Page 51 of The Hallmarked Man
GI-67:
Can Jewish people be masons?
Stolkin:
Yes, masons can be any religion although Catholics aren’t allowed to join by their own church.
AustinH:
Is it true Freemasons protect each other?
Gareb 7:
In a brotherly sense, yes. If you’re thinking of concealing crimes, no, that’s the mafia.
‘Doors are open,’ said Kim’s voice in Strike’s ear. ‘She’s pissed and dancing.’
Strike paid the barman and followed Kim back out into the lobby. As they approached the double doors into the ballroom, Kim slid her hand under Strike’s arm, chattering and laughing, and they passed into the gala without challenge.
Tall vases full of white flowers and crystal icicles stood on the circular tables. Uniformed waiters and waitresses were winding through the party, clearing away empty bottles. The dancefloor was crowded, but Strike spotted Mrs A on its edge, dancing face to face with the woman in the gold dress to ‘Shout Out to My Ex’.
‘How fucking appropriate is that?’ said Kim jubilantly, already gyrating to the music. ‘Shall we dance?’
‘Not my forte,’ said Strike. ‘Leg.’
‘OK, I’ll go it alone,’ said Kim, and she sashayed away from him towards Mrs A and her friend, affording him another look at that long, bare expanse of back.
‘What,’ said a frigid voice beside Strike, ‘areyoudoing here?’
Strike looked down to see a pale, petite brunette with large dark eyes, who was wearing a strapless black dress.
Oh, fuck.
‘Friend invited me. Good cause,’ said Strike.
‘Bullshit,’ said the Honourable Nina Lascelles.
He’d slept with her twice, six years previously. She was pretty enough, but that wasn’t why he’d done it; she’d simply helped him gain important evidence in a case. It had seemed rude at the time not to have sex with her, because she’d clearly wanted it, but their awkward, if minimal, history was far from the only reason to deplore Nina’s presence here tonight. Nina happened to be the cousin of Dominic Culpepper, the journalist Mr A suspected his ex-wife of sleeping with, and Nina had clearly drunk enough cheap champagne to make her disinhibited.
