Fenton's Winter Read Online Free Page A

aware. He had managed
to scramble a poor degree in mechanical engineering before joining
his father's company, Saxon Medical, where his engineering skills
had been completely ignored in deference to his amiable personality
and confidence that had made him invaluable in sales and customer
liaison. Fenton thought it ironic that Saxon would never appreciate
what his greatest talent was in that direction; he made the
customers feel superior.
    "You've got lipstick on your
cheek," said Fenton
    Saxon pulled a handkerchief
from his pocket, scattering as he did so, some loose change over
the pavement. Fenton helped pick it up and paused to look at
something that turned out not to be a coin. It appeared to be some
kind of silver medallion with a tree engraved on it. "Very nice,"
he said and handed it back to Saxon only to be surprised at the
intense way Saxon was looking at him. It was as if Saxon had asked
him a question and was waiting for an answer.
    Saxon dabbed absent-mindedly at
his cheek.
    "Other one," said Fenton.
    There were three policemen in
the hallway when they entered the lab. "Mr Fenton?" said one.
Fenton nodded. "Inspector Jamieson would like to see you again sir
if that's convenient?
    "Of course. I'll be in
one-oh-four."
    "You know I still can't believe
it," said Saxon as he and Fenton climbed the stairs to the first
floor, "I keep expecting to see Neil." Fenton nodded but managed to
convey to Saxon that he did not want to speak about it.
    "I was wondering if we might
have a talk about the Blood Analyser,” said Saxon.
    Fenton said that he was about
to suggest the same thing himself and told Saxon that he had
arranged with Susan Daniels to see the machine in action that
afternoon. Saxon said that he would join them and asked when. "As
soon as I finish with the police," said Fenton
    As Fenton closed the door he
heard the rain begin to lash against the windows once more He
glanced out at the sky and saw that it was leaden. Mouthing a
single expletive he turned to Munro’s personal research book and
started through it again. He wanted to know why Munro had asked the
Blood Transfusion Service for a supply of blood and what exactly he
had planned to do with it. Kelly had not said how much blood Neil
had asked for and he had neglected to ask. He picked up the
internal phone and asked the lab secretary to check the official
requisition.
    As he waited for a reply a
knock came to the door. It was Inspector Jamieson and his sergeant,
whose last name Fenton could not remember. He motioned them to come
in and said that he would be with them in a moment.
    "What day did you say?" asked
the secretary's voice on the phone.
    "Monday."
    "That's what I thought you
said. There isn't one."
    "Are you quite sure?"
    "I've checked three times."
    "Perhaps I misunderstood," said
Fenton thoughtfully. He put down the phone. So Neil had made the
request privately without going through channels. Curiouser and
curiouser. He became aware of the policemen looking at him and put
the thought out of his mind for the moment.
    Fenton had taken a dislike to
Jamieson after their first meeting but had been unable to
rationalise it, thinking perhaps that he might have taken a dislike
to anyone who had appeared to be asking such apparently pointless
questions.
    "I thought we might just go
through a few of these points again sir?" said Jamieson.
    "If you insist," said
Fenton.
    "I'm afraid I do sir," said
Jamieson with an ingratiating smile.
    So, thought Fenton, the dislike
was mutual.
    Jamieson at five feet ten was
small for a policeman in the Edinburgh force but what he lacked in
height he made up for in breadth and his shoulders filled his tweed
jacket, providing a firm base for a thick neck and a head that
appeared to be larger than it actually was because of a thick mop
of grey hair. He sported a small clipped moustache and this,
together with the twill trousers and checked shirt, gave him the
appearance of an English country gentleman in week-end wear.