A Killer in the Wings: A 1920s Mystery (Lord Edgington Investigates... Book 11) by Benedict Brown

Author:Benedict Brown [Brown, Benedict]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Heathdene Books
Published: 2023-09-24T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

From what I’ve seen of such places, the backstage area of a theatre is not so very different from the cells of a police station. On the floor above the corridor I’d previously visited, there was a row of rehearsal spaces and a few offices. Darrington put the quivering suspects into two separate rooms, and I held my grandfather back for a moment to talk.

“Grandfather, in all the confusion, I haven’t had time to tell you something important.” I looked along the corridor to make certain that no one was listening. “I overheard Lillian Bradshaw and Oliver Hartley whispering to one another before we found the body. I think they may be…”

“Sweethearts?” He surprised me then by laughing.

“Well, yes. And I heard them plotting something. They said they were afraid of being discovered, but they must have heard me moving about as they suddenly cut off their conversation.”

He was still laughing! “Oh, Christopher. You are funny sometimes.” Shaking his head, he entered the room where Gabriel Nelson was sitting at a desk as though he was the one who would interview us. Darrington was on his feet, ready to put the potential culprit to the sword, and there was a sofa on one side of the room from which Grandfather and I would watch the proceedings.

“I imagine you know why we’ve brought you in here,” the serving officer said.

Gabriel showed none of the fear he’d exhibited in the auditorium. “I honestly haven’t the first idea why you’d drag me to such a gloomy spot.” He had quick eyes that darted about as he spoke. “I certainly had nothing to do with poor Brian’s death, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Then you’ve already contradicted yourself.” Darrington always made me think of an old soldier. There was something wonderfully precise and correct about him. “You do have an idea why you’re here. We’re investigating Brian Grimage’s death, and we believe you had a reason to kill him.”

“Me?” To say that Nelson acted surprised then would be an understatement. In fact, he was overacting surprised. “You do know who I am, don’t you?”

I’d rarely met a man to whom this phrase came so naturally to the tongue.

“Yes, we know who you are. You’re a star of the London stage – a man who would do anything to protect his reputation.”

The suspect became a little more defensive at this point, and I wondered whether his innocent façade would slip. “Now listen here. I may have a reputation to maintain, but there is a limit to what I would do to guard it. I’m simply not the type to go around murdering people.” He huffed out his indignation as another thought occurred to him. “I suppose you’re suggesting that I had something to do with Peter’s death, too?”

Darrington stepped closer to lean over the desk. “You tell me.”

Grandfather watched the brief staring contest which the chief inspector was bound to win. For the first time since I’d met him, Gabriel’s attitude had become a touch muted.

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