The Poisoning in the Pub Read Online Free Page B

but I was actually in the kitchen when the seafood delivery came. Ed checked it, signed for the stuff, it was no different from
usual.’
    ‘Ted mentioned someone called Ray who helps out.’
    ‘Yes, poor old Ray. He is not . . .’ Zosia made a circling movement with a finger by her temple ‘. . . not right in the head, you know.’
    ‘Is he in today?’
    ‘No. He rather comes and goes when he feels like it. That’s why Ted can’t really employ him on an official basis. Ray’s not good at following a regular schedule. And he
seemed very upset by what happened yesterday. We might not see him for a while now. He takes things very much to heart.’
    ‘Do you know where he lives?’
    ‘One of these projects where people with the same sort of disabilities share flats. You know, they are independent, but they are quite carefully supervised. Where it is exactly I
don’t know. In Fethering, though, I think. I’m sure Ted would have an address for him.’
    ‘And you don’t think Ray could have had anything to do with sabotaging the scallops?’
    Zosia’s brow wrinkled as she dismissed the idea. ‘Even if he had the intelligence to work out something like that – which I’m sure he hasn’t – Ray would never
knowingly do anything that might hurt another person. Ray is too good, too prepared to believe the best of everyone.’
    ‘But is he—?’
    Jude’s question was interrupted by the ringing of the phone behind the bar. Zosia moved towards it, but Ted Crisp, emerging suddenly from the kitchen, got there first. ‘Crown and
Anchor. Yes, that’s me. Oh, right, we spoke earlier. What? Oh, are you sure you can’t? Very well. Expect you tomorrow. When you like. I’m not going anywhere. Goodbye.’
    He slammed the handset down and let out the burst of expletives which he had been restraining while being polite on the phone.
    ‘Was it them?’ asked Zosia when he was quiet.
    ‘Yes. Can’t come till bloody tomorrow now.’
    ‘Your Health and Safety inspection?’
    Ted Crisp nodded savagely, too preoccupied by his anger to welcome Jude. He banged his fist down on the counter. ‘Another whole bloody day! Another day without business, right in the
middle of the tourist season. Another day for the rumour mill to go into overdrive. Another day for the gossips of Fethering to inflate a small outbreak of food poisoning into the bloody Black
Death!’
    ‘It’ll be fine,’ said Jude soothingly. ‘You said last night that you’d pass any inspection.’
    ‘That’s not the point. The worst thing that can happen to any pub’s business is to be closed. And the longer it stays closed, the harder it is to get the punters back. Anyway,
knowing the way my luck’s going at the moment, Health and Safety probably will find something wrong.’
    ‘But surely—?’
    This attempt at reassurance was cut short by the sound of the pub door opening. Zosia had omitted to relock it after letting Jude in. The man who entered was a kind of dapper hippy. He wore
jeans, a flowered shirt and cowboy boots, but they were designer jeans, the shirt was too well cut to be cheap, and the cowboy boots had been buffed to a high gloss. Their substantial heels made
some compensation for his shortness. There was a neat square of grey beard on his chin and his long grey hair was gathered in a ponytail. From some context Jude could not immediately place, he
looked very familiar.
    The newcomer took in the empty pub and his lip curled into a cynical smile. ‘I thought you said the place was doing good business, Ted.’

Chapter Four
    He moved forward and flashed the whitened teeth of a professional charmer at Jude and Zosia. ‘Hello, ladies. Dan Poke’s my name. You probably recognize me from the
television.’
    Jude now knew exactly who he was. Zosia, who didn’t even possess a television because she had no time between her studies and work at the Crown and Anchor, gave a polite grin that implied
she did too.
    ‘So, Ted, how’s