The Colors of All the Cattle by Smith Alexander McCall

Author:Smith, Alexander McCall [Smith, Alexander McCall]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Adult, Humour, Crime
ISBN: 9781524747800
Amazon: 1524747807
Goodreads: 38658159
Publisher: Pantheon
Published: 2018-09-06T07:00:00+00:00

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THEY FOUND EDDIE at his uncle’s workshop, tucked away behind the hill that dominated the village. It was, like so many such businesses, an eyesore: several cars, well beyond repair, had been abandoned to the side, clearly cannibalised for their parts, occupied in one case by chickens. Elsewhere in the yard were piles of bodywork parts: mudguards, side panels, half of a truck’s cab, what looked like the side door of an ambulance.

Eddie was standing beside his uncle, who was using a welding torch. Both wore protective visors, but when Eddie saw Charlie he moved away, took off his welder’s helmet, and walked over to meet him.

“So, Charlie,” he said. “What brings you to the sticks?”

They shook hands. “I thought it was time to look you up, Eddie,” Charlie said. “I wanted to see if you’d grown any taller.”

Eddie looked at Fanwell and grinned. “Your friend’s got a great sense of humour, hasn’t he?”

Fanwell laughed nervously. Eddie was certainly very tall—at least a head and shoulders above him and Charlie.

“Who’s this?” asked Eddie, gesturing to Fanwell. He might not have intended to sound rude, but that was the effect. Fanwell looked down at the ground in embarrassment.

“This is my assistant,” said Charlie, avoiding Fanwell’s eye.

“Ha!” exclaimed Eddie. “You’ve got an assistant these days, Charlie? What does your assistant do—make you your lunch? Polish your shoes?” He laughed at his own wit. Charlie smiled patiently.

“I’m not just working in the garage these days,” Charlie said. “I’m also working as a private detective. You may have heard of the place—the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.”

“Never heard of it,” said Eddie abruptly. “Working for ladies? You wouldn’t catch me working for a lady.”

Fanwell looked up sharply. “Mma Ramotswe is a very good detective,” he said. “She is very well known…to people who know what’s what.”

It was as stout a defence of Mma Ramotswe and the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency as he could manage, but it did not seem to have a conspicuous effect on Eddie, who simply ignored it.

“So where did you learn to be a private detective?” Eddie challenged.

“It’s a practical training,” said Charlie. “Like training to be a mechanic.”

“Sounds like a girl’s job,” said Eddie.

Fanwell looked at Charlie, wondering whether he would respond to this provocative series of comments. Charlie returned the glance, making it clear that he did not want a confrontation.

“I’m making certain enquiries,” Charlie continued patiently. There was pride in his voice; the words had been mentally rehearsed several times on that day’s journey.

Eddie pointed to two white plastic chairs that had been placed under the shade of a nearby tree. “We could sit down,” he said. “It’s easier to talk if you’re sitting down.” There was no question of offering both chairs to the visitors; Eddie secured one for himself and then gestured for Charlie to occupy the other. Fanwell was left standing.

Charlie started the conversation. “A month or two ago there was an accident here in Mochudi…,” he began.

Eddie shrugged. “There’s an accident every day around here, if you count the small ones.

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