‘No. Better not fi nish it.’ ‘She wants us to fi nish it. She said so. Be doing her a favour.’ ‘Okay then. Give me some more.’
‘That’s a hell of a big club that the guy must’ve used to hit poor Patrick,’ one of them was saying. ‘The doc says his skull was smashed all to pieces just like from a sledgehammer.’ ‘That’s why it ought to be easy to fi nd.’ ‘Exactly what I say.’
‘Whoever done it, they’re not going to be carrying a thing like that around with them longer than they need.’ One of them belched. ‘Personally, I think it’s right here on the premises.’
‘Probably right under our very noses. What do you think, Jack?’
And in the other room, Mary Maloney giggled. P. 69
1. What did Mary Maloney kill her husband with? a. gun b. a leg of lamb c. a baseball bat d. a hammer
2. How would you describe Mary’s actions in covering up the murder? a. clever
b. heartless c. self-protective d. risky
3. What was the climax of this story? a. Patrick Maloney coming home b. Mary going to the shop c. Mary calling the detectives
K
Go to your Writing Skills Book to map out the plot and climax of ‘Lamb to the Slaughter’.
d. The detectives eating the murder weapon
The case has developed and Mary Maloney is now the prime suspect. Write a front-page news article reporting on the case. (Go back to page 143 to revise news reports.)
236 FIRE & ICE 2
Go to your Writing Skills Book to examine prepositions.
