Murder on the Lake by Bruce Beckham Read Free Book Online Page A

figures.
    While
second helpings are being assembled in the kitchen, and thus two of the group
are absent from the table, the conversation fragments.  Burt Boston rather
fawningly plies a bored-looking Sarah Redmond with an elaborate question about theming
her novels.  Dickie Lampray begins to regale Bella Mandrake with an
exposition on the particular variety of Bordeaux with which she has become so
well acquainted, and indeed has her rather belatedly tasting its
characteristics.  However, both Skelgill and Angela Cutting silently twist
the stems of their wine glasses, as though each is waiting for the other to
speak.  It is the latter that finally does so, turning conspiratorially to
Skelgill, such that Dr Gerald Bond, who ruminates in silence opposite them, is
unlikely to overhear.
    ‘The
boat, Inspector – what do you really think happened to it? 
Now that you have had time to consider.’
    Skelgill
opens his palms in a non-committal gesture.  He is evidently still
reluctant to countenance the idea that his knots had some part to play in the
craft’s disappearance.  However, his eventual reply ostensibly contradicts
this position.
    ‘Looking
at it logically – most likely it worked itself loose.’
    It
appears that, despite Dickie Lampray’s best efforts to hold her attention,
Bella Mandrake is eavesdropping, for her dark eyes glint searchingly at those
of Skelgill, as if she is trying to discern his true belief within.
     
    *
     
    ‘ Nephron ? 
My good man – I must challenge you.  What in this world is a
nephron?’
    After
dinner the group has retired to the drawing room.  Amidst the break resulting
from the need for clearing the table and washing up – Burt Boston and
Lucy Hecate completing the final phase of their assigned chores –
Skelgill set about restoring the blaze in the hearth to its former glory, while
Dickie Lampray took charge of dispensing liqueurs and suchlike from the amply
stocked drinks trolley.  In due course the party has reconvened upon the
sofas, in considerably livelier fettle than at any time to date.  This
heightened state of banter owes itself largely, no doubt, to the stack of empty
bottles that has accumulated in the scullery.  Indeed, the casual observer
would be shocked to discover that, lying ‘at rest’ only feet above the heads of
this joshing throng, is the dead body of one of their number.
    To
complement the alcoholic liberation from their plight, which has lowered
inhibitions and salved reservations, there is now the added distraction of what
is evidently the regular Scrabble challenge.  There being three
teams, and this the fourth night, it has emerged that the scores are tied at
one game apiece – and thus tonight’s contest might be the decider. 
The teams’ composition has required revised seating arrangements, with Dickie
Lampray, Linda Gray and Sarah Redmond occupying the cross-bench sofa, Dr Gerald
Bond, Lucy Hecate and Burt Boston on the left wing, so to speak, while, on the
right, Skelgill is sandwiched between Bella Mandrake and Angela Cutting, the
latter closest to the fire.  Skelgill is, in an unfortunate sense, playing
as substitute for the permanently absent Rich Buckley, and has already several times
pointed out that the English language is not his strong suit – “Just ask
one of my subsidiaries .”
    His apprehension
perhaps stems from the fierce spirit of competition that clearly exists between
the three sides: as is now reflected in Dickie Lampray’s challenge to Dr Gerald
Bond’s placement of the word nephron .  His concern may be heightened
by the revelation that, while it is a team game, each individual member takes a
turn at leading, on a rotating basis.  Not surprisingly, therefore, many
of the words placed to date have reflected the particular expertise of the
participants.  Burt Boston, for instance, has provided ‘mortar’ and
‘hijack’, Linda Gray ‘dough’ and ‘stovies’ (she maintains, a kind of Scottish
stew