The Mask of Zeus by Desmond Cory

Author:Desmond Cory [Cory, Desmond]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Thriller
Published: 2015-05-01T23:00:00+00:00

‘What, flies? Or teacups?’

‘No, no. Those loonies we’re talking about. What with the time they waste, checking out their stories.’

‘Do they come and confess to other kinds of crime?’

‘Lord, yes. Anything they’ve read about in the paper, like I said. Or seen on the telly. Murder’s what really turns ’em on, though. So Mr Dobie’s right about that.’

‘Any special kind of murder, Jacko? I mean, one kind more than another?’

Jackson hesitated for a moment before replying. Kate took this to be a pause for cogitation rather than a preliminary to further unprovoked assault. ‘… Yeah. Sex killings. Anything that’s … you know … a bit off. Kinky like. Appeals to the psycho in them, I suppose. I can’t account for it, mind. But it’s a fact.’

‘So they’re mostly men?’

‘Nine out of ten of ’em, I’d say. But I couldn’t quote you the actual sadistics.’

‘And you can’t hazard a guess as to why they do it?’

‘Not my place to, is it? They’re barmy, is why.’

‘Yes, but—’

‘Foxy Boxy, he’s always going on about guilt complexes and suchlike but he goes to the pictures a bit too often, in my opinion. Sees all them Hitchprick films or whatever they’re called. No – they just want to draw attention to themselves is what I think. Having missed out on a mother’s tender care when they was young. And a happy family atmosphere such as I enjoyed. Why, I betcha,’ Jackson said, ‘I got the marks of my old man’s slipper on my backside yet. Discipline, see? That’s what this country needs.’

‘And more unbreakable teacups.’

‘Ha ha ha,’ Jackson said.

Kate rang off on that convivial note and looked at the notes she’d scribbled on the telephone pad. They didn’t seem to add up to very much but then that silly chump Dobie hadn’t told her very precisely what questions to ask. And her next commission was, if anything, even vaguer.

A London number, this time. She had to look it up in the directory before dialling it because naturally Dobie hadn’t known it. It was always like this with bloody Dobie. He hadn’t even been gone a week yet and …

Oh, dear.

The telephone clicked in her ear.

‘Perriam and Webb,’ said a bright female voice. ‘Editorial office. How can I help you?’

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