Lady Gold Investigates Volume 4 ~ Christmas Edition: a Short Read cozy historical 1920s mystery collection by Lee Strauss & Norm Strauss

Author:Lee Strauss & Norm Strauss [Strauss, Lee]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
ISBN: 9781774091333
Publisher: La Plume Press
Published: 2020-11-17T00:00:00+00:00

9

Ginger and Basil had returned to The Baron’s Hotel and the next morning enjoyed a lovely Scottish breakfast of sausages and eggs, black pudding, sautéed mushrooms, and half a tomato. Christmas music played on a gramophone in the corner and through the windows, snow could be seen falling softly, deadening the sounds of motor buses and the bells of horse-drawn carts.

“I think you should come with me to the lectures today and give a talk on detective dramatics,” Basil said, a wry smile on his lips as he lifted his coffee cup. “That was quite a meeting you conducted last night. Like something out of a novel.”

“I thank you,” Ginger said sweetly, “but no. There are still dress shops in this city that need my inspection, and I want to do a little Christmas shopping while I’m here.”

Ginger’s mind went to Hartigan House in South Kensington, where she and Basil lived with Ginger’s grandmother, Ambrosia, the Dowager Lady Gold, her sister-in-law, Felicia Gold, and her young ward, Scout. As much as Ginger was ready for some time away, she felt her heart twinge with longing to return to her family.

She focused back on her husband’s comments. “As for the meeting,” she said, “you know I’m not one for theatrics, but I’m afraid it couldn’t be avoided. After we found the paintings, I had my suspicions, but I needed proof. I’d gathered enough information on Mr. Mephisto yesterday afternoon, but I still suspected that the Macleods were involved.”

Basil tapped his chin. “The red handkerchief.”

“Exactly.” Ginger reached down to slip Boss a piece of sausage, not to forget the dog’s part in the discovery. “I hoped my presentation would bring the truth out.”

“And it did. Although Mephisto remains uncooperative, some of his cohorts are not. The police tell me they had a full confession last night from two of them. They claim Mephisto had moved all the artwork into the castle months before McCallum decided to move in and renovate. Mephisto hadn’t expected that, so he had to come up with something to keep the castle inhabitants to a minimum. He approached McCallum immediately and offered to renovate at a low price so that he could make sure McCallum hired him and his men.”

“Not actually workmen,” Ginger guessed.

“Well, a few of them have had some renovation experience, which explains why the castle’s renovations were successful. But generally speaking, no they weren’t really workmen, but rather a ring of thieves led by Mephisto. Macleod happened upon them one night, just as you suspected, so they cut him in on a small portion of the profits to gain his cooperation.” Basil paused and then added. “Well, I guess the Edinburgh police won’t need me to consult on those stolen art thefts anymore. I shall have to come up with something else for Thursday.”

“You’ll think of something, love.” Ginger placed her hand on her husband’s arm. “I’m glad it’s all over now. In truth,” her voice took on the lilt of teasing, “I’m surprised that an accomplished detective like you hasn’t worked it out already.

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