Deliveries and a Dead Body by L. A. Nisula

Author:L. A. Nisula [Nisula, L. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: cozy mystery lesbian detective
Publisher: L. A. Nisula
Published: 2022-07-22T00:00:00+00:00

~ * ~ * ~

Kate and I waited until Julia got to the shop, gave her a brief explanation of what had happened, then set out for Sterling Street. We started with Sally. She had been the most willing to help, and as a parlor maid, she was the one most likely to have seen our new mysterious person. We went to the service door at the Mertons’ house again, which was answered by Lydia. She didn’t recognize our description, not surprising as she spent most of her time in the kitchen at the back of the house, but promptly went off to find Sally.

Sally came to see us at once. “Lydia says you have another suspect?”

“More a curious person,” I said. “We don’t know if he’s connected or not.”

“And no drawing this time,” Kate added. “Just a description.” She read from her notebook, “A bit taller than average, dark hair, square face, small mustache.”

Sally nodded at once. “And a grey coat. Now, him I have seen.”

“Often?” Kate asked.

“Oh no, a couple of times a month maybe. When I’m doing the windows in the upstairs rooms. He’ll be standing across the street, watching. Like he’s waiting for someone to come out. I think he’s stepping out with someone on the street. Good for her if he is. He’s always got a good suit on and a nice coat. A bit of money there, I would think.”

“And where is he watching?” I asked.

“I don’t know. I thought it was next door, but when I mentioned it to Moira and Gladys, neither of them knew who he was. So it must be someone further down the street. The Hensleys, maybe. We’re not so friendly with their staff as the others.”

“But not this house?”

“Oh no. I’ve never caught him looking at this house. And I don’t think he’d be able to see me looking out the windows, so he wouldn’t have any reason to turn away.”

“I suppose he wouldn’t.” I trusted her observations over Siddington’s.

“How long has he been around here?” Kate asked.

“A few months. I noticed him when I was doing a spring clean, so that was five months ago maybe. I’ve been a little surprised we haven’t heard of anyone leaving service to marry him, really, but there you are. Maybe he isn’t as good a catch as he looks. You don’t think he’s related to the rest of this, do you?”

“We don’t know,” Kate told her. “He’s been seen around, that’s all.”

“Well, if I see him again, I’ll make note of it, and try to see who he goes off with. He might be a valuable witness or something.”

“Thanks.”

“And I’ll ask around here, see if anyone else has noticed him. Maybe Harriet knows something.”

“Do you have our card?” Kate handed one over in case. “You can get in touch with us at the shop there.”

We thanked Sally again then asked her for directions to the Queen’s Head and set out for the next part of our afternoon.

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