The Savage Gorge Read Online Free Page B

with life-size fea tureless heads in smooth wood, some male, many female. The ceiling was a slab of thick glass providing plenty of light.

'My work den,' Hector explained. He wore a short white coat over his suit. 'The top knocker causes that red bulb to light up, tells me it's someone I know - not an estate agent wanting to tell me he could sell this place for a fortune.'

'Can I just wander round?' Tweed suggested. 'Never seen anywhere like this.'
    'Wander, wander as you wish.' He took Paula gently by her arm. 'This is the most comfortable chair,' he went on, leading her to a leather armchair. For a moment he stared hard at her, then he nodded his head, turned his back on her and opened a cupboard.
    Inside was an amazing collection of models of women's heads. He chose one, rejected it, chose another. Paula was suspicious. Hector placed it on a plinth on a wide shelf, opened another cupboard. Inside was a huge collection of wigs, also perched on plinths - blonde, jet black, brown. Selecting one with longish jet-black hair, he used a brush to create a glossy effect, arranged it on the plinth on the shelf. By now Paula was thoroughly suspicious. She waited for him to turn round but he still kept his back to her.

Finally he opened another cupboard, neatly arranged, took out an eye shadow, tested the colour
    on a sheet of cartridge, then applied it slowly above the eyeless head. His last act was to choose a lipstick, then apply that over the wooden lips. At that moment Tweed returned. For the first time Hector turned round, looked at Tweed.

'Well, what do you think of this?'

'Good God!' Tweed exclaimed. 'It's Paula.'
    'I don't like it.' Paula had jumped up. She checked her watch. 'And he produced that in five minutes. You're not going to photograph it, I hope,' she said severely.
    Hector looked disturbed. He ran forward and gently grasped her hand.
    'I'm sorry. You have my word it will not be photo graphed - and within minutes of your leaving it will no longer exist.'
    'Don't get upset,' she urged him in a softer voice. 'I just find it creepy. And you never looked at me.'

'I will confess,' he replied, his voice shaky, 'I could see you over there.'
    He pointed to a large mirror attached to the far wall. There was something special about it. Her image was so clear. She managed to smile.

'You clever thing.'

Seeing he was still upset, almost had tears in his eyes, she kissed him lightly on one cheek.
    'Time for us to go,' Tweed said briskly. 'My office will by now be in turmoil with both of us absent,' he fibbed. 'Hector, can you give me any idea when you'll let me have the photos?'
    'So sorry, but I never predict that - I don't know. I assure you I will make it as quick as I can, for a double murder investigation.'

    THREE

    'They're all lying, the people we've met - either delib erately or by omission. Not telling us what they know.'

'Who are they?' asked Paula.
    Tweed had turned off the main road, and was head ing north. His expression was determined. He listed who 'they' were.
    'First, I'll check when Lisa anonymously phoned the Yard reporting the presence of the two bodies.'

'You really think it was her?'
    'Who else? All the occupants of the other houses would be on holiday. Well off, they go abroad early to avoid the mobs on the beaches in July and August. Most of their curtains were closed.'

'Lisa is a very nervous person . . .'

'Not nervous enough to imply she didn't know either of the victims, living on either side of her. This

is a very mysterious case. I know Sergeant Peabody and he's a good searcher. Yet he has reported no trace in either house of the victim's identity. No sign of ran sacking by someone removing identity traces. Most mysterious.'

'Falkirk seemed straight enough.'

'No, he didn't. Just happened to be strolling along such a quiet street with two bodies lying on the steps. Coincidence? Don't believe in them.'

'I'm not thinking clearly,' she admitted.
    'You were thrown by the extraordinary