Jon Cleary - Babylon South

‘It’s supposed to be the daughter who’s trying to take over the family firm.’ Lisa read everything in the daily newspaper but the sports pages; she knew when BHP or News Ltd went up or down, what knives were being sharpened in politics, but she knew nothing of Pat Cash’s form or what horse was fancied for the Melbourne Cup. Though not mercenary, she had a Dutch respect for money and the making of it. ‘Justine Springfellow is only trying to emulate her mother. Two tycoons in the family are better than one.’

He looked at her. ‘Who said that?’

‘Someone in Perth.’ Where tycoons bred like credit-rated rabbits.

‘Don’t believe what you read about the daughter. I met her today. She’d do everything her mother told her.’

Lisa had picked up the financial pages of the Herald , knew exactly where to turn to. ‘Springfellow Corporation was at its highest price ever yesterday. What’s this prisoner Dural like?’ Lately she had developed a talent for non-sequiturs , and Malone, being a man, had wondered if she was at the beginning of her menopause. Which thought was a male non-sequitur .

‘I haven’t a clue. He was before my time. I’ve heard of him – I think he killed a cove in prison about ten years ago. But he’s a stranger to me.’ And I hope he stays that way .

Maureen came into the living-room. ‘In this house a kid’s work is never done. None of my friends have to do the washing-up.’

‘Lucky them,’ said Lisa. ‘Sunday you can do the washing and ironing. That will give me Monday free.’

Malone grinned, loving the dry banter that went on in his family. He wondered what sort of banter went on among the silvertail Springfellows. Though perhaps tonight there would be nothing like that, not with the bones of a long-dead husband and father lying between them.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.