Death in the Bush (Mr. Hardy Investigates) by Wendy M. Wilson

Author:Wendy M. Wilson [Wilson, Wendy M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wilson
Published: 2021-10-31T16:00:00+00:00

“What do English people call a man like Major Andrews?” she asked James later, as they sat on the veranda of their cottage and looked out at the waves swooping in around Hawke’s Bay from the Pacific. She had watched the Pacific from another continent for most of her life, and seeing it from Napier made her feel connected to her home.

“A bounder,” he said instantly. “I thought of that word the minute I saw him. Or if you want to be more specific, a cad.”

“What’s the difference? They both sound like excellent words to describe a man like Major Andrews.”

“Well,” he said thoughtfully. “A bounder is a man of low morals, and rather vulgar, even though he isn’t low born. But a cad is more specific to the way he acts around women, if I’m not mistaken. So he’s definitely a cad.”

“And are you persuaded that Major Andrews is a contender for the role of murderer?”

“He seems a better match than Colonel Fairfax, although I have a strong feeling Fairfax has something to do with it. I don’t know why. His reaction when he learned about it, I suppose.”

“If he did it, you’d think he would have his emotions under control by the time you spoke to him. The way you describe his reaction, the news took him by surprise.”

“True. But he has an iron-clad alibi. Of course, he could have hired someone to do it.”

“Not Esky, you don’t think?”

“If you wanted to kill off an unwanted mistress, would you ask Esky to do it?”

“I guess not.”

He stared out at the waves, whose soothing, repetitive sound helped him sort things out. “I’ll think about Andrews, but he doesn’t feel right to me.”

“Andrews is such a cad and a bounder,” she said. “I’m sure he’s guilty of something. Can you at least ask about him when you and Constable Foster are up in Eskdale tomorrow?”

“Of course,” he said. “But no more investigations for you. I worry about you wading into dangerous waters like this. No retainer is worth risking your life. How would I survive without you?”

She squeezed his arm. “Thank you, love. But this mystery has elements a man would find difficult to discuss. Could you have spoken to Dr. Crawford about Rosie’s problem?”

“Probably not,” he admitted. “But I’m fairly sure Inspector Scully would be upset to hear I’ve been using you as an assistant investigator.”

“Assistant investigator. I like that. We should open an agency. I could have a desk in the front office where I meet people who come in off the street; anyone with an interesting problem I would send in to see you. Anyone with a boring problem I would send on their way.”

“Let’s sort out this mystery first,” he said. “I feel like I’m floundering around with no clear direction at the moment.”

“I trust you to get to the truth,” she said.

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