Rhinoceros Read Online Free

kill himself holds the weapon in his right hand, then bends his arm across his face, somehow manages to aim the gun at the other side of his forehead, pulls the trigger, then transfers the weapon to his left hand?'
    'The autopsy will settle the matter,' Bogle almost shouted.
    'That reminds me. Any moment now an ambulance from London will arrive with Professor Charles Saafeld aboard to take the body to his laboratory. Our top pathologist, he will perform the autopsy. I phoned him before we came here.'
    'Bloody hell!' Bogle stormed. 'I've called Eastbourne to send an ambulance. We do have pathologists from here ..."
    'Then perhaps,' Tweed suggested as he stood up, 'it would be an idea to get on your mobile and recall your ambulance. I see from the powder on the wall your scene- of-crime crew have already been here, checked the sur roundings and probably taken their photographs.'
    'Of course they have,' growled Bogle and stomped off, up the steps and out of sight.
    'I think Saafeld and his ambulance have arrived,' Paula reported after a brief visit to the outside world. 'I'll show him the way.'
    'If you would, please . . .'
    An imposing figure appeared. For a man of his heavy bulk, Saafeld ran nimbly down the steps. His round, plumpish complexion had a pinkish tinge and he exuded an air of authority. He peered at Tweed over his half-moon glasses, nodded, took in the surroundings with swift glances.
    'Hello, Paula,' he said quietly.
    'This place is like a tomb.' She clutched the collar of her fur coat more closely. 'It's freezing.'
    'A tomb,' Saafeld repeated. 'Complete with a body.' He looked back at a youngish man with a camera who had followed him. 'Reg. Take pictures quickly.' He bent down, hands covered with latex gloves, pressed a delicate ringer on Mordaunt's right hand. 'No rigor mortis yet, but we'd better hurry.'
    'The local assistant chief constable swears it's suicide,' whispered Tweed, bending alongside the pathologist.
    'Suicide, my hat. Just a first impression,' Saafeld warned. 'Don't like the way the fingers are holding the weapon. And if he was standing, back to the wall, he'd have toppled sideways when the bullet hit - not slithered down the wall. But it's early days.'
    'Can I call you in the morning - this morning?'
    'Try eight o'clock. I work through the night, as you know. I don't promise anything . . .'
    Tweed borrowed Paula's flashlight. She followed him as he walked the full length of the tunnel. The floor was useless for give-away footprints. Emerging under the arch at the far end, he paused, took a deep breath. In the moonlight the view was entrancing. A wide stretch of grass, then a spired church, a gem. He swept the flashlight along a road immediately beyond the arch. Vague tracks of probably a dozen cars. Old houses stretched away to his left and right.
    'He could have been brought here by car, tricked into entering the tunnel. It's as quiet as the grave.'
    They retraced their journey through the eerie tunnel. Reg had taken his pictures, was putting the camera inside a case.
    'Reg,' Saafeld called out. 'Bring the stretcher. We'll get him out now. It will be the devil of a job maneuvering him round and up those steps.' Tweed offered help. 'No, thanks - this is a two-man exercise . . .'
    Tweed and Paula reached the small square to find Bogle waiting, standing by a car with an unpleasant sneer on his pinched face.
    'I'm off. To write my report. A very full report covering all aspects of your intrusion.'
    He jumped into the front passenger seat, snapped at the driver. The car took off, its tail lights receding swiftly. Tweed turned to speak to Sergeant Pole.
    'You've been in this area a long time?'
    'All my born days, sir.'
    'Are there any important people round here? Maybe rich?'
    'There's Lord Barford. Family's been here for generations.'
    'Any more recent arrivals?'
    'Well . . .' Pole considered carefully. 'There's a Mr Rondel, a foreigner. Arrived about two years ago. Very wealthy, I'd say. Travels