A Fool and His Money by Marina Pascoe Read Free Book Online Page B

painters arrived and knocked at his door. Boase had come in early and he opened the door to them. The two men looked to be in their early sixties, one about five feet two, the other about six feet two. The taller man spoke first. Holding aloft a paint can, he gestured towards the office.
    â€˜Mornin’ – Painter.’
    â€˜Well, yes, I can see that …’
    â€˜No, my name – I’m Peter Painter. This is my brother, Paul. We’ve come to do your office.’
    Boase looked at the tall man and then at the short one. He held the door wide.
    â€˜You’d better come in – is this going to take long?’
    Now the short man spoke.
    â€˜Well, sir – it’s in a bad way. It’ll need two coats, so probably one today and one tomorrow.’
    â€˜My chief isn’t going to be happy about that – we’ve got work to do. Although he has been asking for this to be done for some time.’
    â€˜I’m sorry, sir, but you won’t want to be in here once we get started – it’ll get on your nerves. It’s the smell you see, sir. We’re used to it ourselves but, well, to those outside the trade, it can get a little unpleasant.’
    At this, Bartlett entered the office.
    â€˜What’s unpleasant? What’s going on, Boase?’
    Boase chuckled.
    â€˜Well, these are the Painters, sir.’
    â€˜I think I’ve worked that out, Boase. But I didn’t expect them until next week.’
    â€˜Their name is Painter, sir – Peter and Paul.’
    â€˜Oh, right. Well, this is rather inconvenient – can’t you come back next week?’
    Paul propped the ladder he had been holding, against the wall.
    â€˜If we don’t start today then we can’t start at all.’
    Bartlett flung his coat onto the back of his chair.’
    â€˜Now look here …’
    Boase stepped between Bartlett and Paul Painter.
    â€˜Sir, you did say you wanted it done – and you have been waiting such a long time. We will probably be even busier next week with everything that’s going on.’
    Bartlett saw the logic in Boase’s statement and agreed.
    â€˜All right – but you must work as quickly as possible. No standing around drinking tea all day. We’re busy people and we need our office.’
    The door reopened and Constable Penhaligon stuck his head into the office.
    â€˜Sorry to interrupt, sir. Superintendent Greet has asked me to tell you that he’s put you and Constable Boase in the small office just while the painting is being done. I’ve put a pot of tea in there for you both.’
    Bartlett looked at Boase.
    â€˜Why can’t we stay in here?’
    â€˜Apparently the smell will be quite bad, sir – come on, it’s only for a couple of days.’
    Bartlett collected his coat and a few things from his desk and he and Boase went out, crossed the hall and went into the small office.
    Bartlett lit his pipe.
    â€˜Look at this, Boase – Coad and Eddy did a good job on that church case. If I’m honest, I didn’t think they had it in them.’
    Bartlett slid a pile of papers across the desk to Boase.
    â€˜Looks like it was a couple of delinquents – thought they’d break into the church and steal the silverware.
    â€˜Did you hear what happened, Boase?’
    â€˜No, I didn’t. How did they catch them?’
    â€˜Apparently they were at one of the lads’ houses – just making a routine enquiry. The boy was upstairs with the window open and heard what was being said. He tried to run away – Coad heard him and sent Eddy round the back and they stopped him. He gave the other boy’s name and they were both arrested – and they retrieved the stuff. They’re going back to the church later to return it.’
    â€˜Good job, sir.’
    â€˜I’d say so – means we can get on with the big job without having that in the background.