A Body at the Séance: A completely addictive historical cozy murder mystery (London Ladies' Murder Club Book 2) by MARTY WINGATE

Author:MARTY WINGATE [WINGATE, MARTY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2024-01-11T00:00:00+00:00

They were quiet for the rest of the journey. Mabel gazed out the window. She had found Chiswick on Bacon’s walking map. It wasn’t as far west as Kew, but still a good way out and so it surprised her to see so many shops and houses and busy roads and street lamps blazing against the darkness. London seemed to go on forever.

At the town hall, they got out of the car and Trenchard spoke to his driver, while Madame Pushkana arranged her layers of chiffon and Mabel admired the building, a formidable edifice in pale yellow brick with a grand portico.

The medium led the way into a meeting room big enough for a large gathering. It had arched windows in regular intervals on either side and a low stage at one end with red curtains drawn.

The room was empty except for Perkins and Sam, who both looked up from placing leaflets on each chair.

‘They’ll be streaming in soon,’ Trenchard said to Mabel. ‘Everyone will be delighted to see Madame Pushkana again.’ He turned to the medium. ‘The others will be here soon, and, in the meanwhile, Miss Canning and I will keep each other company. You go on. I know you must prepare.’

‘Yes,’ Madame Pushkana said. She smiled and nodded and backed off a few steps before turning and gliding away, disappearing up three steps and through a door at the side of the stage.

Trenchard’s face fell the moment Madame Pushkana had gone. ‘I fear for her, Miss Canning,’ he said. ‘Something isn’t right.’

Before Mabel could respond, he announced, ‘Ah, everyone’s arrived. Shall we speak to them?’

By everyone, he meant the séance group, for there they were huddled as a unit just inside the room as if to get the lie of the land. Then they broke apart. Midday escorted his sister to the corner seat in the back row and Frogg looked behind him as if expecting the crowd. Miss Colefax broke away to help Perkins distribute leaflets and Mrs Heath walked back and forth behind the last row as if to decide on the best viewpoint.

‘You go on,’ Mabel said to Trenchard. ‘I’d like to look around for a moment.’

But, actually, Mabel needed more time to think.

The Plomley business had knocked Madame Pushkana off-kilter to be sure, but was it guilt and regret for her part in Stamford Plomley’s murder or fear of a blackmailer? The medium could have believed that Plomley’s death would put an end to the matter, only to discover someone knew the entire story and would make her pay. Mabel had learned a great deal from Madame Pushkana in a short time, but instead of having all the answers, she now had more questions.

The curtains on the stage parted in the middle, and Madame Pushkana put her head out. ‘Mabel,’ she called, but in a quiet voice, ‘come back here for a moment.’

Mabel went through the door at the side. Madame Pushkana stood on a bare stage, while behind her, a second curtain

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.