Death on Demand by Paul Thomas Read Free Book Online Page A

Auckland Central would soon discover the meaning of the word “indispensable”. He’d remained calm when Worsp suggested – “Just putting it out there” – that maybe they hadn’t seen the last of him because Boy seemed reluctant to let him “ride into the sunset”. And he’d shaken hands and said all the right things as if he meant it.
Yes, he felt a little nauseous but, at the same time, quietly proud of himself, like someone who has eaten something disgusting to win a dare.
    Charlton had left so that was another plus, and Firkitt had either taken off with him or was outside having a smoke. McGrail, of course, was long gone which was also a relief: now that they didn’t have a day-to-day working relationship, he wasn’t all that comfortable around the Ulsterman. It was like a self-fulfilling prophecy: Ihaka was keeping his distance from McGrail on the assumption that McGrail, now that he was district commander, would want to keep his distance from him.
    In fact, leaning on the bar with his sixth beer of the evening chatting to Van Roon and Beth Greendale, who’d left the force a few years earlier to have kids, Ihaka was in danger of enjoying himself.
    Firkitt entered the conversation like a home invasion. “Well, well, fucking well,” he said. “Look who’s here.”
    Ihaka sighed. “Igor.”
    â€œYou can knock that shit off for a start,” said Firkitt.
    Ihaka asked Greendale, “Do you two know each other?”
    â€œWe’ve met,” said Greendale, giving Firkitt a tight smile. “How are you finding Central?”
    â€œSince you ask, it’s Fred Karno’s fucking circus,” he said. “But we’ll sort it out.”
    â€œWe being you and Charlton, I assume,” said Greendale, “and the circus being everybody else?”
    Firkitt grinned, a sight that resembled an artist’s impression of a black hole. “Got it in one, darling.”
    â€œIf there’s one thing on God’s green earth I’m not,” said Greendale, “it’s your darling.”
    â€œIs that right?” said Firkitt. “Well, when you’re back in the suburbs changing nappies and wiping arses, it won’t matter a damn either way, will it?” He turned to Ihaka.
“Fucking class act you are, showing up three and a half hours late.”
    â€œWhat do you care?”
    â€œI couldn’t give a shit,” said Firkitt. “I’m just pointing it out. That’s why you never had a dog’s show of making DI – you’ve got no fucking idea.”
    â€œWhereas you, on the other hand—” said Van Roon.
    Firkitt eyed up Van Roon. “The difference is I know my limitations. Or, to put it another way, I don’t have my head up my big, fat, brown arse.”
    â€œThere’s no room,” said Ihaka. “You’d have to ask Boy to remove his cock first.”
    â€œWell, you’d know all about that,” said Firkitt. “How many years did you bend over for Creeping Jesus?”
    â€œListen, guys,” said Greendale, “it’s been great to catch up, but I think I’ll be running along. When you’ve been out in the suburbs changing nappies for a few years, this sort of gay banter doesn’t do it for you any more.”
    â€œSee you,” said Firkitt without looking at her.
    â€œHang on, Beth,” said Ihaka, “me and Igor have run out of things to talk about.”
    â€œLike fuck we have,” said Firkitt. “I’m just getting started.”
    â€œGive it a rest, Firkitt,” said Van Roon. “This isn’t the time or the place.”
    Firkitt pulled a cry-baby face. “This isn’t the time or the place,” he whined. “I’ll be the judge of that. It so happens I’ve got some stuff I want to share with big boy here, so feel free to bugger off.”
    â€œYou might as