Inspector Morse 12 Death is Now My Neighbour

'I'm sure it's not'

'Mm ... You don't look quite so bright, either.'

'We're all getting older.'

'Worse luck!'

'Not really, surely? 'No wise man ever wished to be younger.''

'Bloody nonsense!'

'Not my nonsense -Jonathan Swift's.'

Elbows on the desk, Strange rested his large head on his large hands.

'I'm probably finishing in September, I suppose you'd heard.'

Morse nodded. 'I'm glad they're letting you go.'

'What the 'ell's that supposed to mean?'

'Well, I should think Mrs Strange'll be pleased to have you around, won't she? Retirement, you know ... Getting up late and watching all the other poor sods go off to work, especially on Monday mornings. That sort of thing. It's what we all work for, I suppose. What we all wait for.'

'You mean,' muttered Strange, 'that's what I've been flogging me guts out all this time for - thirty-two years of it? I used to do your sort of job, you know. Caught nearly as many murderers as you in me day. It's just that I used to do it a bit different, that's all. Mostly used to wait till they came to me. No problem, often as not: jealousy, booze, sex, next-door neighbour between the sheets with the missus. Motive- that's what it's all about.'

'Not always quite so easy, though, is it?' ventured Morse, who had heard the sermon several times before.

' Certainly not when you 're around, matey!'

'This case needs some very careful handling, sir. Lots of sensitive enquiries-'

'Such as?'

'About Owens, for a start.'

'You've got some new evidence?'

'One or two vague rumours, yes.'

'Mm ... I heard a vague rumour myself this afternoon. I heard Owens' place got burgled. I suppose you've heard that, too?' He peered at Morse over his half-lenses.

'Yes.'

'Only one thing pinched. Hm! A clock, Morse.'

·Yes.'

'We've only got one or two clock specialists on die patch, as far as I remember. Or is it just the one?'

'The one?'

'You've not seen him - since they let him out again?'

'Ah, Johnson I Yes. I shall have to call round to see him pretty soon, I suppose.'

'What about tomorrow? He's probably your man, isn't he?'

'I'm away tomorrow.'

'Oh?'

'London. Soho, as a matter of fact Few things to check out.'

'I don't know why you don't let Sergeant Lewis do all that sort of tedious leg-work.'

Morse felt the Chief Superintendent's small, shrewd eyes upon him.

'Division of labour. Someone's got to do it.'

'You know,' said Strange, 'if I hadn't got a Supers' meeting in the morning, I'd join you. See the sights ... and everything.'

'I don't think Mrs Strange'd approve.'

'What makes you think I'd tell her?'

'She's - she's not been all that well, has she?'

Strange slowly shook his head, and looked down at the carpet.

'What about you, sir?'

'Me? I'm fine, apart from going deaf and going bald and haemorrhoids and blood pressure. Bit overweight, too, perhaps. What about you?'

Tm fine.'

'How's the drinking going?'

'Going? It's going, er...'