Mrs. Jeffries and the One Who Got Away by Emily Brightwell

Author:Emily Brightwell
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2014-12-17T05:00:00+00:00

* * *

Barnes knocked on the door of the duty office at Y Division headquarters, waited till he heard a voice tell him to enter, and then stepped inside. It was an overcast gray day and despite the early hour, the lamp on the desk was lighted.

Inspector Rogers looked up from the file he’d been studying and then frowned when he saw his visitor. “I didn’t set the press on Inspector Witherspoon,” he announced. “I’ll not have you nor anyone else thinking I’d do such a thing to a fellow officer.”

“But they got the story very quickly,” Barnes pointed out as he advanced into the small office. “Her real name was in the evening papers that very day.”

“That’s true, but they didn’t get it from me,” he retorted. “We got off on the wrong foot at our first meeting and that was my fault. I’ll admit to that, but I most certainly did not tell the press anything about this case, not then, not now, not ever.”

“I know, sir.”

“You know?” Rogers drew back in surprise.

Barnes smiled. “May I sit down? These are new boots and they’re hurting my feet.”

Rogers pointed to the empty chair in front of the desk. “Right, then, tell me how you know it wasn’t me.”

“Your reputation sir.” Barnes sighed in pleasure as he took his seat. “Several of your lads made it a point to tell me and Inspector Witherspoon that you were a decent, honorable officer who was dedicated to doin’ a proper job.”

Rogers stared at the constable for a long moment, then his mouth quirked up in a grin. “So you’re takin’ the word of men who work for me?”

“Them and a few of my sources at the Yard. You’re held in pretty high esteem, sir. Oh Lord, why do they make these boots with such a tight fit?”

After the altercation at the cemetery, Barnes had quietly checked with several of his old colleagues at Scotland Yard and learned that Rogers was highly regarded by the rank and file as well as the top brass. He’d not done it out of spite or anger, but only because he’d wanted to be prepared in case Rogers attempted to sabotage the investigation. It wouldn’t be the first time someone had tried to hobble one of Inspector Witherspoon’s cases.

“It’s decent of you to say so, Constable,” Rogers replied softly. “And I very much appreciate the sentiment. Would you like a cup of tea? I can send down to the canteen.”

Barnes shook his head. He’d had a cup both at home and with Mrs. Jeffries and Mrs. Goodge at Upper Edmonton Gardens. “No thanks, sir, I’m fine.”

“Right, then, down to business.” He opened the top drawer and pulled out the ledger. “No one here can figure it out. The entries obviously mean something, but as to what that might be, we simply don’t know.” He shoved it across his desk. “I’ve taken a good long look at it and had a couple of my brighter lads and the other two duty inspectors see if they could understand it, but it was no good.

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