Manor House 04 - Dig Deep for Murder (12 page)

She couldn't see his face clearly in the dark, but she could hear the restraint in his voice when he answered. "It's no big deal. You've got a lot on your mind lately. How's the murder investigation coming along? Have the cops found out who killed the guy yet?"

"I don't think they have the slightest idea."

He must have read something in her voice, for he sounded intrigued when he asked, "But
you
do?"

She smiled in the darkness. "I have a theory, yes, but I don't know how well it holds up. It's mostly conjecture, I'm afraid. That can be dangerous when dealing with a murder case."

"Anything is dangerous when you're dealing with murder. I figured you'd know that by now."

"I do." She was silent for a moment, then added, "The constables are not doing their job the way they should. I think they both are so resentful at having to come out of retirement that they do as little as possible. I sometimes wonder if they believe that if they don't do their job, they'll be released from their duties and can go back to their easy life."

"Could be. Would that happen?"

Elizabeth sighed. "Unfortunately for them, I'm afraid not. George and Sid are stuck with the job until the war is over. With most of our men serving in the forces, that doesn't leave much in the way of efficient professionals to run the towns and villages. We have to take what we can get. Nowadays the women are taking over most of the responsible positions, and doing very well. One can't help wondering how well they will adapt when the war is over and they have to go back to being housewives again."

"Does make you wonder. In the meantime, you're trying to do the constables' job as well as your own."

"Not very well, I'm afraid."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that. I seem to remember your solving a sticky case or two in the past."

"Well, I don't think I'm going to solve this one. There doesn't seem to be any way to get the proof I need to support my theory."

"You haven't told me what your theory is yet."

She glanced at him, wishing she could see his face. He was very good at hiding his feelings under that well-
modulated drawl, but sometimes she could tell his mood by his eyes. She had the feeling that he was unhappy with her, though she wasn't quite sure why. "I haven't, have I?"

"None of my business?"

"No, of course it's not that. It's just that I hesitate to point an accusing finger at someone with no justification other than a vague hunch."

"Hey, it's only me. I'm not going to blab it all over town."

Anxious to dispel the feeling of having upset him, she quickly capitulated. "Well, do you remember when we visited Betty Stewart to tell her that her husband had been found murdered?"

"I remember."

"I noticed that the door to the kitchen was open, yet her dog didn't bother to come into the parlor, in spite of people being in there."

"He could have been tied up."

"True, but I remembered later that Betty had told us she'd shut him up in a room. I don't think it was the dog making that noise in the kitchen."

"Then who was it?"

"Well, I noticed a pipe on the table next to the couch."

"Her husband's?"

"I don't think so. When I touched it, it was warm, as if someone had recently smoked it. I doubt if Betty smokes a pipe. I'm sure Joan Plumstone would have told me if she does. Joan was remarkably full of information when I talked to her."

"So who did the pipe belong to?"

"I think it belonged to the bank manager. What's more, I think he was there in the Stewart house that night. Joan told me that she overheard Betty in a terrible argument with her husband about her interest in Henry Fenworth."

"They had something going on?"

"It's entirely possible. I think Reggie Stewart might have come home earlier than expected and found his wife
with Henry Fenworth. If so, he and Henry could have fought. According to the doctor, Reggie died from a heart attack that was probably brought on by the beating. Perhaps Henry thought he'd killed him, and panicked. Or perhaps Betty Stewart killed her husband in self-defense later. There's no way of knowing what happened without some kind of proof."

"That's quite a theory.

"I know. It's all guesswork, of course. When I went back to the house later, I noticed a space on the wall where a picture had been. Betty Stewart said it had been stolen, along with some other things from her house. She said it was in a heavy silver frame."

There was a short pause before he said slowly, "I'm not sure I'm following you."

"Well, there was also a pair of candlesticks on the mantelpiece. Antique silver, I should imagine, and quite valuable. I had to wonder why the thief didn't take them as well, if he went to the trouble of removing a photograph from the wall for the frame."

"So you think . . . ?"

"I think that Henry could have snatched the frame from the wall to use as a weapon, no doubt to defend himself, since Reggie Stewart was a great deal heavier, and probably stronger."

