Czech Mate by Elizabeth Darrell Read Free Book Online Page A

justice. The tale of Treeves and the sand-filled sock could wait an extra half an hour.
    Gazing through the windows at the madly swirling snow while he enjoyed his soup, Max reflected on Daniel Clarkson’s afterthought. Anyone could have hidden in the women’s toilet on hearing the brothers approach, then left when they ran for help. An adult male assailant would not have Daniel’s scruples about entering a forbidden place. But why leave the weapon there to be tested for fingerprints that would incriminate?
    â€˜Hallo. You’re our new mess member, aren’t you?’
    Max came to from his thoughts to see a young, curvaceous redhead smiling down at him. Her uniform bore two pips on each shoulder and the scarlet duty officer’s lanyard. He half rose, but she waggled well-manicured fingers to dissuade him and took the seat facing him.
    â€˜Mind if I join you and get acquainted? I’m Lucy Farmer.’
    â€˜Max Rydal . . . and please do,’ he replied, wondering at the stroke of luck that sent to him the subaltern who had helped at the party. Pity she was a possible suspect. She was very easy on the eye.
    â€˜You’re with SIB, aren’t you? We’ve never had a detective among us before.’
    She had an upper class accent and frank green eyes that reflected her smile. Unfortunately, her overture strengthened his feeling of being on duty even when off duty, living in-mess as he was now obliged to do.
    â€˜I don’t detect during meals.’ He tried to inject warm humour into the words, but apparently failed.
    â€˜Oh dear, did I sound like a police groupie?’
    Her alluring chuckle coaxed a smile from him then. ‘A police groupie! Good God, are there such creatures?’
    â€˜Bound to be. Detecting has been glamorized by Inspectors Morse, Frost and Barnaby on TV.’
    Max’s roast beef and her soup were brought at that point, causing a conversational hiatus. When the steward departed, Lucy looked at Max eagerly.
    â€˜I suppose you’ll want my observations on last night’s ghastly end to the kids’ party.’
    â€˜Not over the lunch table.’
    She pulled a face but still managed to look attractive. ‘Boobed again! Sorry.’
    â€˜If you’re not yet acquainted with Ben Steele of the Cumberland Rifles, I must introduce you,’ Max said dryly, starting on his beef.
    â€˜Explain, please.’
    â€˜He took too keen an interest in a case we investigated back in April.’
    â€˜I was in the UK then. Is that your tactful way of saying he meddled?’
    â€˜So how long have you been here in Germany?’ he responded pointedly.
    â€˜OK, I give in,’ she said with another chuckle, ‘but you will want to hear my account of last night, won’t you?’
    â€˜Someone will contact you officially later today. Will this be your first experience of a German Christmas, Lucy?’
    â€˜Oh no!’ She finally tasted her soup. ‘My older sister is a ballerina with a touring company based in Brussels. They sometimes stage The Nutcracker here during the festive period. The parents and I twice came over to see her dance, then went on to ski.’
    â€˜What does a ballerina think of your chosen career?’ he asked with real interest.
    â€˜Oh, we both consider the other one crazy. She shudders at the thought of my wearing army boots and participating in mock battles, but I tell you, what her profession does to her feet and body is far worse than the most gruelling exercise has done to mine. She’s twenty-five, but her bones and muscles have suffered the wear and tear of someone twice that age.’ She shrugged. ‘She simply lives to dance.’
    â€˜Do you live for the army?’
    She gave a bright smile. ‘I’m much more down to earth. My interests are many and varied.’
    â€˜Two being skiing and watching TV detectives.’
    Her smile widened. ‘You’re nice.