3 Something Blue by Emma Jameson

Author:Emma Jameson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Lyonnesse Books
Published: 2013-05-22T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Thora and Griffin Hughes lived in Belgravia, a London neighborhood Detective Sergeant Paul Bhar had become very familiar with during his time on Hetheridge's team. Designed in the 1820s and originally called Belgrave Square, the original plan had featured several terraced houses, some detached mansions, and a central green intended only for residents. But time had marched on, the proud imperialism of the Victorian Era replaced with the grim necessities of the Second World War. When KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON was a government imperative, not an internet meme, British tanks had parked in Belgravia; in the present day, numerous foreign embassies called the area home. Nevertheless, certain genteel English families still resided in converted Victorian homes, including the estranged wife and son of Michael Martin Hughes.

As a uniformed maid opened the door, a middle-aged woman with bobbed white hair appeared behind the servant, dismissing her with a nod.

"Oh, you must be Sergeant Bhar! So glad you've come to help. It's a sad time for our family, very sad indeed, but we have every confidence in Scotland Yard. No doubt you'll get to the bottom of poor Michael's death in a jiffy!"

"Er, absolutely," Bhar muttered, forcing himself to return the woman's smile, as wide and white as a toothpaste advert. He was accustomed to being met on doorsteps with clenched teeth and preemptive threats, not a blanket statement of confidence in the Metropolitan Police Service. "And you are... ?"

"Bonnie Venicombe. Thora's mum." The woman shook Bhar's outstretched hand by taking it in both of hers. The practiced meet-and-greet gesture, along with the memorable surname, told him at once who she was.

"Venicombe. Your husband's in the government, isn't he? Some sort of minister?"

"Yes. Alastair's the Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs," Bonnie agreed. "A bit of a scrape for him, you know, the environmental grand poohbah being father-in-law to Michael. But family comes first, and Alastair stood by him. What's politics without the occasional drubbing? Do come in."

Bhar followed Bonnie into a cramped, dark hall that led directly into a small, equally dim parlor. Most Victorian properties had been converted by the 1960s, but this house seemed preserved to an unusual degree. The burgundy wallpaper was patterned with white cabbage roses. An electric fire rested on the hearth, but it looked at least fifty years old, and the ceramic tiles around the mantle harkened straight back to Charles Dickens. Something about the room's chaise lounge, covered in plastic to protect what had to be vintage velvet cushions, and the faded India rug with its numerous tobacco burns, finished the connection in Bhar's mind between "Alastair Venicombe" and parliament.

"Oh," he said aloud, only to be met with Bonnie's wide, questioning look. Once again, his mouth had boldly gone where the rest of him, upon reflection, preferred not to tread.

"Sorry." He gave her the innocent smile he usually reserved for his mum. "I just realized your husband, er. Well. Lost a general election about ten years back. Time flies, eh?"

"Yes, it does.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.