Earl didn't answer for a long moment. "Heavy candlesticks?"

"Very heavy, I should imagine."

"Wouldn't a heavy candlestick make a better weapon? Easier to grab hold of in the heat of the moment, I'd say."

"If he was close enough to reach them."

"True. So you need to find the photo frame, is that it?"

"I need to find the murder weapon, whatever it is." Elizabeth sighed. "George is supposed to be looking for it, but to tell you the truth, I don't think he's too enthusiastic. Ever since he found out that Reggie Stewart died from a heart attack, he's treating it as natural causes."

"That's crazy. Someone beat the poor guy beyond rec
ognition and buried him with a bunch of potatoes. That's not natural causes."

"I know. Once the inspector hears word of it, I'm sure he'll want a proper investigation. George just isn't in any hurry to let him know about it." She sat up straighter as they crested the brow of a hill and she could see the lights of North Horsham below. "We're nearly there." She felt cold, and wrapped her arms around herself for comfort. "Oh, Earl, pray that Polly is all right. It's my fault she went to Yarmouth. I knew her mother wouldn't approve, yet I said nothing to stop her."

"Would she have listened to you if you had?"

"Probably not." Elizabeth stared miserably at the lights growing brighter by the second. "I just know that if she's badly hurt, or . . . worse, I'll never be able to forgive myself."

CHAPTER

9

The glare of lights inside the hospital foyer hurt Elizabeth's eyes as she hurried with Earl to the admittance desk. At first the young nurse on duty was reluctant to tell them where to find Polly, but upon learning Elizabeth's identity, she became far more accommodating.

"Polly's been worried about her job, your ladyship," the nurse explained, after giving Elizabeth the number of her room. "She was going on and on about it. I think it means a lot to her."

"How is she?" Elizabeth asked anxiously. "Is she badly hurt?"

"She'll be right as rain in a few days." The nurse gave Earl a dazzling smile and fluttered her eyelashes. "Just a few bumps and scrapes. A load of hay broke her fall. She sailed right over a hedge. Lucky for her that haystack was there."

Elizabeth let out her breath in a rush of relief. "Can we see her now?"

"Of course." The nurse simpered at Earl with a disgusting lack of decorum. "Anything for our handsome boys in blue, that's what I say!"

"Well, how fortunate that I thought to bring him along," Elizabeth muttered.

Earl seemed not to notice the nurse's interest. "Can you tell me how Squadron Leader Sam Cutter is doing? He was brought in with Polly."

The nurse's frown of concern was not encouraging. "Oh, that one wasn't so lucky. He got dragged underneath the jeep. Made a mess of his face. He'll end up with a few scars over this one, I'm afraid."

"But he
is
going to recover?"

She looked wary. "I really can't say. He's unconscious right now. You'd have to ask the doctor about that."

"I'd like to see him," Earl said firmly.

The nurse hesitated, then gave him a quick nod. "I'll talk to the doctor. Come back here after you've visited Polly Barnett, and I'll let you know then if you can see the squadron leader."

"Perhaps he could see Sam Cutter while I'm visiting Polly," Elizabeth suggested.

"I'll see what I can do, your ladyship."

The nurse hurried off, and Elizabeth smiled up at Earl. "I'll meet you back here later. I hope things go well for him."

"So do I. Thanks, Elizabeth."

Her heart too full for words, she nodded, then hurried down the corridor to Polly's room.

Edna and Marlene sat on either side of Polly's bed, and both jumped to their feet when Elizabeth opened the door.

"Lady Elizabeth! How kind of you to come," Edna said. Her eyes were red-rimmed, as if she'd been crying, and Marlene's face was white with shock.

As for Polly, she looked the best of the three, though
a white bandage covered her forehead and another encased her right elbow. "I'm so sorry, m'm," she cried, when she saw Elizabeth in the doorway. "I really am. I'll be back at work tomorrow, I promise. I know we've got a lot to do, what with the maids being down here for interviews and all. The doctor says I can leave in the morning."

Elizabeth caught the look of alarm on Edna's face and moved into the room. "Nonsense, Polly, you must stay at home until you are perfectly well. Don't worry about the work. We can catch up when you come back."

