Instrument of Slaughter Read Online Free Page A

results.’
    ‘We won’t let him down. If you’ll excuse me,’ said Marmion, getting up and moving to the door, ‘I’ll be off to pass on the sad news. And I’ll try to arrange for the victim’s next of kin to identify the body.’
    ‘That may be difficult.’
    ‘Why is that, sir?’
    ‘From what I hear, the skull has been smashed to a pulp. I don’t think anyone will be able to identify what’s left of him.’ Chatfield drew himself up to his full height. ‘The killer must be caught and caught quickly,’ he emphasized. ‘The public needs to be reassured that a murderer will not be allowed to roam free in the streets of London. However,’ he said with a thin-lipped smile, ‘there will doubtless be those who have no cause to mourn Ablatt. His death means that there’ll be one conchie less to worry about. I can understand that feeling.’
    ‘That’s more than I can do,’ said Marmion under his breath.
    Concealing his disgust, he went out and closed the door firmly behind him.
     
    Since the outbreak of war, Joe Keedy’s work days had been longer and his nights under constant threat. Policing the capital was a twenty- four-hour operation. It meant that, while his social life was curtailed, he was amply rewarded with the action on which he thrived. In case he was roused in the small hours, he always had a shave immediately before retiring to bed so that he looked presentable when awakened at short notice and needed simply to put on his suit before being ready to leave. As it happened, when the police car arrived outside his digs, Keedy was already up and dressed. One glance through the window told him that he and Marmion had a new investigation to lead. Chewing a last piece of toast, he swallowed it with a gulp and washed it down with a mouthful of tea. Then he reached for his overcoat and hat before heading for the door.
    Standing at over six feet, Keedy was a handsome, wiry man in his thirties who took far more care with his appearance than the average detective. His hat was set at a rakish angle, there was a sharp crease in his trousers and his black shoes gleamed. He bounded down the stairsand let himself out into the cold. A moment later, he climbed into the car beside Marmion.
    ‘Good morning, Harv,’ he said.
    ‘You were quick. Were you expecting me?’
    ‘It’s a case of intuition.’
    ‘I thought that was something only women are supposed to have.’
    Keedy laughed. ‘That’s what they tell me.’
    Marmion was glad to see him. They were good friends as well as colleagues and had developed a mutual understanding that helped to speed things up. As the car made its way through the deserted streets in the direction of Shoreditch, Marmion gave him a succinct report of events.
    ‘It doesn’t look as if we have much to go on,’ observed Keedy.
    ‘We soon will have, Joe.’
    ‘That meeting of the NCF could be significant.’
    ‘According to our dear superintendent,’ said Marmion, ‘it explains everything. He’s convinced that Ablatt was followed after the meeting, then attacked for daring to oppose the war. It never occurred to him that other factors might be involved.’
    ‘Ah, well, that’s old Chat for you. He always jumps to conclusions.’
    ‘It’s one of his many charms.’
    ‘I still can’t believe he was promoted over you,’ said Keedy. ‘Everyone knows that you can wipe the floor with Chat when it comes to catching villains. Yet it was that smarmy bastard who was appointed instead of you.’
    ‘He probably did better than me in the interview.’
    ‘He can’t do
anything
better than you, Harv.’
    ‘Yes, he can,’ said Marmion. ‘He can lose his temper much faster than me. He was frothing with anger when I got there and accused me of being late. If it was left to Claude Chatfield, I’d have to sleep in my office.’
    ‘I don’t think your wife would like that.’
    ‘She wouldn’t, Joe. The house seems empty now that Alice has moved out. If I start bedding down at