Murder Cuts the Mustard by Jessica Ellicott

Author:Jessica Ellicott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2019-09-08T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Beryl decided to take advantage of the fact she was still in town and to go discreetly in search of Geraldine, the telephone operator. As the telephone office was situated not far along a nearby street, Beryl found herself peering in through the plate-glass door of the small brick building in short order.

Beryl strode into the small office, and a young woman seated on a low stool spun around to face her. Some sort of a headset with a mouthpiece and earphones sat upon her head. She held a plug attached to a length of cord in her hand, as if Beryl had interrupted her in the midst of her duties. Beryl could not help but notice that despite the girl’s impeccable posture and stylish attempts at a modern cropped hairstyle, her face looked as though it had been hastily constructed by a sculptor about to clock out for the day and eager to hurry along with his mates to the local pub.

Her small eyes were set far too close together, and her irises were a blue so pale as to be almost unsettling. Her nose, overly large and bulbous, dominated her face. Thin lips perched above a receding chin. Despite the fact she was old enough to hold down a responsible position in the village, she was still unfortunately sporting a bumper crop of spots and blemishes on her skin.

A less prepossessing young woman, Beryl thought, she had never encountered in all her life. Still, she was not interested in hiring Geraldine Howarth for her beauty but rather for her practical skill set. She crossed the room and stuck out her hand.

“I do hope that I’m not bothering you, but your friend Hattie from Alma’s House of Beauty suggested that I make your acquaintance,” Beryl said. “Are you Geraldine?”

The girl’s eyes widened, which merely brought them to the size of those of a normal individual. Her appearance did not improve upon closer inspection. Beryl thought she looked unsettlingly like a sleepy lizard.

“Yes, I am.”

“Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Beryl Helliwell.”

“Everyone knows who you are. I’ve been just dying to meet you,” Geraldine said. “But why did Hattie send you to find me?”

“Your friend suggested you as just the right person to help me with a predicament I’ve gotten myself into,” Beryl said, lowering her voice conspiratorially.

Geraldine let the switchboard plug fall from her fingers and clatter to the surface of the makeshift desk in front of her.

“I’d be happy to help any way that I can,” Geraldine said. “Do you need to place an overseas call? Perhaps a coded message for the king?” Geraldine lowered her voice with each word that passed her lips.

When Beryl had first arrived in Walmsley Parva, she had deliberately shared the information with the village’s biggest gossip, Prudence Rathbone, that she had on occasion done some work for His Majesty. Prudence had promptly spread the news to the rest of the population. Every now and again, Beryl found herself in the position

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