Death Dues Read Online Free Page A

what happened, haven’t I? All I did was find the body. I can’t say any more than that. I can’t see the point in a lot of rigmarole over that.’
    Put like that, it did seem much ado about nothing. But, as he told Mr Lewis, they had procedures that had to be followed and if he was lying, it was as well to get it on record with a signature attached. ‘It won’t take long. One of my officers will drive you back home afterwards.’
    Lewis seemed to think it was an invitation that was open to refusal because he continued to prevaricate. ‘Well, I don’t know. The wife won’t like it. Wanted me to start the decorating today.’
    Seeing as the day had been far advanced by the time Mr Lewis found the body, he hadn’t made a cracking beginning on the painting he was now so keen on. ‘Never mind,’ Rafferty said. ‘You can get an early start in the morning, can’t you?’
    ‘Suppose so. Though she still won’t like it.’
    Rafferty looked out of the rain-lashed windscreen, steeled himself, and got out of the car, leaving Eric Lewis still peddling excuses. He hunched his shoulders against excuses and vile weather, both, called over one of the uniforms and told him to drive Lewis to the station and find someone to take his statement. He trudged back towards the alley, fighting the strengthening wind all the way and trying and failing to avoid the large puddles that had grown larger while he had been speaking to Eric Lewis and which made the ends of his trousers uncomfortably soggy for the second time that day.
    He met Llewellyn coming the other way; Llewellyn, of course, had the wind in his face, and his umbrella was still holding its own against the elements that had turned his inside out. His trousers were also, somehow, free of puddle damage. ‘Got anything?’ he asked tersely as he swallowed his irritation at his sergeant’s ability to stay looking smart whatever the weather or other people threw at him.
    ‘The youths claim they saw nothing. What about you? How have you got on?’
    Rafferty pushed a hand through his dripping hair and scowled. ‘I’ve got precious little. Though Mr Lewis, the man who I was just talking to and who admits to finding the body and ringing it in, did tell me those lads were hanging about when he found the body. You got their details?’
    Llewellyn bridled slightly at this. ‘Of course.’ He patted his pocket. ‘I also checked their claimed identities with a couple of the neighbours. Three of the youths supplied false names for reasons they preferred not to go into when I challenged them.’
    ‘Force of habit, probably. So which of them tried to be clever dicks?’
    ‘Jake Sterling, Des Arnott and Tony Moran.’
    ‘They the cocky looking trio in the leather jackets?’
    ‘The very same.’
    ‘OK. What say we haul them all in for questioning? Maybe their little friend lacking the cool leather will be more chatty without the cocksure threesome within earshot.’
    ‘On what charge?’
    ‘Fashion crime?’ Rafferty sighed. This was Llewellyn at his most pedantic. ‘Try a touch of lateral thinking, Dafyd.’ Then, with the recollection that the logical Llewellyn was still having trouble thinking in his own haphazard manner, he said, ‘Obstructing the police sounds favourite to me. Maybe also threatening behaviour seeing as Mr Lewis said they made throat-slitting gestures at him. Should be worth a few hours’ of their time. How’s the house-to-house going?’
    ‘Most of the street residents have given preliminary statements, though not everyone was at home so they’ll have to be followed up later. They're still searching the alley. We’re also questioning the residents of the houses that form a T-junction with Primrose Avenue. They might have seen something.’
    ‘Anyone admitted to seeing anything? Anything at all?’
    Llewellyn shook his head. ‘Though, as I said, we have yet to question everyone.’ His hair was still dry, its style still immaculate which made Rafferty