A Bit of Murder Between Friends by Elliott Hay

Author:Elliott Hay [Hay, Elliott]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: White Hart Fiction

The bell above the door wouldn’t have been sufficient to jerk Peggy back from her story. But the blasted voice that followed it did the trick.

‘Wagwan, ladies?’ Clive clutched his hand to his chest and affected a swoon. ‘Oh, my my my! And who is your handsome friend? What a delight you are!’ He reached out to shake the officer’s hand. Or perhaps to allow him to kiss it. Who could be certain with Clive?

‘PC Mike West.’ He shook the proffered hand. ‘Delighted to make your acquaintance…?’

Clive batted his eyelashes like a besotted schoolgirl. ‘Likewise, I’m sure. I’m Clive – Clive Chen. I’m the leader of Deptford’s premier local crafters’ circle, the Purly Queens.’ Both Peggy and Madge scoffed noisily at that. ‘That’s purly with a U, you understand.’

Before Mike could respond, Carole looked up. ‘Oh, Clive, I’ve been meaning to ask you… You know what a dachshund is, right?’

Clive furrowed his brow and glanced sideways to see if there was a joke he wasn’t in on. When no one came to his rescue, he said, ‘Yes, it’s a small dog?’

Carole shook her head disgustedly. ‘What? No, I said a dachshund! You do know what a dachshund is, right?’

Clive spoke more confidently this time. ‘It’s a small dog. A sausage dog.’

Carole waved her needles at him in a dismissive fashion. ‘You’re an idiot!’ She turned to Mike and Peter. ‘You know the first blood transfusion in 1852 in America? They would take the blood of a newborn baby and drill holes in its head, so it would never gain muscle control. It’s all just mad, isn’t it?’

Mike looked a question at Peter, who responded by shrugging.

Wagging a finger, Clive fixed Carole with a piercing gaze. ‘You’re a cheeky one, Carole. You want us to think you’re as mad as a box of frogs.’ He sucked air through his teeth – Madge’s favourite expression of disapproval. ‘I ain’t falling for it.’

Mike clapped Clive on the shoulder and nodded at the women. ‘Well, it’s been lovely chatting with you, ladies. And Clive. Alas, I’m going to have to tear your favourite constable away from you. Time, tide, and criminals wait for no one. We’d best be getting back to work, trying to keep our streets safe from those who would flout His Majesty’s laws.’

Peggy lost the battle and her eyes rolled so far back she feared her retinas would detach.

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