Lewis grinned. “But it wasn’t, no. It just showed all those fully dressed Swedish housewives washing up the plates and peeling the potatoes.”
“Serves Sergeant Dixon right.”
“You won’t mention it, sir!”
“Of course I won’t. And you’re probably right. You never really get something for nothing in this life. I never seem to, anyway.”
Morse licked the flap of the white envelope. Then licked the back of the first-class stamp that Lewis had just given him.
The phone had been ringing for several seconds, and Lewis now took the call, listening briefly but carefully, before putting his hand over the mouthpiece:
“There’s been a murder, sir. On the doorstep, really—up in Bloxham Drive.”
by Colin Dexter
Available soon in hardcover from Crown Books.