Merrily Watkins 05 - The Lamp of the Wicked by Phil Rickman

Author:Phil Rickman
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Mystery & Detective, General, Women Sleuths, Fiction
ISBN: 9780330490320
Publisher: Corvus
Published: 2002-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

28

Bloody Angels

JANE SAID, ‘WHAT are you doing sitting here in the dark?’

Silhouetted in the doorway, with the creamy kitchen behind her, she looked so slight and vulnerable that Merrily wanted to rush over and hold her. The way you did sometimes, even in normal circumstances.

As if she’d sensed it and didn’t want it, Jane backed off into the kitchen.

‘Sorry.’ Merrily felt a cool wave of dismay. ‘Sorry, flower. I was on the phone, and the light just faded on me. What’s the time?’

‘Twenty to six.’

Merrily got up. ‘Things have been a bit… Maybe we could put some music on later?’ Code for a deep and meaningful chat.

‘Whatever.’

‘You OK?’

‘Yeah.’ The light, throwaway kind of yeah, carrying many times its weight of meaning. And now the damn phone was going again. Merrily glanced back to make sure she hadn’t switched off the machine by mistake.

‘Better get it,’ Jane said quickly. ‘Might be important.’

Merrily hesitated, and Jane turned away. Merrily sighed, went back and picked up. ‘Ledwardine Vic—’

‘Mrs Watkins!’ Cheery, booming male voice. ‘George Lomas, Lomas and Sons, Coleford. We haven’t done business before, but we’re burying a certain gentleman – if that’s the correct term in this instance – for Mr Tony Lodge and your good self.’

‘Ah, right. Erm… hello.’

‘You have Friday, I believe.’

‘As I understand it.’

‘And, unfortunately, Mrs Watkins, I have to tell you, as quite a number of people now understand it. Mr Lodge had hoped to keep it discreet by using ourselves, rather than one of the firms in Ross, but it seems someone’s let the cat out of the bag, and I had a phone call this afternoon from the local press.’

‘Oh dear.’

‘Quite. Not what we want, under the circumstances. However, I’ve spoken to the parties concerned, including the Reverend Banks, and we have an alternative proposal to put to you, if it can be accommodated into your schedule. And that is Wednesday – the day after tomorrow. We’re suggesting late afternoon – very late afternoon.’

‘You mean under cover of darkness?’

‘I think it makes sense, Mrs Watkins. It had been arranged that Mr Lodge’s coffin should spend at least one night in the church prior to burial, so no one will be surprised to see a hearse arrive. We propose – and Mr Tony Lodge is somewhat reluctantly in agreement – that the funeral should be carried out as soon as possible. We expect there to be no more than five mourners.’

‘A clandestine funeral?’

‘That wouldn’t exactly be my choice of word but, under the circumstances… well, Mr Banks is certainly in agreement. It means that Mr Lodge will be safely interred before anyone can… cause problems.’

‘You’ve been warned of problems?’

‘Not if it’s dealt with on Wednesday evening and arrangements remain confidential. Could we say five-thirty?’

‘Well…’ There really wasn’t an alternative, was there? ‘OK.’

‘Splendid,’ said Mr Lomas.

When she put down the phone, it rang again, under her hand.

‘Damn.’ Merrily picked up. ‘Led—’

Sophie said, ‘I was just doing my final check on the e-mail, and there’s one you might just want to know about before the morning.

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