A Stab of Dread (The Dickinson Sisters Mysteries Book 6) by Blythe Baker

Author:Blythe Baker [Baker, Blythe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-03-31T22:00:00+00:00

9

The truth of the situation before us was deeply unsettling. There was no other way to look at it. Doctor Webb might have killed his daughter. His invalid daughter, no less. But why? Why would a father take the life of his own daughter?

The evidence certainly seemed to be working against him. He denied the fact that she had been poisoned. Doctor Martin was convinced of it and we had no reason to doubt his professional diagnosis short of seeing the body ourselves. Doctor Webb also seemed eager to put the whole affair behind him, wanting to move forward with the funeral.

Constable Brown assured us all that he would be looking into the matter but I still found myself unable to concentrate on much else in the hours that followed our meeting.

Upon arriving home from the pub, we discovered the post had been delivered to our home. In the latest edition of the newspaper, we found a mention of Maribelle’s funeral.

“The day after tomorrow…” Iris said, looking up at me. “I suppose with Christmas, this was the soonest he would have been able to arrange it.”

I frowned. “I suppose that is true. It seems that he is getting his way, isn’t he? Having the funeral as quickly as possible. And look how small the notice is. It truly is as if he would like very little attention drawn to it.”

I slammed the paper down, huffing as I walked away.

“I simply cannot believe that he killed her,” Iris said, shaking her head. “I might not know him very well but I do know Delilah and – ” She frowned at me. “ – and I just cannot see her father doing something like that. He loves his daughters. That much is clear, based upon the stories she has told me in the past.”

I sighed, my heart heavy. “I have a difficult time believing it, as well,” I said. “But as of right now, he seems to be the most probable suspect.”

“Isn’t he the only suspect?” Iris asked.

I paused. “You are correct about that.”

She turned and started toward the stairs.

“Where are you going?” I asked her.

“To prepare something for Doctor Webb and the rest of the family,” she said. “I imagine cooking is not their first priority right now.”

I opened my mouth before snapping it shut again. “Very well,” I said, following her up the stairs.

After she had finished preparing a beautiful treacle tart, along with a few baked apples and a loaf of bread she had made up before Christmas, we went back out into the cold, heading toward Doctor Webb’s house.

I did not voice it to Iris but knew that by returning to their home, it might be possible to look for some evidence under favorable, neutral pretenses. If, and when, Constable Brown stopped by, Doctor Webb would know at once the reason. He might even refuse to allow him to examine anything.

Iris and I, however, would certainly appear innocent enough.

The house looked drab after all the decorations for Christmas had been taken down.

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