Maliha Anderson, Books 1-3 by Steve Turnbull

Author:Steve Turnbull
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: british detective, thriller, murder, female protagonist, india
Publisher: Tau Pres 2020 Ltd
Published: 2017-10-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

i

Wooden boards had been placed across the broken windows of the bungalow giving the house an abandoned look. There were gouges in the brickwork where bullets had struck. The front of the house would require almost complete renovation. She hoped Barbara would accept some financial help.

Inside the hall, rugs had been laid to hide the bloodstains until they could be properly removed and the smashed door had been replaced by another from elsewhere in the house. Maliha allowed Sathi to take her hat and asked her to bring some lemonade.

Barbara was in the front room writing letters, the lights were on since the windows were less able to transmit daylight. She did not look up as Maliha entered and sat on the sofa. Maliha was tired and felt a strong urge to remove her shoes. It was not the sort of thought she would normally have and it quite surprised her. She closed her eyes instead.

“Miriam Scarborough is a suitable busy-body, don’t you think?”

Maliha opened her eyes again, she did not think she had slept and yet lemonade sat at her right hand, and Barbara had turned around in her chair. She must have been out like a light. Barbara’s comment confused her for a moment until she recollected a discussion they had had at breakfast.

“Do you think she will be able to make it happen?”

“I suggested that having such appalling squalor on the doorstep of the Empire’s jewel was an insult to the crown,” Barbara said. “And she is a terrible snob.”

“What about fears of rebellion, after last evening and this morning’s murder, I would imagine that all right-minded patriots are quivering with fear. Helping the Sinhalese may not seem such a good move.”

Barbara shrugged, pressed her palms against her knees and pushed herself to her feet. “There are always rebels.”

And always there are women like you that hold the Empire together, Maliha thought.

The puffing of a steam engine grew, and crescendoed immediately outside, the volume and strain in its sound dropped but it continued to pump regularly.

Maliha sighed inwardly. That would be the Inspector having finally caught up with her. There was a harsh rapping on the front door, and Maliha listened as Sathi allowed the Inspector and his constable to enter. Barbara spoke with them briefly, Maliha heard tones of sympathy and then questions being asked.

“If you would care to come through, Inspector.”

Barbara returned to the room ahead of the two policemen. Maliha was really not in the mood to speak with them, she had had enough of people to last her several weeks. Unfortunately, this story was not yet done. If she had deduced correctly there was one more act to be played out. She grabbed her stick and pushed herself to a standing position.

“Inspector. Constable Choudhary.”

Barbara picked up a book and went to an armchair near the window. It would have been improper to leave them alone with Maliha, even if they were officers of the law. Maliha sat, the Inspector placed himself in the hard-backed chair by the writing desk, which gave him some additional height.

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