Grantchester Grind Read Free

Vera.’
    But Mr Lapline preferred not to. Goodenough’s secretary possessed physical

    attractions that were rather too obvious for Mr Lapline’s taste and were, he suspected,

    used in part to distract the Special Income Tax investigators from concentrating at

    all closely on the dubious accounts of Goodenough’s clients. He chose not to speculate on

    the other uses his partner might put them to. He went back to his office and thought

    wistfully about having his gall bladder out after all.
    That evening Goodenough explained the problem to Vera. ‘She’s an old woman who has seen

    everything she believed in proved wrong and it has made her even more bitter than she was

    before. In any case, she’s got more money than she knows what to do with and now she’s out to

    raise hell in Porterhouse. She’s already put Lappie in a spin and his gall bladder is

    playing up again. It always does when he’s under stress. I’ve said I’ll find the

    applicants for him.’
    ‘Meaning that I will,’ said Vera, helping herself to another gin and tonic…’
    ‘Well, I was rather hoping…’ said Goodenough with a look of mock guilt.
    Vera arranged herself on the sofa. ‘I shall need time off,’ she said. ‘And

    expenses.’
    ‘No problem. Bloody Mary’s account will see you right. And you’re an angel.’

Chapter 2
    That wasn’t the way Vera saw herself but she was away for only a fortnight during which

    time Mr Lapline felt far worse. Are you sure you know what you’re doing?’ he asked Goodenough

    several times, only to be told that everything was under control. Goodenough chose not

    to mention whose control that was and Mr Lapline chose not to question him too closely.
    In the event Vera returned with a list of twenty academics who would be happy to

    become Fellows at Porterhouse. Goodenough studied the list doubtfully.
    ‘I had no idea there were so many universities,’ he said. ‘And who’s this man in Grimsby

    whose research is into Psycho-erotic Anal Fantasies? I can’t see Porterhouse accepting

    him even for six million.’
    ‘I can’t see Lady Mary Evans taking to him either,’ said Vera. ‘Unless of course she

    approves of early-morning drinking. On the other hand, his thinking is undoubtedly

    radical.’
    ‘And Dr Lamprey Yeaster at Bristol? His curriculum vitae seems very sound.

    “Historical Research into Industrial Relations in Bradford”.’
    ‘I don’t think he’s quite right for her, somehow,’ said Vera. ‘He’s a member of the

    National Front and his views on blacks leave rather a lot to be desired.’
    ‘In that case she won’t touch him with a bargepole. There’s no one here she’s going to

    choose.’
    ‘Oh yes, there is, my dear,’ said Vera. ‘I think she’ll like Dr Purefoy Osbert.’
    Goodenough looked at her suspiciously. ‘You mean you’ve ring-fenced him? Why? What’s so

    special about him apart from his name?’
    ‘Nothing very much except that he’ll do what I tell him. Have a look at his list of

    publications.’
    Goodenough read them. ‘He seems to have a thing about executions,’ he said.

    ‘Particularly hangings. There’s a book here called _The Long Drop.’_
    ‘That’s Purefoy’s magnum opus. I haven’t read it myself but I’m told it’s strong stuff.

    He has made a study of every hanging in England since 1891.’
    ‘And you think Bloody Mary is going to approve of him? She is violently anti-capital

    punishment.’
    ‘So is Purefoy. You’ve no idea how many innocent people he believes have gone to the

    gallows. That’s his whole thesis.’
    ‘What’s this about Crippen? _The Innocence of Dr Crippen?_ The bugger wasn’t

    innocent. He was guilty as hell.’
    ‘Not according to Purefoy,’ said Vera. ‘Mrs Crippen committed suicide and the

    doctor panicked and buried her in the cellar.’
    ‘What, after cutting her up into small pieces or whatever he did? The fellow is off

    his head. Still, I can certainly