The Easy Sin. Jon Cleary

said abruptly, surprising herself, ‘He’s up for promotion.’

      ‘Who?’ Romy was adrift in her own thoughts.

      ‘Scobie. He says Russ will probably take over Homicide.’

      It was Romy’s turn to stare out through the glass walls. ‘Do you ever wish that they had some other job? Traffic or Fraud, something without murder to it?’

      ‘Often. But would you give up Forensic, cutting people up to see how and maybe why they died?’

      Romy took her time. ‘No-o.’

      ‘Then we put up with what we’ve got. You could have chosen much worse than Russ.’

      Romy pulled her plate back in front of her, picked at the crab salad again. ‘I still could cut his balls off.’

      A boy about seven paused by their table. ‘Whose balls?’

      ‘Yours. Get lost,’ said Romy and started to laugh. Lisa joined in.

      Diners at other tables looked at them, two very attractive women sharing a happy day out on their own.

      At a far table a mother said to her seven-year-old son, ‘What did the lady say to you?’

      ‘She said she’d cut my balls off.’

      ‘Serves you right for speaking to strange women,’ said his father. ‘Remember that, when you grow up.’

      He looked across the restaurant and wondered what sort of exciting sex life those two good-looking women led.

      ‘What are you looking at?’ said his wife.

      ‘The ducks,’ he said and went back to his long black coffee, which did nothing for the libido.

Chapter Three

      1

      Malone and Sheryl Dallen delivered Kylie Doolan back to the Magee apartment, where Paula Decker was waiting for them. Malone had phoned her before leaving Minto and she had sounded as if she was jumping at the chance to being involved in the Magee case again.

      ‘I’ll move in with Miss Doolan,’ she said, looking around the apartment like a prospective buyer. ‘My boss okayed it.’

      ‘Nobody asked me,’ said Kylie.

      ‘Miss Doolan,’ said Malone; his patience with women had been long learned, ‘this is for your protection. You may still be on the kidnap list.’

      She stared at him as if he were threatening her; then she abruptly turned and went into one of the bedrooms. It was the wrong room. A moment later she came out and went into the main bedroom.

      Malone looked at Sheryl and Paula Decker and shrugged. ‘Don’t let her out of your sight, Paula. I’m going to make a call.’

      ‘The toilet’s that way,’ said Sheryl, nodding.