Tedd and Todd's secret Read Online Free Page B

"It's an official document."
    "You've fined me?" Aidan asked, watching the policeman approach arrogantly.
    "I advised him that you refused to move your vehicle," the fat hospital guard said, close now, with a smirk on his face.
    "Next time, don't commit infractions and this won't happen," the policeman advised Aidan. "There's no special deal for policemen. The law's the law."
    "Well done," the hospital guard said approvingly.
    "I'm in no mood for this," Aidan told him, without showing any sign of irritation. He looked away and threw the parking notice over his shoulder onto the ground.
    "Did you see that, detective?" the hospital guard asked, pointing animatedly at the paper ball. "Look, he's just thrown it on the ground. This is complete disrespect for the law. A little respect would be better, don't you think?"
    "Of course," the policeman said firmly.
    The motor of Aidan's car purred as soon as he turned the key and started the ignition. And to the security guard's surprise, the policeman who'd just written the ticket got into the front seat and patted Aidan on the back as the car started to move off.
    "You fined me?" Aidan said, looking at his passenger.
    "I couldn't help myself. Besides the guard begged me to. Do you know how long it's been since the last ticket I wrote? I can hardly remember."
    Lance Norwood was in many respects the exact opposite of his partner Aidan. A pleasant detective who got on with everyone, or at least anyone who didn't ruffle anybody's feathers. He was always in a good mood and did his job according to the rules, mainly to avoid problems.
    "You're a funny bastard," Aidan said. "I'm going to recommend to the Inspector that you be assigned to the traffic department."
    "Too boring. I'd prefer to stay with you," Lance said. "Solving mysteries and the rest of that shit. It's more entertaining. Have you heard about Big Ben?"
    "No. What's up?"
    "It seems it's gone crazy. Today I passed there and I could've sworn I was drunk. The bells sounded out of tune. And I don't know if the time was right. Everyone was looking at the tower."
    "They'll fix it. That clock is the symbol of the city."
    "Just as well. Turn to the right at the next," Lance said, indicating a junction ahead. "Hey, you've passed it. What's up? Have you still got the hump because of the fine?"
    "We'll take longer that way," Aidan grumbled.
    "You're wrong there. We're not going to the station. We've got a case, and you're going to love it. A murder."
    "The captain told me to talk to the survivor. He didn't say anything about a new case."
    "Well, he rang me later. How else do you think I knew where you were?"
    "What makes you think I'm going to enjoy this?" Aidan asked, lighting a cigarette and veering out of his lane as he did. He stopped at the next red light and stared at his partner. He was angry although he didn't know for certain why.
    "It's a strange case," Lance said, hardly covering up his smile. "It seems the victim has been decapitated with a medieval sword. What do you think about that?"

CHAPTER 3

     
     
    "Only a little more effort and you'll do it," Earl White advised enthusiastically.
    Keeping that optimistic smile on his face was a lot more difficult than the effort the pathetic lump of flabby flesh stretched out in front of him was making. Earl felt worried, but clung to the smile desperately, as a vein in the boy's forehead swelled threateningly. He considered wasting a couple of new sentences loaded with false hope that it could build him up, but in the end he chose to convince the youth to take a break and helped him put the bar back on the rack before it crashed down into his chest.
    "You almost finished the set," Earl lied. "Cool off, then try something else."
    "I was close, wasn't I?" the boy said, panting, getting up and wiping the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand. "Some day I'll be as strong as you, Mr White. A lot stronger, you'll see."
    "I told you to call me Earl," the trainer said patiently. "The