Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen by Marthe Jocelyn

Author:Marthe Jocelyn [Jocelyn, Marthe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tundra
Published: 2020-09-22T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

AN EXPERT OPINION

SIR MAYHEW DULLINGHAM seemed as old as a tree, remarkable upon first sight because of his eyebrows. They were not sleek and agile, as Hector’s were, but wiry and ferocious. His eyes were difficult to find beneath such hairy scrawls, and behind thick spectacles as well.

Mr. Pressman helped the old man out of his coat and took his hat, but was shooed away when he offered to carry a small leather valise. James sent a footman to notify Kitty Sivam. She soon arrived with Marjorie, and with a grinning Hector close behind.

“I am most excited to meet an expert of such renown,” he whispered to me.

“How do you know he is renowned?” I said.

“He is a sir!” said Hector. “Rewarded for the power of his brain and not for prowess on a battlefield.”

The Great Hall was populated with more people than I imagined Sir Mayhew Dullingham expected to see, and none of them the person he’d planned to meet. Inspector Willard had also appeared, looking quite puffed up and ready to make a pronouncement. James introduced himself to Sir Mayhew and explained there had been a tragic death, that the police were here, that Mr. Sivam had been called away, but here was Mrs. Sivam in her husband’s stead.

“And the stone, my dear lady?” said Sir Mayhew.

“The stone—” Kitty began.

Inspector Willard could keep quiet no longer. He raised two tightly closed fists, looking like a boxer without puffy gloves.

“Officially,” he said, “the stone is currently in the care of the Tiverton constabulary, as part of an investigation into the crimes committed.”

“You have the—” Kitty Sivam’s eyes watched the inspector’s hand, as if he were a conjurer about to produce a white rabbit. “You’ve found the stone?” she cried. She pounced on him, pulling his fists out of the air. He stepped back and held his arms aloft.

“Madam,” he said, “I must ask you—”

“Where did you find it?” she demanded.

“The stone has been lost?” Sir Mayhew’s voice held a distinct waver.

“Who took it?” said Mrs. Sivam. “I want to know where it was.”

“Under the circumstances,” said the inspector, “the police are reluctant to allow the Echo Emerald out of our care, even for a short time.”

Kitty Sivam had two spots of color high on her cheeks. “Let me see the stone!” she cried. “Have you found my husband too?”

“Have I arrived in a madhouse?” The old gemologist’s eyebrows seemed to tremble as he peered at the inspector, who finally opened his left fist to offer a glimpse of the gem. I stood on my tiptoes to catch a glint of green, as did Hector next to me.

“I’d like it back,” said Kitty Sivam. “Until Lakshay can be here to—”

James intervened. “I propose that we proceed with the appraisal that Lakshay arranged. Surely it will be to everyone’s advantage to know precisely what sort of gem we’ve got here—why the actress took it into her silly head to—”

“The actress?” said Kitty Sivam, her voice high-pitched and furious. “The actress?”

The inspector’s hand snapped shut.

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