Mrs. Jeffries Aims to Win by Emily Brightwell

Author:Emily Brightwell [Brightwell, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2023-08-29T00:00:00+00:00

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Constable Griffiths knew that the inspector was counting on him. This wasn’t the first time he’d been left in charge, but truth to tell, this was by far the biggest undertaking he’d ever supervised. He was thrilled and a bit intimidated by the task but determined to make his inspector proud. He glanced at the list in his hand. Of the six names, he’d already spoken to four of them, and all four had produced witnesses to where they were during the time period that Marks was murdered. There were only two left, Miss Linwood and Mr. Steven Marston. He’d given Constable Parker the task of tracking down and taking statements from the people on the other list, the ones who’d been milling about but might have still been in the common room.

He glanced up as the common room door opened and Mrs. Merchant stepped inside. She carried a tray of serviette-wrapped silverware. The archery competitions were over and done with yet there were still lots of people here. He was hoping Mrs. Merchant could point out both Miss Linwood and Mr. Marston for him. Griffiths hurried over to her.

“Excuse me, Mrs. Merchant, but is Miss Linwood or Mr. Marston here in the common room?” Constable Griffiths asked.

Mrs. Merchant put the tray on the table, straightened, and turned around to survey the room. “She’s just come in, Constable. She’s over there by the window.” She pointed to the woman sitting alone at a table. “But I don’t see Mr. Marston.”

“Thank you, ma’am, please let me know if Mr. Marston appears,” he said as he moved toward the window table.

Miss Linwood glanced up as he approached. “Did you wish to speak to me?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Griffiths replied. He pulled out the chair across from her and sat down. “I need to ask you a few questions. We’re trying to verify where everyone was when Mr. Marks was killed.”

“That can’t be right, Constable. I’ve just had a word with Inspector Witherspoon and he specifically said he wished to interview me tomorrow,” she explained.

Griffiths stared at her in surprise. “He said that he wanted to interview you?”

“Yes.” She laughed. “I’m actually very flattered. After all, he is a great detective and I’ve followed his career ever since I came back to London.”

The constable wasn’t sure what to do. He’d no wish to offend his senior officer, but the inspector had pointedly told him to try and speak to everyone on his list who hadn’t been in the common room when Marks was killed. “I think he’d like me to do the preliminary interview, and then if needed, he’ll have a chat with you.” He took out his notebook and pencil. “Now, you were sitting at a table with Mrs. Storch, Mr. and Mrs. Belton, and Mr. Merriman, is that correct?”

Her smile had gone. “But he said he wanted to speak to me,” she insisted.

“And he will if he has more questions,” Griffiths replied. “When did you speak to Inspector Witherspoon?”

“Just a few minutes ago, as he and the other constable were leaving.

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