Page 36 of Blow Down (The Plumber's Mate)
“You found her, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, but so what? God, I hope he doesn’t want me to tell him about it.” I felt a bit queasy and took a sip of beer to settle my stomach.
“Not sure. We only spoke briefly on the phone. Frith’s been across country, sorting out some do at a castle in the Cotswolds.”
“Huh. That’s not much of an alibi. That’s only a couple of hours from here. Maybe a bit longer, with summer weekend traffic, but not much.”
“Agreed. What did your sister tell you about him?”
“Not a lot. Well, nothing concrete, anyhow. She reckoned him and Amelia might have been doing the dirty, and she thought there was something off about him, but she couldn’t say what. Oh, and he plays golf with the head of the local planning committee, in case that turns out to be vitally relevant to solving the case.”
“Christ knows, at this stage. So are you up for it? I’m seeing him for lunch tomorrow in the White Hart, at one. I told him you might have to work.”
I thought about it. “Nah, I can make it. Might not have time to get home for a change of clothes, mind, but don’t worry—the morning job’s a dishwasher, not drains. Surprised he’s okay with coming out our way, though, if he’s based in St. Leonards. You’d think he’d want you to go to him.”
Phil shrugged. “Maybe he’s checking the place out for a function? At any rate, it was his suggestion.” He huffed. “Maybe he’s just the obliging sort.”
“Okay, I’m trusting this bloke less and less the more I hear about him.”
“He did sound pretty keen to meet you.” Phil smirked. “That’s suspect in itself.”
“Git. So what else can you tell me about him?”
“Think I’ll let you form your own impressions. Wouldn’t want to bias you in advance.” Phil demolished a second round of cheese sarnies in about three bites. I thought about nicking another but decided I wasn’t peckish enough to bother. Which was just as well, really, as by the time I’d done debating about it, the rest had disappeared too.
I grinned. “Going for the record, were we? Never mind. I like a man with a healthy appetite.”
Phil raised an eyebrow while chugging back his beer. I was duly impressed by his coordination. “Appetite for what?” he asked, putting the bottle down.
“Something a bit tastier than a cheese sarnie?” I suggested. Suggestively.
“Oh yeah? What’s that, then?”
“Well, there’s choccy biccies in the cupboard, if you fancy some,” I teased him.
He gave me a look. “Serve you bloody right if I went for it. C’mere.”
Things progressed nicely after that. Phil had my T-shirt off in under three seconds—there was one record he was definitely in the running for—and I wasn’t doing too badly with his clothes either, despite the fact he’d cheated by wearing a shirt with buttons.
In fact, I won the race to get the other bloke’s trousers undone, and celebrated by shoving my hand in Phil’s kecks and wrapping it around his nice, hard prick.
He groaned. “Fuck me.”
“Planning to,” I panted, my own stiffie twitching as he grabbed my arse.
Which, of course, was the exact moment Cherry walked in.
“Tom, did you want a hot choc— Oh.” She went as pink as her namesake. “Sorry. I couldn’t sleep and— Sorry. I didn’t realise you were staying over, Phil.”
We scrambled apart like a couple of naughty schoolkids, holding our flies together and hoping nothing would fall out.
At least, that was what I was hoping. And I reckoned I knew Phil well enough by now to speak for him too. In certain circumstances, anyhow.
“Sorry, Sis,” I started. “Didn’t mean to give you an eyeful. We’ll just—”
“Oh no, please. I’ll just make my drink and take it upstairs.” She gave us a soppy smile. “I really should get used to this, shouldn’t I? After all, you’ll be living together soon. Actually, Phil, I meant to ask you about that. There’s a new barrister at my chambers who’s looking for a flat—are you planning to rent yours out? I don’t think she wants to buy, but if it’s available to rent soon, she’d be very keen. Do you have a date in mind yet?”
Phil looked at me.
