The Ten Commandments by Anthea Fraser Read Free Book Online Page B

extra "i". No doubt some inexperienced newsreader started it, and everyone blindly followed suit. I even heard a clergyman say it. Lord help us.'
    Edwina laughed and leaned over to kiss his cheek. 'I do love you,' she said.
    'Well,' Hannah commented, switching off the set, 'what did you think of that?'
    'Ve-ery interesting, as they used to say on the
    Laugh-in.'
    'Seriously, though, do you think he has a point?'
    'He might well have,' Webb conceded, 'though I don't see that it gets us much further.'
    'Can you think of a crime that wasn't prompted by breaking one of the Commandments?'
    'How about so-called mercy killing, allegedly done with the best of intentions?'
    '"So-called", "allegedly"! You policemen! Anyway, some people don't regard that as a crime.'
    'It is in the eyes of the law.'
    'He came to talk to us at school once, Frederick Mace. He was excellent. Have you ever met him?'
    'Not personally, though I've read his books. He gets carried away sometimes, like all these academics, but basically he's pretty sound.'
    'It would be interesting to know if, when he's had time to study them, he concludes it was the same motive for both killings.'
    'Whatever he concludes,' Webb responded, draining his glass, 'I sincerely hope we'll have beaten him to it. It's all very well for these writers; they can sit back and hum and haw for months on end. They haven't got the press or the Super on their backs wanting a quick result.'
    ' Do you think it's the same killer, David?'
    'I hope so; it would be gratifying to clear up two cases at once.'
    'That wasn't exactly what I asked.'
    Webb smiled and got to his feet. 'Like your pal Mace, I can't say any more at the moment. In other words, I haven't a clue.'
    It was, he reflected, as he went up the stairs to his own flat, a depressing admission on which to end the day.

4
    Paul Blake said over the phone, 'I enjoyed the interview, sir. Well done.'
    Frederick smiled bleakly. 'Good of you, but I said more than I should, and now I've got the newshounds on my track. Serves me right, I suppose.'
    'Yes, I've seen the papers. "The answer to pub murders lies in the motives," says criminologist. Are you still interested in meeting Philpott's widow?'
    Frederick's hand tightened on the receiver. 'You've not tracked her down?'
    'I have, as it happens. Following your instructions, I went to Oxbury yesterday and had lunch in the local pub. As you can imagine, this talk of links between the latest murder and Philpott's was the main topic of conversation. All well-trodden ground, of course, but then I really had a break. One of the men commented that the person he felt sorry for was Philpott's wife, having it all dragged up again.
    'So I said casually, "She remarried, didn't she? What was the name again?"
    'And he said, "A chap called Bradburn. They moved down to Broadminster."'
    'Well done, Paul. Do we know where in Broadminster?'
    'We do. All I had to do was look them up in the phone book.'
    Frederick said anxiously, 'She might not want to see me; she must have tried to put all that behind her.'
    'Oh, I think she will, sir. Human nature being what it is.'
    'How do you mean?'
    'Well, you're not in the same category as the police or a common-or-garden reporter, are you? Even if she didn't watch the programme, she'll have seen today's papers. You're a celebrity, after all; she'll be flattered you want to see her. I suggest you give her a call.'
    Frederick hesitated, his natural disinclination to intrude at war with his writer's curiosity. Then, well aware which would triumph, he said resignedly, 'Give me the number, then.'
    A man's voice answered the phone, abrupt and impatient. It could be that Mrs Bradburn had already had more than enough calls that morning. However, on hearing Frederick's name, the tone changed.
    'The one who was on the box last night?'
    'I'm afraid so,' said Frederick deprecatingly.
    'Just a minute.'
    A woman's voice came on the line. 'Hello?'
    'Mrs Bradburn? My name is Frederick Mace. I