Polly seemed unconvinced. "I don't want no one else doing my work, m'm."

So that's what had been worrying the child. Elizabeth smiled. "Polly, the three applicants from London are maids. They're not after your job."

"I was a maid, too, your ladyship, before I got to be your assistant."

"And you will continue to be my assistant, so stop worrying." She gave Edna an encouraging nod. "I'm happy to see your daughter looking so well. She gave us all quite a fright."

"She did, indeed, your ladyship." Edna frowned at Polly. "I still want to know what she was doing riding in a jeep with an American airman this afternoon, when she was supposed to be at work in the manor."

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Barnett," Elizabeth said smoothly. "I gave her permission to go. I bitterly regret that it ended this way." Normally, she wouldn't have considered intruding to save her young assistant, but right now wasn't the time for Polly to be forced to answer a lot of awkward questions, especially with Sam Cutter lying in a coma.

The look of pure gratitude in Polly's eyes was mirrored in those of her sister, who spoke for the first time. "That's really kind of you, Lady Elizabeth."

Making up her mind to have a stern word with Polly once all this was over, Elizabeth said briskly, "Well, I have to get back to the Manor House. Please take care of
yourself, Polly, and don't be in too much of a hurry to come back to work. We can manage without you for a few days."

"Thank you, m'm. I don't suppose you've heard how Sam Cutter is doing?"

The fear on Polly's face made Elizabeth ache for her. "I haven't, I'm afraid. Major Monroe is waiting for permission to see him now. If there is any news, I'll ask the nurse to let you know."

"Thank you, m'm. I really would appreciate it."

Elizabeth left the room, wishing she could be more positive about Sam Cutter's condition. The fact that Earl was so worried about him didn't bode well for the young man. She walked back to the foyer, praying that he would make it through.

Earl was not in the foyer when she returned, and she joined the rest of the people waiting patiently on the long, hard seats. Several minutes passed before she spied him striding down the corridor toward her. One look at his face told her the news wasn't good.

She rose and hurried toward him, wishing with all her heart she could give him a warm hug. "How is he?" The question was mechanical. She already knew the answer.

"No change." He looked tired, his mouth drooping at the corners. "Even if he makes it, I doubt anyone's going to recognize him for a while."

"That bad?" He started down the corridor, and she hurried to keep up with him.

"From what they tell me. His face is covered in bandages, so it's hard for me to see for myself."

"Will you have to tell his family?"

"They already know. They can't get here to see him. All they can do is wait. I didn't know what to say to them. What the hell could I say to them?"

She couldn't bear to see him like this. Abandoning protocol, she reached for his hand and gave it a firm squeeze. "You can't wrap your men up in a cocoon and protect them from harm, Earl. What happened isn't your fault."

"Then why do I feel it is? And why is it Sam who always seems to end up in trouble? He's a decent guy, and one of the bravest men I've known. He doesn't deserve this."

They passed through the door, and he let it swing to behind them, shutting them out from the light. For several paces he didn't say anything, then the words burst out. "Dammit, Elizabeth, he was on the ground. If he'd been shot down, or had to bail out, it would at least have been while he was doing what he'd come over here to do. But a goddamn car wreck? The whole thing is such a hell of a waste."

She pulled up and stepped in front of him. She couldn't see his expression in the dark. She could only guess, by the torment in his voice, how awful he felt. "Listen to me. Sam's a strong, healthy young man. He'll pull through this. You'll see. He'll be back in the skies before you know it. Doing what he came over here to do."

"I hope you're right, Elizabeth. I hope to God you're right. It's tough enough to deal with it when a good man doesn't come back from a mission. But to lose him this way . . . it's so damn senseless."

Words poured into her mind, but none of them made any sense at all. There had to be some encouraging, reassuring words she could say to him. If there were, she couldn't think of them. "We had better be getting back to the manor," she said at last. It seemed the safest thing to say at that point.

Somehow they found the jeep in the darkened car park, and when Earl fired the engine, the roar was deafening. Thankful for the wind that cooled her burning face, Elizabeth thought miserably of all the things she'd wanted to say. Anything to let him know that she understood, and longed to comfort him. Dangerous words that might well have led to exposing her heartheld secret.