The School of English Murder by Ruth Dudley Edwards Read Free Book Online Page B

Jenn.” “No, no, Jenn. Not that way. This way.” Used to get his rocks off showing how clever he was about everything. Sort of fella if you said you was going to Green Park by the Piccadilly line, he’d want to sit you down to tell you why you should go by the Victoria line instead. Pain in the butt.’
    ‘So what did he do in the language lab?’
    ‘Search me. Mucked around with some wires. Anyway what do you want to know about him for? He’s dead.’
    ‘Well, it was the language lab I was concerned about. I don’t want to end up electrocuted.’
    ‘Oh, you never have to use it with the wogs. It’s only for the beautiful people.’
    ‘You must feel at home with them.’ Amiss was finding it increasingly exhausting to be sufficiently flirtatious to keep her happy while not storing up future trouble. ‘Is it because of them you haven’t done another glamorous job like the ones you were telling me about in the pub?’
    ‘Well, it’s fairly glamorous with the beautiful people. You get round a bit. That’s why I took the job when Rich suggested it. I don’t have to do much with your lot.’
    Amiss was encouraged to hear her slur her words slightly. He helped her to some more wine. ‘Get on well with them then?’
    ‘Some of ’em. But some of ’em’s right bastards and bitches.’
    Amiss was finding all this maddeningly imprecise. ‘What is it you do with them?’
    ‘That’d be telling.’ She looked at him coquettishly.
    There was nothing for it. She was clearly a lady who drove a hard bargain.
    ‘Pudding?’ he asked, through clenched teeth. ‘Coffee? Brandy? And then I’ll take you home.’

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    8
    « ^ »
    The normally serious-minded Pooley was shaking with laughter. ‘And then?’
    ‘The taxi-driver intervened. Said he wasn’t having that sort of carry-on in the back of his cab. That gave me a breather to light a cigarette and interpose it between us. Whether he knew she was sexually assaulting me or thought I was attacking her I’ve no idea. I was too embarrassed to ask after we’d decanted her.’
    ‘You mean you didn’t go in with her? You cad.’
    ‘I don’t think I’d enjoy being raped.’
    Pooley looked solemn again. ‘It’s a bit worrying, though, Robert.’
    ‘What in particular?’
    ‘Isn’t she going to feel rejected? And doesn’t that bode ill?’
    ‘I suppose in my shoes you’d have sacrificed your body for the cause. I always knew the police were corrupt.’
    ‘No, no, seriously, have you thought how you’ll handle it? After all, if she’s that thick with Rogers she could get you fired.’
    ‘All in hand, all in hand, dear boy. What’s for dinner?’
    ‘Roast beef.’
    ‘Lead me to it. And don’t fret. I’ve already sorted things out. I rang her up this afternoon.’
    ‘And?’
    ‘She was a bit reserved. Of course I’d no way of knowing what she remembered, but I decided to assume everything. “Jenn,” I said, “help, I’ve a confession to make.” Spun her a line about how I was terrified my fiancée would find out — she being madly jealous. I had been unable to resist Jenn’s charms and had behaved like a swine in not telling her I was an engaged man. Only mitigating factor that I had resisted temptation, almost overwhelming though it was. Very hard to be well-behaved with someone so madly attractive around. I’d have to keep well away, etc. etc. etc’
    ‘Excellent. Lovely face-saving job. Mind you, she won’t leave you alone until she has her way with you.’
    ‘I hope I’ll have finished with the school before that happens. I don’t want to get AIDS .’
    ‘Gets around, does she?’
    ‘If my deductions are correct, part of her job with the beautiful people is as a highish-class tart.’
    Pooley’s eyes gleamed. ‘Now we’re getting somewhere. Come on into the kitchen and let’s get stuck into dinner. And you won’t mind, will you, if I take notes?’
    ‘Definitely a fifteen-cigarette problem,’ remarked Amiss, stretched