A Stolen Shadow by H L Marsay

Author:H L Marsay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Mystery
Publisher: The Tule Publishing Group, LLC
Published: 2023-09-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Down 4 (6 letters)

Her fat pater

“Good news, Chief!” declared Jimmy as soon as Shadow entered the incident room the next morning.

“You’ve got rid of your neck brace.”

“Yes. Sophie said she didn’t think I needed it anymore, but that’s not it.”

“You’ve solved both murders, apprehended the killer who has given you a signed confession and we can all go home for the rest of the day.”

Jimmy laughed. “No, but I think we might have worked out where the methadone came from. Sophie and I were talking about it over supper last night.”

“And they say romance is dead,” murmured Shadow as his sergeant carried on regardless.

“I was saying that some heroin addicts are given a daily dose of methadone from pharmacies and one of our suspects could have a history of drug abuse and been storing up their daily dose, but Sophie wasn’t keen on that idea. She thought pharmacists made sure the dose was taken before the addict left. Anyway, then Sophie asked about Arthur the whippet. I’d already told her how cute he was and that he’s recovering from an operation, and she wondered if he could have been given methadone as pain relief. If he was, then that means Lottie, Rohan, Stan and Major Armitage could all have access to it.”

Shadow nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, although I only really see Stan and the major as having a motive. Rohan barely knew the victims, however, I am keeping an open mind about Lottie, despite her age.”

“That reminds me,” said Jimmy. “I tried contacting the Beresfords’ GP to find out whether Ann was ever prescribed methadone, but she’s on holiday until next week. But I did check, and Lottie hasn’t got a driving licence.”

“What’s that got to do with anything?” asked Shadow, who was rummaging fruitlessly through his pockets for an antacid tablet. The indigestion that normally plagued him had disappeared during his holiday in Italy but had now returned with a vengeance.

“I thought we could rule her out of killing Francesca if she couldn’t get out to the cottage.”

“She could still be capable of driving,” he snapped, his growing indigestion causing him to be even more irritable than usual, “and if she was considering committing murder, I hardly think being caught driving without a licence would stop her.”

Jimmy continued reading from his notes, undeterred. “There’s something else too, Chief. I found out who was arrested for vandalising Spencer’s car – you know the story George told you about.”

“And?”

“It was Christine Treadwell.”

“Am I meant to know who that is?”

“She’s the wife or I should say the estranged wife of Owen Treadwell, the vet Rohan is working for, and it was her catering business doing the regimental dinner on Saturday night – the Chrissie Major Armitage told us about. So, what do you think?”

Shadow gave a deep sigh as he abandoned his search and turned towards photographs of the victims, witnesses and suspects.

“I think we may need to find a bigger board. For now, let’s focus on those we know had motive and opportunity.

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