Read Kill Fish Jones for Free Online

Jon Figg.
    He put out a hand. Startled, Jon Figg took it. Fish clasped it for a moment, his face grave.
    Jon Figg swallowed hard. ‘Thank you,’ he said, understanding the look in Fish’s eyes, ‘but how did you know? About Emily dying last night …’ He stopped, emotion twisting across his face.
    Fish stood back to let Jon into the house, the man’s huge bulk filling the hall. With Fish in the lead they went back to the kitchen, where the only sound was the ping of the toaster as it popped up four golden slices.
    â€˜I know you!’ cried Susan at once. Her voice had taken on an odd edge. ‘Of course, it’s Mr Figg! I didn’t recognise you without the yellow hat and overalls.’
    He stepped forward and offered her his hand. ‘I amdeeply sorry, ma’am, for all that happened yesterday. I had my troubles, it’s true, but I should have paid full attention to my work or stayed at home. I am responsible for your current situation and I want to help you if I can.’
    Susan smiled and put her hand in his. They shook solemnly.
    â€˜Apology accepted, and don’t worry, my sister is looking after us. Won’t you sit down, Mr Figg …’
    â€˜Call me Jon, please.’
    â€˜â€¦ Jon, and have some breakfast?’
    â€˜I’d like that, for I have some other things to tell you as well, and a cup of tea would be most welcome.’
    He settled at the table in between Fish and Marsha, and Susan poured tea for all of them. She set the toast on to a plate in the middle of the table, then put some more bread in to do. Jon took a long gulp of his tea. He drank it like a man in the desert would drink water, and when he had finished he drew a long breath.
    â€˜Thing is, Mrs Jones …’
    â€˜Susan, please!’
    â€˜â€¦ Susan, we’ve met before. I mean before I knocked down your house, though you might not remember. When I saw you yesterday, I thought there was something about your face that I recognised and suddenly, last night, the penny dropped.’
    Fish had turned to look at Jon as he spoke, which meant that his range of vision moved to take in the corner of the kitchen and the space next to the sink. Hisheart turned over as he realised that the demon was there, sitting on the floor, with its notebook in front of it and its pencil clutched in its paw. It was watching them carefully, so Fish turned his head away, hoping it hadn’t noticed him looking startled or horrified.
    Susan was nodding. ‘I felt the same!’
    â€˜It was a few weeks ago,’ Jon explained, ‘when I helped out a friend of mine. He had a large job on and needed some extra hands. He’s in the grave-digging business …’
    â€˜Marble Hill!’
    â€˜That’s it. Marble Hill Cemetery. At least it used to be. But the Church of St Michael’s was sold off and the company that bought it want to turn the whole place into a residential home for old folk. They bought the graveyard too, and that’s where my mate comes in.’
    â€˜That’s right. They dug up the coffins and reburied them in the cemetery at St Peter’s.’
    â€˜Not all of them are buried yet, but I’ll get to the reasons for that in a moment. For now, the last few coffins are being kept in the crypt at the Church of St Peter and St Paul, where they were taken when they were first exhumed.’
    â€˜Good Lord!’ muttered Marsha. ‘How do you come into this, Su?’
    â€˜You know I do voluntary work for St Peter’s sometimes? Well, the vicar asked me if I would help … um … organise the coffins.’
    â€˜And
that’s
where we met before. I was with my mate Steve, carrying the coffins to the crypt, and you were keeping a record of the details and telling us where to lay the next one and so on. Made us a lovely cup of tea too. You only spoke to Steve, but I was the one standing right behind him.’
    Susan nodded