The Judas Pair

The Judas Pair

By

Jonathan Gash

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

PENGUIN CRIME FICTION

THE JUDAS PAIR

Jonathan Gash is the author of eighteen other Lovejoy mysteries, including The Possessions of a Lady. Gash's books served as the inspiration for the long-running Lovejoy television series on the Arts & Entertainment Network. He developed his love for antiques as a medical student when he earned extra money by working in a London street market. Now Mr. Gash is drawing upon his medical expertise to write a new series starring Dr. Clare Burtonall, the first of which is entitled Different Women Dancing.

Copyright © John Grant, 1977

Gash, Jonathan.

The Judas Pair.

Originally published: New York: Harper & Row, 1977

ISBN 0 14 01.2688 0

This book is dedicated, with respect and humility, to the Chinese god Wei Dt'o, protector of books against fire, pillaging, decay, and dishonest borrowers.

LOVEJOY

Chapter 1

This story's about greed, desire, love, and death— in the world of antiques you get them all.

Just when I was in paradise the phone rang. Knowing it would be Tinker Dill, I pushed her into the bathroom, turned all the taps on, and switched the radio on.

'What the hell's that noise?' Tinker sounded half sloshed as usual.

'You interrupted again, Tinker,' I said wearily.

'How am I to know you're on the nest?' he said, peeved.

In the White Hart they only had one record that worked, and it was notching up the decibels in a background muddle of voices.

'What is it?'

'Got somebody for you,' he said.

I was all ears. You know that tingling a sexy promise gives? Double it for religion. Treble it for collecting. And for antique dealers like me hearing of a customer, multiply by infinity to get somewhere near the drive that forces a man over every conceivable boundary of propriety, common sense, reason—oh, and law. I almost forgot law. I'd been on the nest two days with Sheila (was she Sheila, or was that last Thursday? I couldn't remember) and here I was quivering like a selling plater at its first race. All because one of my scouts was phoning in with a bite.

Scouts? We call them barkers in the trade. An antique dealer has scouts, people who will pass information his way. Tinker Dill was one of mine. I have three or four, depending on how rich I'm feeling at the time, paid on commission. Tinker was the best. Not because he was much good, but because he was loyal. And he was loyal because he judged every deal in terms of whisky. Or gin. Or rum.

'Buying or selling?' I said, quite casual. Twenty years dealing antiques, and my hands sweating because a barker rings in. It's a right game.

'Buying.'

'Big or little?'

'Big.'

'You having me on, Tinker?' That stupid bird was banging on the bathroom door wanting to be let out.

'Straight up, Lovejoy,' he said. All right, all right. I was born with the name. Still, you can't forget Lovejoy