‘So why did Shirley give it as her address then?’ George peered at him in the darkness. ‘That makes no sense.’
‘Yes, it does. She knew it as Lester’s place. He was paying the bills, and she wanted an accommodation address. She never gave her own for anything. Very hot on personal privacy, was Shirley. So she used Lester’s. Or so Salmon says.’
‘Salmon.’ She shook her head and started walking again. ‘What a bastard.’
‘What a bastard indeed. And Lester, as cold a killer as I’ve ever met.’
‘He killed’ – she counted on her fingers – ‘Lisa Zizi and Shirley Candrell, Don Greeson, and was all set to kill Lenny too.’
‘Yes. Poor old Don, stupid bugger that he always was. He’d do anything for folding money to bet with. He let himself get hooked up with Lester and when he tried to get out, maybe because he didn’t like what he saw …’
‘He was chopped up for his pains,’ George said soberly.
‘Yes.’
There was a little pause and then Gus said, ‘If the machine hadn’t broken down that night, so that they were left with just a leg, maybe Lester’d have got away with it. How many people do you suppose he’s killed that way? According to Salmon it’s one hell of a list. All sorts of awkward bods ended up in the river.’
She shuddered slightly. ‘It makes me feel sick,’ she said. ‘It’s a horrible thing to do.’ She was silent for a while, and then said thoughtfully, ‘Though I have to say it’s incredibly efficient. Just turning a body into sludge. It would have been so finely chopped that –’
‘Spare me the details,’ Gus said hastily. ‘Is there anything else you want to sort out?’
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘The dog. Why kill that?’
‘It made such a row when they killed Don, they had to,’ Gus said.
‘Oh.’ She was silent for a while and then said, ‘I wonder whether Connie did make a coat out of its skin? It did seem possible.’
‘I’ll ask him,’ Gus said. ‘If it matters.’
‘I don’t think I want to know.’ George shivered. ‘Anyway, what are they going to charge Connie with? I’m almost sorry for him. He just did his rag-picking and went home and left the place to Lester and his people. Why should he –’
‘Accessory,’ Gus said. ‘He might have tried to keep out of it, but he knew perfectly well there was something going on. Like the way the machine kept breaking down, and the smell, and the rats. But it suited him to play blind. It doesn’t wash, that. If they’re caught, he is too.’
‘Well,’ George said after another little while as they went on their slow walking pace, covering the grey streets easily, heading towards Tower Bridge and the way home. ‘That’s another one over and done with. Now what? Have I only got my battle to keep my Path. Department going at Old East to keep me happy? Chances are the St Dymphna’s idea’ll shrivel up and die now, anyway. So, as I said, now what?’
He looked down at her sideways. ‘Well, I’ve got my superintendent selection to think of, after Monday when the CIB at Tintagel House agrees I’m well and truly off the hook, which Salmon now occupies in my place.’
‘Yes,’ she said with great satisfaction. ‘And I hope he wriggles and suffers and – chokes on it.’
He sounded genuinely surprised. ‘That’s not like you, George. Whatever people do, you’re not usually so vindictive.’
‘You don’t know what you looked like while you were suspended,’ she said and pulled him a little closer to her side. ‘You don’t remember how miserable you were. I’m allowed to be vindictive towards the man who did that to you.’
He tightened his arm so that they were even closer. ‘Oh yes, I do remember,’ he said quietly. ‘I remember perfectly well.’
‘You were even miserable enough to suggest we got married,’ George said, not looking at him. ‘I mean, how miserable can a man get, I ask myself?’
‘Hmm.’ He squinted out across the road towards Tower Bridge which they had at last reached. The traffic lights winked their lollipop colours across the blackness of the empty pavements and the skein of lights along the roads glittered in the warm, still, river-scented air. ‘Yes. That’s a good question. We’ll have to talk about that, won’t we?’
And he marched her across the road towards Tower Bridge. And home.
Table of Contents
Cover
Other Books by This Author
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Third Degree Page 36
