Guilty as Charged by Philip E. High

Author:Philip E. High
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mystery, crime, science fiction, fantasy, detective
ISBN: 9781479409488
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Published: 2013-07-28T00:00:00+00:00

BOUGHT ON

THE INTERNET

The house was hidden by a low hill from the rest of the sea front cottages. In fact, the tarmac road terminated abruptly at the beginning of a hill, leaving only a single track to reach the unseen building on the opposite side.

Wainwright stopped before driving into the garage and looked at his purchase. He had, of course, checked it out before but now he was actually moving in.

MODERN SEASIDE VILLA. Yes, it certainly looked good and, as far as he was concerned, exactly what he wanted. FULLY FURNISHED TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS. No doubt about that, certainly it had been a bit pricey, but things thrown in without charge had made it almost a bargain. SOLAR POWER, ADVANCED SECURITY SYSTEM, INTERIOR CLIMATIC SYSTEM, COOKERY UNIT, UNDER ROAD PASS TO PRIVATE BEACH. LARGE TENDED GARDEN WITH LARGE LAWN, SMALL, COVERED SELF-PURIFYING SWIMMING POOL FOR WINTER USE.

Peter Wainwright grinned to himself and stepped out of the car. A bargain—no doubt about that.

He reached over and lifted the carrier from the passenger seat. “This is your new home, chum.”

The cat’s green eyes expressed nothing, but it said “Yow” in a minor key as if agreeing.

He opened the rear door. “Out, you!”

The dog lollopped out, wagged its tail, and sat down waiting. Domestic, wasn’t it? While he lasted he could be happy here.

He closed the car doors—drive it in later—bent down to pick up the carrier and stopped himself in time. Wrong arm! Left arm and left leg were subsidiaries and painful.

He approached the front door of his new home with a distinct limp, but he had almost become used to the nagging pain. He was not going to let it spoil his enjoyment now.

In the carrier, the cat’s fur rose in spikes, she arched her back and hissed. The action was only brief—she settled down almost immediately and, as if assured, began to purr. Once released from the carrier, she made her way to the biggest chair and curled up in it.

The dog’s only reaction was a half-hearted cough that never quite made a proper bark. He began to wag his tail almost before the sound was ended. It was clear that the animals liked their new home.

Later Wainwright put the car in the garage and made a survey of the kitchen. The agent had stocked up well, and he had even remembered a comprehensive supply of animal food.

Wainwright took a Meal-for-One and put it in the Self-Cook installation. The device would strip the packaging, cook to perfection, and ring a bell when the meal was ready.

Lazy, he thought, he’d like to teach himself to cook later but not now, while he was settling in.

He lowered himself carefully into one of the easy chairs, wincing as he did so. Somehow he had never mastered the art of sitting down without a sharp twinge. Of course, the damn magnets didn’t help, tightening the muscles.

Wainwright was an ex-policeman or, more aptly a high-ranking officer, although he had begun in the ranks. He had been Area Commander North, and gained several awards for bravery.

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