No Human Enemy (Suzie Mountford Mysteries) by John Gardner

sooner?’
    ‘Well, everybody knows, just like they know Doris was a bit of a tart. Shouldn’t speak ill of the dead, but it’s true. Never was close to her, not until Roger went off, got hisself called up. I tried to tell you, but you shut me up.’
    ‘You simply said you knew her.’
    ‘That’s what you asked. Did I know her? And what’s all this about X-rays?’
    ‘My sergeant’s sense of fun,’ said Tommy already forming a few sentences in his head: what he’d say to old ‘Razz’ Berry’s CID. Relationship of one of the suspects. Aloud he asked Pete Hill where he was on the night of 5 th /6 th June.
    ‘I were in London.’
    ‘Really?’
    ‘Aye, really.’
    ‘Anyone see you there?’
    ‘Three American officers and three or so other representatives from electrical firms. I were appearing in front of a board wi’ Cherry Ashworth my business partner.’
    ‘She’s not in HM Forces either?’
    ‘It’s a he and no, seeing he’s in his late sixties, near seventy. Was a sleeping partner until war started up. We shared a room in this American place out towards Rutland Gate: answering questions and showing off our knowledge to t’Americans,’ soft t again, unheard. ‘So’s they would use us as civilian contractors in their military hospitals and places. We applied for it; all official. We do it anyway for t’Army, Navy and RAF, but the bloody Yanks seem to have to test us out first. Make sure we’re fit enough to do it for them. Yes, I were with them having me breakfast on t’Monday when news of t’landings came out.’
    Tommy thought a small vulgar expletive. Am I wasting my time? he wondered, then told Hill that he was free to go.
    ‘But stay in Sheffield; we’ll need to talk again.’
    ‘I can’t promise. The work I’ll be doing for them Yanks’ll be down south. In t’badlands.’
    ‘You’ve got a car and a special petrol allowance, no doubt?’
    ‘Aye.’
    ‘I whistle and you’ll come running back. Understand?’
    ‘Aye.’
    Tommy had developed a blinding headache, so he sought out Detective Chief Superintendent Berry and asked if he would make Kenneth Craig, their other suspect, comfortable for the night.
    ‘Oh, and perhaps you’d get your brilliant officers to check up on his background. I’ve just discovered Pete Hill is Roger Butler’s cousin.’
    ‘Didn’t you know?’ ‘Razz’ Berry sounded as though the entire world knew of Pete Hill’s relationship to the late Roger Butler. In fact he made Tommy feel positively ignorant.
    ‘On second thoughts let Craig go home, then get your lads to make certain he’s not related to the victim,’ he added. ‘I’ll talk to him tomorrow. Tell him to come back about nine o’clock and have one of your lads keep obbo on him so we can be sure he won’t take flight. And Hill as well. I’ll want a word with him again. If only for the experience.’
    Tommy reflected that this was all very English, the way they went about the investigation: asking questions, staying polite for most of the time. Very English and vaguely amateur night. What irked Tommy was that he thought of himself as totally professional. A dedicated copper.
    When he got back to the hotel, Christine Hunter was on duty at reception.
    ‘Mr Livermore, how lovely to see you back again. I’m on all night so if there’s anything you need – anything – just give me a tinkle.’
    Tommy heard Suzie’s voice, ‘Coming, Mr Livermore.’
    ‘Yes, Christine. Thank you,’ he said with a controlled smile. Walking towards the lift he thought, ‘Not even to help with the seven armies in Normandy.’ Christine Hunter was a lot of woman. Far too much woman for one man, and he already had one of those back in London.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    At dawn’s early crack Suzie rang the Reserve Squad offices on the fourth floor of New Scotland Yard. Billy Mulligan picked up and said, ‘You’re ringing me at the crack of dawn, Suz – ma’am,’ correcting himself. ‘Let me guess.’
    ‘I