Death Trap by Patricia Hall Read Free Book Online

sofa who seemed disinclined to say anything at all. ‘We’re going to stay with him for a bit while we look for somewhere else, and he says we can put most of our stuff in his garage. He’s got a nice semi out in Greenford.’
    â€˜Oh Elsie, I wish there was something we could do to help,’ Kate said. ‘I hate to see those scallies getting away with bullying you like this.’
    â€˜You want to watch out, girl,’ Geoff mumbled. ‘It may be you next. I reckon they want to empty the house. Probably get that posh old bird out of the basement too. I’ve never rightly known what she’s doing down there. Someone’s gaga old lady been dumped out of the way, I reckon. Anyway, we must get a move on. Don’t you worry about us, girl. Worse things happened in the war, didn’t they, and we came through that all right in the end.’
    Subdued, Kate and Tess made their way out into the street and watched as the sofa was heaved into a van parked outside where most of the rest of the Wilsons’ possessions seemed to be already stacked. On the other side of the road they saw the same two heavily built men they had seen threatening the Wilsons the previous day, a large Alsatian sitting peaceably enough beside them at the end of his chain. Kate still had her camera in her hand and, half concealed by the van, took a shot of them for good measure.
    â€˜That is so unfair,’ Kate said angrily as they turned away. They walked slowly west towards Ladbroke Grove, their enthusiasm draining away as they absorbed what Geoff had said. There was no doubt in Kate’s mind that she and her friends might be next on the list for a visit. ‘Do you know where Portobello Road is?’ she asked Tess suddenly.
    â€˜Yes, there’s an antique market down there, and other stuff. We’ve been there sometimes, me and Marie. Picked up some second-hand stuff for the flat. There was hardly any kitchen gear in there when we moved in. Why do you want to know?’
    â€˜Mrs Beauchamp in the basement – who’s not as gaga as all that, by the way – wants me to take a message to someone with a stall down there tomorrow morning.’
    â€˜How on earth do you come to be running errands for that old bird?’ Tess asked.
    â€˜Oh, we got talking,’ Kate said airily. ‘I think she’s lonely. Anyway you can show me the way so I don’t get lost tomorrow.’
    â€˜You’ll have to get an
A to Z
or you’re going to get lost eventually,’ Tess said. ‘Especially flat hunting. No one ever knows where anything is in London and they look at you as though you’re daft if you ask for directions. You need a map.’
    â€˜Yes, I’ll get one. There’s one in the office I borrow when I go out on a job, but I keep meaning to buy my own.’
    â€˜Anyway, we can go that way if you like, along Portobello. There’s some pubs down there that look interesting,’ Tess said, assuming the air of a long-time resident in the neighbourhood.
    â€˜Fantastic,’ Kate said, although she still felt depressed. ‘Will we find another flat, do you think?’ she asked. ‘Preferably before those scallies with the dog come knocking on our door.’
    â€˜â€™Course we will,’ Tess said. ‘Though we may have to move further out. The great thing about living here is it’s so close to the West End. That suits Marie while she’s working in Soho, though with a bit of luck she’ll get some acting work soon. With
Z Cars
and all the bands it’s getting quite fashionable to be a northerner. And I’m only a short walk from school. It’s perfect, that’s why we took the flat in the first place.’
    â€˜This tube line suits me too, specially now I’ve got the job permanently,’ Kate said, whose agency was just a couple of streets from where Marie Best worked her shifts at the coffee bar.
    â€˜Yes,