Murder Spoils the Fair (A Dodo Dorchester Mystery Book 8) by Ann Sutton

Author:Ann Sutton [Sutton, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wild Poppy Publishing
Published: 2022-12-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Dodo jumped up as Mr. Klimpton wiggled his hostile mouth with disapproval.

“I have been authorized by the police to investigate the murder,” she said with less vigor than usual and unable to meet his eye.

“And that includes an authorization to invade the young ladies’ privacy?” he asked, his face pinched with animosity.

Scrambling to regain the upper hand, she put her fists on her hips. “Don’t you want to find out who killed Bobby?”

“Well, yes. Of course.” His artificial bluster was fading.

“It’s not like I’m breaking into their homes or anything. And everyone is holding out on us.” This was a bit of an exaggeration but useful for the current stickiness. She opened her guilty arms. “I’m asking you to keep this between us as a professional courtesy.”

He hovered between his conscience and logic. “I suppose I can, but it makes me feel…wrong.”

“Well, nothing is more wrong than murder,” she retorted.

His face sighed with defeat. “Have you found anything useful?”

Should she tell him about the poison pen letter? She decided that she was bound to tell the inspector first. “As a matter of fact, I have. I will be sharing my findings with Inspector Hornby.”

Mr. Klimpton stuck his hands in the pockets of his Binn’s department store trousers. “But you don’t know who killed her?”

Dodo sat down at a dressing table to distance herself from the lockers. “No, but things the girls keep in their lockers may help me find further leads.”

The deep lines on his forehead relaxed and he ran a hand over his head as if he had forgotten that most of the hair was long gone.

“Have you met Samantha’s young man?” Dodo asked, exploiting the softer moment.

“Yes, a couple of times. Just for a second or two.” He twisted the wedding ring he still wore.

“What is your impression of him?” she pushed.

“Is he a suspect? He wouldn’t have even been here.” Mr. Klimpton came and sat on a chair, crossing his legs to reveal cracked leather shoes that had been highly polished.

She dropped her voice to a whisper. “Can I rely on your discretion?”

Mr. Klimpton pulled down his beige wool waistcoat as if it were a military uniform, his hands twitching as if resisting the urge to salute. “I am nothing if not discreet, m’lady.”

“I believe that Samantha’s young man is seeing more than one of the Pure Soap girls.” She widened her eyes at him to drill the point home.

He was suitably scandalized. “Go on!” he gasped. “Who else?”

She leaned away from him. “Until I have confirmed it, I would not like to start rumors, but am I right in thinking this is news to you?”

He leaned forward. “I should say so! Miss Dixon is very proprietorial about Mr. Harding. She talks about him all the time. Bert Harding this, and Bert that.” He dipped his chin, pinching his lips. “She is not the type of girl to take kindly to anyone trying to push in on her territory.”

Could she become jealous enough to kill a rival?

As Mr.

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