A Thrust to the Vitals Read Online Free Page A

especially as our free-spending representatives have decided to put the tax up again next year.’
    ‘Mmm,’ Llewellyn murmured. ‘I can see that writing such a letter to the local newspaper might ease some of the pain, but I doubt it would be wise.’
    Rafferty snorted – the effects of this snouts in trough business seemed to be spreading. ‘Probably not. I’ll have to wait till I retire before I can voice my protest at the way they spend my hard-earned money.’
    ‘There’s that too, of course, though I was thinking more of the fact that Superintendent Bradley was one of this reception’s attendees.’
    Rafferty turned and stared at Llewellyn. ‘Old Snout-in-Trough-in-Chief? Now, why doesn’t that surprise me?’ Given Bradley’s propensity for high-hoggery, this revelation wasn’t that unexpected. Still, the thought of Bradley finding himself numbered amongst the murder suspects brought Rafferty a little shiver of delight. Then he protested as memory provided a reminder. ‘But old ‘Long Pockets’ wasn’t on the guest list.’
    ‘No, but I gather that’s only because he had an earlier engagement this evening and said he would have to cry off on this one. It seems the other one ended sooner than he expected and he had kept his invitation to this reception just in case.’
    ‘Trust Bradley to manage to get his snout in two troughs in one night.’
    Although Llewellyn had no comment to make on his superintendent’s trough-finding skills, he told Rafferty, ‘I only know he was here because DS Mary Carmody overheard one of the guests mention his name as being present and she questioned the man about it. Although, I gather the superintendent and his wife weren’t at this function for very long — an hour at most. They left shortly before Sir Rufus’s body was discovered.’
    Better and better, thought Rafferty.
    ‘This particular guest, the local mayor, Idris Khan, seemed to think the presence of a heavyweight policeman like the superintendent would provide him with alibi enough.’
    In spite of his rumbling stomach, the anticipated long night ahead and the worry about his brother, this information brought something approaching a grin to Rafferty’s lips. ‘Who knows? It might at that especially if I’m able to prove our esteemed super was the chisel-wielder. After all, it wouldn’t be unprecedented. He’s shown plenty of previous form in plunging sharpened implements in backs. Even if it is more in the meta – meta—’ Rafferty frowned and Llewellyn prompted, ‘Metaphorical?’
    Rafferty nodded. ‘That’s the bugger. Plenty of metaphorical knives in backs. Proves capability of the crime to my mind.’
    ‘Mmm… You might like to know that several – more than several – of Seward’s other guests are also reputed to have such a predilection.’ Llewellyn gave a discreet cough. ‘In fact, I noticed a certain Nigel Blythe was numbered amongst the guests. That wouldn’t be the same Blythe—?’
    Rafferty gave a weary nod. ‘The very same.’ Llewellyn, of course, remembered this Rafferty family cousin from a previous case.
    Llewellyn wisely said no more on the subject.
    Rafferty recalled himself to duty. Now, beckoning Llewellyn to follow, he walked back down the suite’s chandeliered hallway to the main bedroom, the scene of the murder. He stood in the doorway, and, although Sir Rufus Seward’s body had now been removed to the mortuary, the vivid picture of his fleshy-girthed and well-fed body slumped over the gilded desk in front of the curtained windows in the bedroom, the thin chisel thrust deep in his back, was unlikely to leave him any time soon. But then, neither were his worries about Mickey.
    Rafferty recalled Dr Sam Dally’s comment as he viewed and examined the corpse of the late Sir Rufus: ‘At least you won’t be short of suspects for this cadaver, Rafferty. From what I’ve heard of the man, he was one of those types who smarms all over those he regards as his social