Esther Lane sighed as she dumped the two red hot dinner plates on the table. The Lane's were supposed to be having beef wellington for dinner that evening but due to Brain's disappearance and ignorance when she called him, it appeared they were now going to be dining on mounds of over grilled charcoal.
"Brain! Dinner is on the table, how many more times do I have to repeat myself." She yelled at her husband in despair.
"I said I'm coming, Esther" he called glancing from his book to the TV.
"What on earth are you doing anyway?" She asked creeping up behind him.
"Don't do that!" He yelled as her cold breath tickled the hairs on the back of his neck. "If you must know I am learning all there is to know about golf."
"Golf? You?" His wife laughed. "What on earth for, you haven't shown any interest in the sport before."
"That was before this case." He replied holding up the picture of Dervla Spencer which was featured in his battered library book.
"That's Dervla Spencer isn't it? Didn't she die of an overdose?"
"That is what we are trying to find out" Brian replied before filling her in on every minor detail of the the case and what he and the rest of the team had already unearthed.
"So, by learning all there is to know about hitting a ball into a hole in the middle of a field you think that you can get into her mindset, is that it?" Esther knew her husband too well.
"Yes and no. Golf isn't just hitting a ball into a hole; it is all about perseverance, logic, strategy, patience and knowing which direction the wind is going to take the ball." He replied with big wide eyes, like a puppy when it is presented with food. "It is a fascinating sport, Esther" he cried with enthusiasm.
"I am sure it is Brian but can I remind you that you aren't always the patient type. Who gave up trying to mend the video and paid the boy from across the street to fix it?" She said raising her eyebrows at her husband.
"Well this will be different, it will be a good hobby to have, I think it will help me unwind and the thinking is bound to be good for the old grey matter and not to mention with all the walking I will be keeping fit."
"Brian if anything it will make you more frustrated, I thought UCOS was the thing that got you mind in gear? And anyway golfing is an expensive hobby; you need to pay for membership, lessons, clubs and those silly trousers."
"The trousers aren't silly they are very practical. It says so here in me book. And anyway Jack will teach me so we won't have to fork out for lessons."
"Does Jack know about this" Esther said suppressing a giggle.
"Well no, not yet."
"I can't see him agreeing to teach you, he will be well aware of what he will be letting himself into."
"He might, if I ask nicely."
"Good luck with that one Brian. Have you seen that Chinese takeaway menu anywhere?"
"Yes I took it away as it was lying on the coffee table; it should be in the phonebook. I thought we were having beef wellington tonight."
"So did I" his wife sighed.
"What's that smell, has scampi been eating people's left over rubbish in the park again?" Brain asked wrinkling his nose.
"No that's the beef wellington you were so busy watching the birdie or whatever you call reading up on golf that you didn't hear me shout dinner was ready."
"Oh. Sorry."
"You will be Brian; you are paying for the takeaway."