Thicker Than Water. Lindy Cameron

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СКАЧАТЬ because a certain Detective Chucky Fix-You-Up is in charge of the murder investigation. Speaking of which, you must all remember that I am not, correction we are not - and I repeat - not investigating the murder of Gerry Anders. All we're trying to do is find a connection between Mr Anders, the live businessman, and this," Kit waved at the bar, "one of his last resting places."

      "What do you mean by boundaries?" Brigit asked.

      "She means," Del injected, "we can talk to other patrons and people we know and we can talk to each other, but we don't talk to the press including McThing, and we do not talk to any member of the Riley family. Right?"

      "Right. Or any other crooks or crims or mobsters or strange people," Kit added. "Because of who Anders was, we are inadvertently dealing with some very bad people. We do not want to deal with them directly, and we certainly don't want them to know who we are, that we are interested in them, or that we care."

      "What about Julia?" Angie asked.

      Kit ran her hand through her hair. "Keep her informed and ask her to keep her ears open, but I suggest that she and the other owners keep a low and, if possible, silent profile."

      "Especially Gwen and her woo-woo friends," Del added.

      "What about Alex?" Brigit asked.

      Kit sighed. They'd be calling on Rabbit and the Scooter gang to act as the Terpsichore Irregulars if she wasn't careful. Ooh, don't forget about Scooter.

      "Alex is not due to leave Sydney until Sunday," she said. "Even then she may have to go straight to Adelaide. But, if there are no objections, I think we need her on the team anyway. At the very least Angie may need a lawyer."

      Angie pulled a sour face. "You think so?"

      "Sorry honey," Kit nodded, "but yes, I think so."

      "Alex would also make a proper famous five," Brigit stated - way too seriously. Before anyone could groan, which they all got around to in a flash, she threw her palms up. "Hey, I'm just trying to lighten the mood here. I mean, it's not like we knew the dead guy. We are simply caught up in someone else's shit here and sure, while some of it is bound to stick on us, we do not have to lose our senses of humour."

      Del stroked Brigit's shoulder. "I love this woman," she admitted. "No idea why; but I do."

      "Ohh," Kit sighed. "Cathy says she's not been able to find Karen Farrell."

      "I heard her say that," Del said. "What does she want Scooter for?"

      "She was here when I opened up yesterday, but had to go to work," Angie explained.

      "She didn't get there," Kit said. "Do you know where she works?"

      "An old folks home in Brunswick, since her school closed down." Angie said. "I told the cops that, and Rabbit told them where Scooter lives. I wonder where she is?"

      "Was Scooter Farrell acting suspiciously?" Brigit queried, in a vaguely Sherlockian tone.

      "No more than usual," Angie laughed. "They'd all been on the piss something chronic on Wednesday night apparently, so Scooter was not a well girl. It's not surprising she couldn't cope with the oldies after finding a dead man with the hangover she had."

      "That then is the first thing on the agenda," Kit announced, turning to Del and Brigit. "Can you two find out where Scooter is recovering, loitering or doing whatever it is she's doing..."

      "Easy," Brigit declared, sliding off her stool. "Toilet first, though," she added, heading immediately in that direction.

      "...without arousing the curiosity Rabbit & Co outside," Kit finished.

      "O'Malley?" Del placed her hand on Kit's arm and looked deep and seriously into her sparkling-greens.

      "Del," Kit acknowledged.

      "Are you assigning us distracting chores so we'll keep our noses out of your official detecting business?"

      "Yes," Kit smiled, "and no. I'm delegating less risky tasks to you, your girlfriend and Angie, so that none of us get too involved in the heart of this murder investigation. The Rileys are not nice people Del. It's more than likely they did something extra nasty to another bad guy that resulted in the over-the-top death that was accorded Gerry Anders."

      Angie screwed her nose up in frustrated anger. "But I didn't to anything to the Rileys, or their cohorts or enemies, so why did some psycho-crook dump this shit in my lap?"

      Kit gave an expansive shrug. "That might not have been the intention, Angie; but there's a thought. Can you find out if your co-owners have any, even remote, unwelcome connections to any underworld types or, failing that, if they've been approached by anyone about selling."

      "Is that my job?"

      "Yes honey, that's your job," Kit said and then frowned. "But, as I said, please be careful because I've just thought of another less-likelihood, but one that indicates just how dangerous the Rileys can be. Gerry Anders himself may have done something so wrong or unacceptable in the eyes of his own family that they did this to him."

      "Oh shit," Del grumbled. "I may have to lock Brigie in the pantry until this is over."

      "Why would Queenie want to see where he was found, if they left him here?" Angie asked.

      "You're the one who called them lunatics and perverts," Del reminded her.

      Angie shook her head. "I was talking about the god-warblers and the journos. Marjorie Riley was polite and seemed pretty upset this morning."

      "Yeah?" Kit huffed. "That woman has been conning people her entire life Angie; and she makes a hobby of lying to the cops."

      Angie ducked her head in concession. "It could have been an act I suppose. But to me it looked more like an 'I'm gunna get the bastard that did this to my boy' kind of deal. What I want to know, Katy, is why the hell she wanted to talk to me."

      "Coz you found him. Dealing with her, however, is going to be my job, or one of them; okay? I saw enough of everything to answer Queenie's questions. And I'll pay her a visit so she won't have any reason to come back here."

      Are you completely mad? Kit's mind screamed. Don't even suggest that as a last resort.

      "Are you mental?" Del was asking.

      "You know I am," Kit smiled.

      "Will she remember you were a cop?" Angie asked. "It might smooth the way."

      Kit put on her best don't-be-ridiculous face. "Being a cop, even an ex, wouldn't smooth a bloody thing with the Rileys, Angie. Besides, I've actually never met the old tart. I saw her heaps, but never had a reason to talk to her, arrest her, interview her, or be introduced to her."

      "And don't you dare do any of those things now either," Del pronounced. "I mean not on you own, O'Malley. Don't call on her without company or back up, without being wired or watched, or without telling us when and where you're going to do such a stupid thing."

      "I wouldn't dream of it," Kit grinned, thankful that Del at least seemed to understand the seriousness of their collective situation. She hoped that would also translate into СКАЧАТЬ