Chapter Five
Abra was surprised to see him. She must have heard him come in, for she followed him into the kitchen, which was, tonight, his first venue on arriving home.
‘I thought you’d be hours yet.’
He had rung her during the day on his mobile to let her know he was on a new murder investigation, and not to expect him back early. ‘Nothing else to be done tonight. Clean murder. Family affair. No axe-wielding maniac likely to run amok. As I said, it’s just a family affair, with the usual jealousies and resentments and hatreds and partisanship. Bring in a bit of a servant problem in old retainers getting above their station, and we have the perfect British murder.’ He looked hopefully at the kettle, then Abra, and said, ‘Any chance of a cup of tea? I’m gasping.’
‘There’s a servant prob
