Inspector Morse 12 Death is Now My Neighbour

'I shan't keep you long.'

She led the way through into a tastefully furbished and furnished front room, taking off her ankle-length

white mackintosh, placing it over the back of the red-leather settee, and bidding Morse sit opposite her as she smoothed the pale blue dress over her hips and crossed her elegant, nylon-clad legs.

'Do you mind?' she asked, lifting a cigarette in the air.

'No, no,' muttered Morse, wishing only that she'd offered one to him.

'What can I do for you?' She had a slightly husky, upper-class voice, and Morse guessed she'd probably attended one of the nation's more prestigious public schools.

'Just one or two questions.'

She smiled attractively: 'Go ahead.'

'I understand that my colleague, Sergeant Lewis, has spoken to you already.'

'Nice man - in a gende, shy sort of way.'

'Really? I'd never quite thought of him ...'

'Well, you're a bit older, aren't you?'

'What job do you do?'

She opened her handbag and gave Morse her card.

'I'm the local agent for the Conservative Party.'

'Oh dear! I am sorry,' said Morse, looking down at the small oblong card:

Adele Beatrice Cecil Conservative Party Agent

i Bloxham Drive

Kidlington, Oxon, 0X5 zNY

For information please ring

01865 794768

'Was that supposed to be a sick joke?' There was an edge to her voice now.

'Not really. It's just that I've never had a friend who's a Tory, that's all.'

'You mean you didn't vote for us today?'

'I don't live in this ward.'

'If you give me your address, I'll make sure you get some literature, Sergeant.'

'Chief Inspector, actually,' corrected Morse, oblivious of the redundant adverb.

She tugged her dress a centimetre down her thighs. 'How can I help?'

'Do you know Mr Owens well?'

'Well enough.'

'Well enough to hand him a newspaper scoop?'

Tes.'

'Have you ever slept with him?'

'Not much finesse about you, is there?'

'Just a minute,' said Morse softly. 'I've got a terrible job to do -just up the street here. And part of it's to ask some awkward questions about what's going on in the Close-'

'Drive.'

'To find out who knows who - whom, if you prefer it'

'They did teach us English grammar at Roedean, yes.'

Tfou haven't answered my question.'

Adele breathed deeply, and her grey eyes stared across almost fiercely.

'Once, yes.'

'But you didn't repeat the experience?'

'I said 'once' - didn't you hear me?'

'You still see him?'

'Occasionally. He's all right intelligent, pretty well read, quite good fan, sometimes - and he promised he'd vote Conservative today.'

'He sounds quite compatible.'

'Are you married, Inspector?'

' Chief Inspector.'