[Ian Rutledge 08] A Long Shadow by Charles Todd

Author:Charles Todd [Todd, Charles]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2012-02-18T21:38:48+00:00

21

In late afternoon, Rutledge walked to The Oaks and received a chilly reception from Keating.

"When am I to have my barmaid back again?"

"It won't be long. Towson is showing improvement."

"What brings you to my door? I've nothing more to say to you."

"I've come to speak to one of your guests. Mrs. Channing. Is there a parlor where we can speak privately?"

"You're not to upset her," Keating told him belligerently. "Not under my roof."

Surprised by such unexpected protectiveness, Rutledge said, "I've come to ask a favor of her. Not badger her." Hamish said, "She has befuddled him."

Keating went away to speak to her and after several minutes returned to conduct Rutledge to a small but pretty sitting room done up in cream and gold, as if Keating had followed the existing color scheme when he repainted the room for his use.

Meredith Channing was there, standing.

"Is anything wrong?" she asked anxiously, trying to convey her concern without giving the listening Keating anything to whisper about over the bar.

"I need someone I can trust to help me test a theory."

"Ah." She nodded to Keating, thanking him and dismissing him at the same time.

The innkeeper left the room reluctantly, and Rutledge wouldn't have put it past him to listen outside the door.

"I didn't know I was someone you trusted," she told Rutledge with a wry smile. "You continue to surprise me."

He had the grace to flush and said, answering her smile, "It's your eyesight and your honesty I want to put to the test."

"Then tell me what you need."

"Will you come with me first, to pay a visit to the rector, Mr. Towson? He's taken a nasty fall, and I think you might cheer him a little."

He inclined his head toward the door, and she glanced at it, recognizing his suspicion.

"Of course. Let me fetch my coat, Inspector, and I'll come directly."

He waited in the entrance hall, and after a time she came dressed in a warm coat of deep burgundy and a very attractive hat. He thought of his sister Frances, who enjoyed hats and wore them with grace and style.

She walked with him down the hill to Whitby Lane and then to Church Street. When they were out of earshot of the inn, she said, "Do you really wish me to visit the rector? I can't quite believe you've got the time to take up good works."

"As a matter of fact, you'll spend a few minutes with him, and afterward I want to take you to a window in his attic. I'd like you to wait there until I've walked to Frith's Wood, and then mark my progress. After that, depending on what you've got to tell me, I'll take you to stand at another post."

"Why me?"

"Because as far as I can tell, God help me, you haven't got any connection to anyone here, and you have no reason to lie about what you see. I need that objectivity."

She laughed. "Ian—I may call you Ian, I think, if I'm pressed into service by the Yard—what is it I'm supposed to see?"

"Wait a bit, until I've shown you the setting.

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