No Human Enemy (Suzie Mountford Mysteries) Read Online Free Page B

plucking up courage, standing there opening and closing his mouth like a fish. ‘There was one other thing, sir.’
    ‘Well?’ preparing to leave, giving Suzie the look that said ‘we’re off’. Glancing at Emma and nodding.
    ‘Delicate matter, sir. Marjorie brought it up.’
    ‘Marjorie?’
    ‘One of the assistants here, sir. Knew something funny had gone on. It’s probably nothing but…’
    ‘But what?’
    ‘Nuns’ underclothing, sir.’
    ‘What about it?’
    ‘Wondered if you knew anything about nuns’ underwear, sir.’
    ‘Do I look like somebody who knows about…? Maybe WDI Mountford…’
    ‘What’s the problem?’ Suzie asked.
    ‘Probably not a problem, but Marjorie disrobed the ladies and … well, a bit colourful. She thought it a bit colourful for nuns.’
    ‘Thought what in particular was a bit colourful?’
    ‘The … er … the drawers.’
    ‘The drawers are a bit colourful?’ Tommy almost exploding, looking pop-eyed. Pink. Uncomfortable.
    ‘Well, Directoire, naturally. That’s to be expected. Also, both the ladies were wearing them…’
    ‘Directoire?’ Tommy queried, definitely discomfited now.
    ‘ETBs,’ Suzie said with a grin. Don’t see why he’s embarrassed. Never embarrassed when he’s happily removing my drawers.
    ‘ETBs?’ Tommy quite out of his depth.
    ‘Elastic-Top-and-Bottom,’ Suzie smirked. ‘In training we used to call them passion killers; blackouts; the issue ones, woollen in winter, drawers cellular lightweight for the summer. Look, where’s this going, Pip?’
    ‘They’re made of a silky material. Bright scarlet. Marjorie thought the colour and texture a shade racy for nuns.’
    ‘Not at all. The nuns at my school wore vivid electric blue. Silk. Saucy really…’
    ‘How the hell did you know?’ Tommy seemed startled. ‘I mean, it’s not easy to look up a nun’s skirt.’
    ‘There was a little walled garden next to the laundry. Our classroom almost overlooked it and on Mondays we’d see the nuns’ knickers out on the line like a waving bunch of pennants. Electric blue.’
    ‘You said. Silk.’ Tommy fussed about with a cigarette, then headed for the door. Outside he lit up and, as though seeing her for the first time, again nodded to Emma. ‘Couldn’t miss the excitement, eh, Emma?’
    Emma Penticost had a particularly destructive smile which she used now. Sickening, Suzie thought. Could twist Tommy round her thingamy.
    ‘You know why I’m here, Chief,’ Emma’s smile blasting golden sunshine right into Tommy’s eyes.
    ‘Not just for the thrill of it all?’
    ‘No, Chief. Part of my brief, isn’t it?’
    Tommy grunted, unconvinced.
    ‘Part of my brief is to stick by you, Chief, unless you tell me to get lost. In that case I suppose I have to make my own decision.’
    Tommy gave a half-hearted nod and asked Emma to walk with him, indicating Silverhurst Road, back in the direction of St Catherine’s Convent main entrance where Brian sat, silent, in the Wolseley. Suzie tucked herself in behind them and they walked slowly back, seemingly in deep conversation.
    Emma was what Tommy – using the 1930s gangland description – liked to call the Reserve Squad’s ‘Muscle’. It was a tradition that had started with Molly Abelard who’d been drafted into the Reserve following a threat on Tommy’s life just before the war. Tommy was newsworthy, got written up in the Fleet Street newspapers a lot. They called him Dandy Tom on account of his sharp suits and impeccable turnout. The fact that he was the Honourable Tommy Livermore was also a help and Tom believed that tittle-tattle in the press always boosted his standing among the villainous classes. Dandy Tom, Gentleman Detective. ‘Detective, yes,’ he would say, ‘but I’m not so sure about the Gentleman.’
    Molly Abelard had been a splendidly suitable young woman, not simply firearms-trained but also an expert in the field of what came to be called unarmed combat and silent