Missing: Presumed Dead Read Online Free

confronted by impossible choices and, when that happens, all we can do is let fate take a hand in the outcome.”
    â€œAnd you’re saying that the circumstances were so compelling you had no alternative.”
    He nodded, “I believe the Americans call it being caught between a rock and hard place, Inspector.”
    â€œCould you elaborate?”
    â€œI think I’ve said enough – good morning, Inspector, and thank you for your understanding.”
    â€œHe’s round the twist.” Bliss’s voice echoed along the cell passage to Sergeant Patterson as he slammed the cell door behind him.
    â€œCareful, Guv. Don’t give him a defence. He might get some high priced trick cyclist to declare him non compos mentis .”
    â€œYeah, and six months later pronounce him cured. Then he’d be out of the nuthouse and walking the streets the same as you and I.”
    The sergeant nodded. “Apart from the fact he’d have a piece of paper declaring him sane – whereas you and I ...”
    They had reached the main cell block door. Patterson rattled the thick iron bars to catch the jailor’s attention and, as they waited, Bliss put two and two together and came up with four and half. “I’m sure we’re missing something important here, Pat,” he began, a fog of ideas swirling in his brain but failing to coalesce into anything tangible or sensible. “Dauntsey’s far too intelligent ...” he paused and thought about his choice of words. “No, it’s more than intelligence: He’s too cunning to get caught like this. I mean, it’s pathetically incompetent to slit his old man’s throat in a public place with half the town listening.”
    â€œIt happened on the spur of the moment. No-one’s suggesting it was premeditated – just a sudden argument.”
    â€œBut what about the body, Pat? Just imagine if you were to kill me right now – no pre-planning, heat of the moment argument. What would you do with the body to ensure no-one found it?”
    The sergeant put on his thinking face. “Concrete overcoat,” he suggested after a moment’s pause.
    Bliss lit up. “Office block – new bridge, that sort of thing.”
    Patterson nodded, though with little enthusiasm. “There’s plenty of buildings going up around here. But aren’t we forgetting something, Guv?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYesterday was Sunday, and it was pissing with rain. Who’s gonna be pouring wet concrete?”
    Bliss got the message but was stuck on concrete. “What about cement boots – then dump him in the river.”
    Patterson was already shaking his head. “The river ain’t deep enough, plus the fact that’d have to be preplanned. Where would he get a load of quick drying cement at half past nine on a Sunday night?”
    â€œWait a minute, Pat. You were the one who said it wasn’t premeditated. I’m still not convinced. I think he carefully plotted the whole thing. Like I said, he’s cunning.”
    â€œWhat about all the witnesses in the pub then; who’s gonna be daft enough ...?” He left the hypothesis unfinished, unwilling to waste his breath.
    â€œCould be part of the plan,” mused Bliss, grateful that the arrival of the jailor saved him from having to explain his reasoning.
    â€œDon’t worry, Guv. We’ll soon find the body, once the dog teams get going.”
    â€œI’d like to agree with you, but I’m beginning to think that my money might be safer on Dauntsey.”
    They wandered abstractly back to the CID office, both hoping to arrive at some earth-shattering explanation that would spectacularly solve the case of the Major’s missing body. Neither succeeded.
    â€œI still don’t understand what they were doing at the pub,” Bliss said, throwing himself into a comfortable-looking moquette chair. “Did Dauntsey give a