy disputes are a civil matter. Are you sure these people are up to date with the rent? If they’re not they’ll not have a leg to stand on if they go to law. They’ll still get chucked out one way or another.’
    â€˜I’ll ask them,’ Kate said more soberly, finishing her coffee.
    â€˜Do you know who the landlord is?’ Barnard asked. ‘Is it a bloke call Rachman? Or one of his companies?’
    â€˜I’ve no idea,’ Kate said. ‘I’ll ask Marie. Why?’
    â€˜If it’s him, I should be very careful. He owns a lot of property round there – or he did. He’s supposed to have died last year, though there’s some who think that’s just a trick to get himself out of the spotlight. He was getting a very bad name with the newspapers and TV. His speciality was getting controlled tenants out of properties, then dividing them up and letting them out at rack rents, mainly to West Indians who can’t get homes anywhere else because of the colour bar. I don’t know what’s happened to his properties since he died, but I guess there’d be plenty of people queuing up to take them over. I know the Robertson brothers here in Soho were leaning on Rachman a few years ago, trying to take a cut. If you’re in a Rachman house I’d advise you all to get out as soon as you can.’
    Kate stared at Barnard, horrified. ‘I was going to start flat-hunting right away now I’ve got a permanent job. Are you saying Marie and Tess should move out too?’
    â€˜If you’ve got thugs with dogs on the stairs, I wouldn’t hang around if I was you. Whoever the landlord is, he’s not someone you really want to know, is he?’ Barnard said. He put his hand over Kate’s for a second. ‘Notting Hill’s a rough old place,’ he said. ‘It’s not so long ago that there were riots in the streets between the newcomers and the local teddy boys, black against white. Go down to the nick to complain if you like. See if you can get to see a mate of mine down there, DS Eddie Lamb, generally know as Baa Lamb. He’s a good bloke. He should be able to fill you in on what’s going on. But keep looking for somewhere else to live. This sort of thing’s been going on for years and I don’t reckon it’ll stop soon, the way people are scrambling for somewhere to lay their head. The best thing for you and your friends to do is get out.’
    â€˜Eddie Lamb,’ Kate said faintly. ‘Right, I’ll remember the name.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘Thanks for your help,’ she said, her tone suddenly dismissive. ‘It was nice to see you again.’
    Barnard gave her a rueful smile. ‘I don’t suppose