Read Tedd and Todd's secret for Free Online Page A

lost a case and the drug dealer who had been so hard to bring to justice had walked free. The lawyer had put the blame on him, sullying Aidan's image to discredit him. His insubordination hadn't helped, the year that his drinking problem had got out of control and various not very flattering psychiatric reports. His wife's death five years before was brought up. It didn't create an image that the jury would have expected from a law enforcement officer.
    The whole affair highlighted his sense of impotence. His anger threatened to consume him. His had been the key statement, and without witnesses the profile established by the defence lawyer brought the whole affair down. When the lawyer accused him of making the whole thing up, Aidan punched him in the mouth in front of the whole court, breaking two teeth.
    "He deserved it," Aidan said defiantly. "They shot me in the arm. They were close to killing me and this individual got angry because his legal reputation suffered a little."
    "Do you really believe that we resolve all our problems by thumping people?" Wystan paused and Aidan realized that he was making an effort to contain himself. The Inspector continued his speech, controlled. "You weren't expelled because I think you were right, but I'm not going to tolerate you going around punching every Tom, Dick and Harry. Is that clear? I want this time to be different. No confrontations. Take what I'm saying seriously. You're walking a tightrope. Another problem like the last and it won't matter how good a detective you are. The force and the public want normal blokes who know how to control their tempers."
    "Understood, Inspector," Aidan said grumpily. "I'll get whoever killed this dwarf in the black suit."
    "You already know that this murder has attracted the curiosity of the press. Being decapitated by a sword makes an interesting headline. It's going to be a very public case and there's going to be a lot of pressure. So no scandals, thank you very much."
    "How come all of these jokers are here so soon?"
    "Must've been the neighbour," Wystan explained with a shrug. "She found Mrs Black in a state of shock. She informed us straight away and without any doubt anyone else in hearing distance… what do you know about the case?"
    "Almost nothing. I've just arrived, I've only had time to glance around a bit and talk to Fletcher for a while."
    "Well, get up to date, quick. The victim is William Black and he doesn't have a record. There are no drugs in the house, no weapons, nothing suspicious. No sword, either. He'd just moved into this house with his wife. There are no children. He worked with computers for a multinational that's got a branch near here."
    "I'll see what I can find out. I've sent Lance to question the wife."
    "Keep me informed, Aidan," Wystan said.
    Aidan nodded without much enthusiasm and went looking for Lance. The conversation could have been worse. He couldn't remember the last time he'd spoken with the Inspector like that. There'd been almost no tension, not like almost every other time they'd spoken in the last few years, when it had turned into an argument. They were like chalk and cheese, their different points of view keeping them far apart. Aidan knew Wystan was a good man and carried out his job in an exceptional manner and kept corruption to a minimum. He didn't fly off the handle for no good reason. And the thought crossed Aidan's mind as he walked out of the room that maybe the fault was his.
    It seemed that Lance was still questioning Mrs Black. He was seated beside her, resting his hand on her shoulder. He was much better at this sort of thing, and Aidan treated him like a brother, but sometimes he just couldn't stand him. Lance was too protective and Aidan needed to be alone from time to time.
    The thought came to Aidan that he hadn't looked at the head of the victim. It was lying on the floor next to the wall. He guessed they didn't want to move it for some legal reason. He walked over and bent down