Murder Takes a Swing (A Dodo Dorchester Mystery Book 9) by Ann Sutton

Author:Ann Sutton [Sutton, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-18T16:00:00+00:00

David had called to let Dodo know he had gathered more information on the case and they made plans to meet him for dinner in town. Rupert was unusually quiet on the journey. She supposed he was still mulling the awful possibilities they had discussed on the river, and let him be.

The restaurant David had chosen was typical of him; rather avant-garde. It had dark windows with gold lettering and inside the chairs and tables were all tubular. Bizarre shaped lamps cast a dim glow. But the odor of food in the air was positively mouthwatering.

David was already there, sprawled over a chair like a dashing Victorian cape, smoothing his blond hair and checking his appearance in the back of a spoon. He wore a completely white suit and black patent shoes that shone in the lamplight.

“Dodo! Rupert!” he cried, standing and making a great production of his welcome. He had clearly missed his calling on the stage and more than one head swiveled to see what all the fuss was about.

A waiter whose oiled hair was parted down the middle and tucked behind his ears, came to get their drink order and David ordered a starter for them all. Rupert hardly reacted, a dark cloud still hanging over his patrician features.

“Darlings, what a horror!” David began once the waiter was out of earshot.

Dodo reached her hand across the table to comfort Rupert. “It is all very difficult. I hope you have some news that will move us forward.”

David nodded. “This gambling ring has tainted everyone. But I’ll let you be the judge of that. When it all came out in the papers, I took another look at this chap Max Fortnon.” David swept a hand under his chin, a gold and diamond signet ring winking at them. “He’s up to his neck in it.”

This caught Rupert’s attention. “I’m not surprised since we already know the gambling has reached its tentacles into polo.”

“We discovered that Rupert’s teammate Jasper is involved in it too,” Dodo explained. “He is not a bookie but a punter.”

David thumped the table. “Well, Max is an illegal bookmaker. Not much of a stretch from extortion to gambling and fixing games. He’s a rotter through and through.”

Dodo and Rupert stared at each other. “What if Rafe was involved and had been pressured to lose the game and Max killed him because he disobeyed orders?” suggested Dodo. “We know Rafe needed money for the estate.”

Rupert’s expression cheered as this theory of events vindicated his friends.

“There’s more,” David said as the waiter poured their wine and set a steaming pile of muscles in front of them. Dodo breathed in the scent as they waited for the waiter to walk away.

“Lady Florence is in the company of a man called the Earl of Warwick. It is alleged that he is a real piece of work.”

“We know!” cried Dodo. “We met him at the funeral.”

“Did you?” said David unperturbed. “Well, I bet you did not know that he was investigated for war crimes.

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