Knuckle Bones by Alex Smith

Author:Alex Smith [Smith, Alex]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-03-30T16:00:00+00:00

He was on the right side of town for the Lewington place, a ten-minute drive over the river and up the hill. Brightly lit windows peeked over brick walls like nervous giants, occasional pockets of city light visible in the gaps between them. It could have been another city entirely up here, Kett thought. Another world.

He parked in the same place he had earlier that day, wondering whether it was too late for a house call. But he was here now, and it wouldn’t take long. He ran through the rain to the pedestrian gate, ringing the buzzer. This time it didn’t open automatically, an abrasive voice exploding from the speakers—Muddle, the maid. Kett was ashamed to admit he couldn’t remember her real name.

“Who’s calling?”

“Oh, hi. It’s DCI Kett. I popped by earlier. I was wondering whether I might be able to have a quick chat with Mrs Lewington?”

“One moment.”

The speaker fell quiet and Kett stamped his feet, feeling freezing fingers of rainwater explore his neck and run down his back. He was again wondering whether he should just jump back in the car and head home when the gate buzzed. He pushed through, running to the front door. When it opened, it wasn’t Muddle he saw there, or even Kitty. It was Kitty’s son, Ron, and he had his daughter in his arms.

“Hi,” he said. “I—”

He was cut off by Clara, who looked at Kett and issued a long, wet raspberry. Both men waited patiently for it to finish.

“I’m so sorry,” said Ron. “Please don’t—”

She did another one, and Kett couldn’t help but laugh at the look of utter exasperation on Ron’s face.

“Don’t worry,” he told him, smiling at Clara. “That’s a pretty impressive raspberry.”

“It’s a fart,” she said. “Daddy, I’m cold.”

“Sorry,” said Ron, standing to one side. “Come in. Mum’s upstairs. She heads to bed early these days. Earlier than the kids. But she knows you’re here, and she’s coming down.”

“Oh, it’s no trouble, really,” said Kett. “I can come back tomorrow.”

“Nonsense,” said Ron, closing the door behind him. The house was big and old, but it was as warm as a freshly drawn bath and Kett shuddered with the delight of it. Ron put Clara down. “Go fetch Nanny, sweetie. Can I take your coat, Detective?”

Kett shrugged it off with a thanks, and Ron hung it on the newel post of the wide stairs. He set off towards the kitchen, talking over his shoulder.

“Have you got anywhere with the bones?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure,” he said. “The case has got a little more… complicated.”

“How so?” asked Ron as they entered the vast kitchen diner. He caught Kett’s expression and tapped his nose. “Ah, I see. Confidential. I won’t ask.”

Clara was bouncing on one of the sofas, her eyes glued to the TV where Moana was playing. The boy sat next to her, although Kett had forgotten his name too. He gave Kett a suspicious side-eye, then returned to the screen.

“Please, Clara,” Ron said. “No jumping. You’ll wreck the couch.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.