A Murder in Blue: A 1920s Historical Mystery by Colette Clark

Author:Colette Clark [Clark, Colette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-07-30T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

It was clear from the expressions on everyone’s face that they had no idea what Penelope was talking about, so she repeated herself.

“It was a trade,” Pen said, gesturing toward Monsieur Padou’s book. “The Golden Monkey for the book.”

She was a bit thrown by the way Monsieur Padou’s mouth quirked on one side, as though she was, yet again, going down the wrong path.

“If it was a trade, this book for that monkey, then why do I still have the book in my possession? Furthermore, why do I not have the Golden Monkey in my possession?”

“Because you stole it,” Penelope said with exasperation. “You’re the one who put it in the suitcase and had it sent to the station. I’m certain you were hoping to collect it once you disembarked from the train. That is why there was no name attached to the suitcase.”

Still, he did not seem the slightest bit perturbed, which only created further doubt in Penelope’s mind. The other passengers looked skeptical, even her own friends.

“I’m afraid I may have given you the wrong impression earlier about the value of this book, my dear,” Monsieur Padou said, patting the cover. “Yes, it is fairly rare, but hardly worth a fortune equivalent to that of a gold figurine with emerald eyes. I did say it was a reproduction, but even if I had been lying about that, a real first edition of this text would only fetch about a hundred francs, at most. Any rare book dealer will tell you.”

“Monsieur Padou—pardon, what is your full name?” Simon asked.

“Pierre Padou.”

“May we see this book for ourselves?”

Monsieur Padou pursed his lips with mild reluctance, which seemed mostly to make a point, but he finally acquiesced. Simon quickly took the book, struggling to hold it in his hands as he flipped through the pages. André looked over his shoulder, his nose wrinkled as he tried to decipher what was so special about the book. Finally both of them looked up and met Penelope with frowns of confusion.

“I see nothing strange about this book.” Simon said as he handed it back to the smug Pierre.

“It might help if you had at least something more than supposition, Penelope,” Richard offered.

Pen felt a slight sense of betrayal, but he was right. All she had was accusations to offer. She needed something solid to make those accusations stick.

Stick…

“That’s it!” Penelope said, her eyes brightening. She turned to André in particular. “You smelled it just now, a scent of glue? That’s why your nose was wrinkled.”

André frowned. “Oui, but what does that prove?”

“The pages, they’re very thick. That’s because they’ve been glued together. Either that, or the lining of the interior. That’s where he kept the money or some other form of payment. The payment he never gave to Monsieur Barbier, or perhaps stole back from him…after he killed him. Why not put it into the same book from which it was transported onto the train?”

“There was glue found in his compartment,” Simon said.

“Give me that book,” André demanded, reaching for it.

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