A FATAL BLOW an absolutely gripping classic British whodunnit by JANET NEEL

Author:JANET NEEL [NEEL, JANET]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Ostara Classics
Published: 2024-01-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

John McLeish sat on the half empty train to Doncaster on Wednesday morning, guiltily hoping he wasn’t wasting police time. He was on his way to attend the funeral of William Fireman, which was legitimate police work, but he was spending the night in Doncaster afterwards almost entirely because Francesca would be there. She had rung him apologetically to explain that she could not keep their date for Wednesday because she had to accompany her boss to Doncaster to meet the Britex Board, most of whom would be there to attend the funeral. McLeish had promptly reinstated their date for the Thursday, and decided to spend Wednesday night in Doncaster too. He did, of course, need time to talk to the Doncaster CID — but he was also resolved to spin out the talks so that he could catch the same train home as Francesca. He needed to get closer to the Department of Industry team, true — but he also wanted to carry Francesca off for supper with him before her family or other concerns could overwhelm her. Also, he might manage to get her to himself for a bit tonight, since she had been sure the meeting would not go on late.

He was met by a detective inspector whom he instantly recognized as a fellow rugby-player.

‘Brady. How are you? Very good of you to come yourself.’

‘I heard it was you, so I decided to take an interest.’ Brady, a stocky chap perhaps a couple of years older than McLeish, was a walking illustration of the dangers of abandoning a competitive sport too abruptly. He was a good three stone heavier than when he had been a fly-half for the London Scottish, and had lost a good deal of hair as well. He was, endearingly, beaming with pleasure at seeing McLeish.

‘I’ll take you to the pub for lunch and we can talk.’ If you are unwilling to become a Freemason, McLeish reflected, being a near international class rugby-player was almost as useful in the Force. They took drinks over to a corner table from which they could survey the room, and ordered a solid lunch.

‘I’ve come up for the funeral and to get the local gossip.’

‘And you’ve come to the right man. My wife’s a local girl, you know. Related to half the town, and that’s why I am here. Julie never could settle in London, so I left the Met and came here when I got the chance; better for the kids, too. I miss London, though.’ He contemplated his beer sadly. ‘Sorry, where was I? Well, everyone says Britex is in trouble, not paying its bills, that’s for a start. Hang on, though, John — why do you think it isn’t just a mugging anyway?’

McLeish explained about the possible link with the attack on Sheena Byers, but it did sound increasingly thin, even to him, as he expounded his theory. Rather to his surprise, Brady was interested and commented that there were really dangerous tensions in

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