Innocent Blood Read Online Free Page A

announced Chalfont’s arrival over the radio, which was followed seconds later by a ring from the doorbell. Cooper heard voices, loud in the small house.
    ‘Ah, Mr Chalfont, come in. You’re rather early.’
    ‘Never like to leave a potential client waiting.’
    ‘Would you like some coffee? I’m just making some.’
    ‘Thought I could smell it, but don’t go to any trouble on my account.’
    The plan was that Maidment would close and lock the front door and then lead Chalfont into the sitting room before retreating to the kitchen on the pretext of making coffee. Cooper, backed up by the two uniformed constables, would then arrest the suspect while he was waiting for Maidment’s return.
    Unfortunately, things didn’t go according to plan, as Cooper was later to put in his report. Instead of sitting down Chalfont followed the major into his kitchen.
    ‘Please, I can do this; go and make yourself comfortable.’
    ‘No problem, I need to see the appliances anyway. Where’s your boiler?’
    There was silence. Cooper looked up from his seat on the throne and stared at the appliance in question.
    ‘Ah…’ The confusion in Maidment’s voice was obvious. ‘I’ve only just moved in. Let me see, it’s—’
    ‘Don’t worry, I’ll find it. I’m an expert. I bet it’s in the cloakroom.’
    The door opened before Cooper could hide. For a moment the two men stared at each other then Cooper gathered his wits and said firmly:
    ‘Police! You’re under ar—’
    The punch knocked the breath from his body and he doubled over. Wheezing, he heard the sounds of a scuffle in the narrow hall and look up to see Lee land painfully on his behind. There was a clatter of footsteps on the stairs as Perkins hurtled down, slamming into Cooper, who was in the process of hobbling along the hall. Perkins tripped and almost fell. Cooper squeezed past him into the kitchen in time to see Chalfont land another punch, this time on Maidment’s nose. Blood spurted out, spattering both men’s jackets. Instead of giving way, Maidment squared up to his attacker and landed a solid right to the side of Chalfont’s jaw.
    Cooper struggled to stand straight and rushed at Chalfont but the man picked up a bread knife and started waving it wildly in front of his face. DC Partridge was banging on the bolted front door while Rike hovered white-faced outside the kitchen window. Perkins and Lee were backed up in the hall behind Cooper.
    ‘Let’s all calm down, shall we?’ Cooper’s voice was laboured and his stomach felt on fire. ‘Take it easy there – Luke, isn’t it? There are five officers here and more on the way. There’s no point making matters worse with threatening behaviour. Put the knife down.’
    Both he and Maidment were within striking distance of the blade. Cooper told Perkins to stay out of the room, hoping the lad would have enough sense to obey an order. He heard Lee unlock the front door but there was nothing they could do with the advantage of numbers as the kitchen was too small. In the sudden silence Maidment, Chalfont and Cooper eyed each other warily.
    ‘I won’t go to prison.’ Chalfont’s voice held a tremor of panic.
    ‘Who’s said anything about prison? Let’s not jump to conclusions, but wielding that knife won’t help you. Put it down, son.’
    ‘I’m not your son and who do you think you’re kidding?’ Cooper heard the rising note of hysteria and watched with growing concern as Chalfont’s hand started to tremble. ‘I’m going to leave now and you’re not going to stop me. Open that door.’
    Chalfont turned to Maidment and gestured with the knife, then swung back to Cooper, who had risked a step forward.
    ‘Keep away!’
    In the instant the two men confronted each other, Maidment opened the bread bin, pulled out a gun and pointed it at Chalfont’s chest.
    ‘I don’t think you’re going anywhere, sonny.’
    Chalfont’s mouth dropped open. Cooper became aware that his own was agape in