A Case Of Murder (Kendall Book 6) by John Holt Read Free Book Online Page A

heard a pin drop had anyone had one and wished to let it fall to the ground. No one did. No one said a word. All eyes turned on Kendall.
    Kendall looked at the eyes staring back at him. What , he wondered. What did I do? What did I say? All I did was ask for a drink. So what was the problem?
    A man standing at the end of the counter descended from the bar stool that he was occupying, and walked slowly over to where Kendall was sitting.
    “The name’s Quinn,” he said almost in a whisper, his hand extended. “Patrick Quinn. I run the local store. I sell everything from apples and pears to cigarettes; bread to newspapers; wine, although not a word to Sean here, to milk. You name it, and I sell it.”
    “Nice to meet you, Mr. Quinn,” Kendall replied, wondering just how much more advertising he would be subjected to, and whether he would actually be expected to buy anything. He shrugged and shook hands.
    “Now, Mr. er, Kendall is it?”
    Kendall nodded.
    “Well, Mr. Kendall, sir, if you ask me I’d say that you were a most discerning man, a man who knew his drink,” Quinn continued. “Would that be right?”
    Kendall nodded. “Well I do like the odd drink I must say.”
    Mollie smiled. “I’d second that.”
    Kendall looked at Mollie and started to frown
    “Not that I’m suggesting that you are an alcoholic, or any such thing you understand. I mean I like a drink or three myself.” Quinn quickly cast an eye around the bar, and then back to Kendall. “But I’m thinking that you are a serious drinker, and no mistake.”
    “Oh, he’s an expert at it, take my word for it,” said Mollie. “But he’s had years of dedicated practice. In fact you could say that it has been his life’s work.”
    Kendall frowned once again.
    “What Patrick is trying to say is that you might actually be wanting an Irish whiskey, if I’m not very much mistaken,” said Vincent Mulvy.
    “Yes, a proper whiskey,” said the English man, Mallory. “Not that Scottish stuff, that’s only a poor man’s excuse for a drink.”
    “Absolutely correct,” agreed Quinn. “We don’t even mention it around here you see. It’s unseemly.”
    “It’s just not done,” added Mallory.
    “Oh yes,” said Kendall hesitantly, as at long last he realised his mistake. “Of course Irish whiskey by all means, make it a double.” He looked at Mollie and heaved a sigh.
    “Drinks all round” he continued turning his hand in a large circle.
    * * *

 
    Chapter Six
    Drinks All Round
     
    “Drinks all round,” repeated Quinn. “Now that’s mighty civil of you, sir, mighty civil indeed.” He looked at O’Rourke and nodded.
    “’Tis indeed,” said O’Rourke as he busied himself pouring out the drinks. “Now sir, seeing as it’s you that is buying the drinks, I think that it’s only fair that you should know who you are drinking with.”
    Kendall smiled and looked around him.
    “Now, Mr. Quinn, our storekeeper just there, you’ve already met,” O’Rourke continued, as he pointed to the man standing next to Kendall. “And you know our English friend, Mr. Mallory over there at the end of the bar.” Mallory smiled and waved. Kendall waved back. “And then we have our local builder, Vincent Mulvy, who you’ve also met.”
    Kendall turned and faced Mulvy. He smiled and nodded his head. He tapped the business card tucked inside his coat pocket. No job too small, he murmured. You never know when you might need a builder.
    “Then there’s Daniel Brendan Martin Mulligan, the third, who’ve you have already had the acquaintance,” O’Rourke continued.
    Kendall looked over to the table in the corner. There was Mulligan oblivious to all around him, contentedly sipping on his drink.
    O’Rourke gave a sigh. “So now who else is there?” he looked around. “Ah, to be sure there’s Derren.” He looked over and waved. “Derren Lynch, he runs the local boatyard, so he does. You need a boat repair and he’ll do it.”
    Kendall looked