Murder at Holly House by Denzil Meyrick

Author:Denzil Meyrick [Meyrick, Denzil]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781529908749
Published: 2023-11-08T16:00:00+00:00

22

There’s something about a church hall that gives me the shivers. I’m not sure if it’s because of my childish indiscretion with that rag doll, or just the general feel of such places. And they’re all the same, you know. Peeling paint, faded notices on the wall – in this case some from the First World War. But most of all, it’s the smell. It’s always that musty odour of decay. I shouldn’t be surprised to look under the stage and find a dead vicar or two. It certainly smells possible.

I’ve arrived early, with Deedee in attendance to assist. It’s not what I want, but she’s a forceful young woman, and I’m too bushed to argue. Our evening meal was an early, rushed affair, which didn’t live up to the delights of the previous evening. Though it’s fair to say that the cold mutton and mash was tasty enough. All brought together with a light gravy, it was. I always admire people who can rustle up a decent gravy – it’s not as easy as you think.

I asked our landlady if she’d like to accompany us to the hall. Given the circumstances of Starr’s unfortunate demise, I thought she’d jump at the chance, but no. She merely stared at me in horror and mumbled something about danger following me everywhere, and that she’d be safer on her own. Bloody cheek! Though, given Bleakly’s firm belief in her powers of prescience, this is a worry.

I’m not too proud to tell her that I’m concealing the Webley underneath my jacket, just for good measure. After my attack in the woods, I’m ready for anything now. It’ll take a sharp cove to jump out of the shadows and catch me unawares again. When it comes to preserving my hide, I can be vicious – as a number of Jerry soldiers found out to their cost.

In any case, minus Mrs Gaunt, Deedee provides another pair of eyes as we dash along to the hall. The moon is illuminating the village in an ethereal glow. There’s something strange about the moon, too. Or am I just becoming paranoid?

We arrive and make our way into the church hall. They’re the heart of our country, you know. There’s a row of trestle tables set up at one end, covered in white tablecloths that have seen better days. I count ten places, each with a utilitarian cup and saucer in a fetching green. Apart from Deedee and me, there’s only one other person in the hall. He’s of the decrepit variety, wearing a beige dustcoat and wielding a large sweeping brush. I quickly conclude that he’s the caretaker. Though he looks much as though he could do with a little care and attention himself. I nod civilly to him all the same. He rubs his nose on the back of his hand and purposefully looks the other way. I console myself with the fact that he won’t be long for this world.

‘Gee, it’s all rather quaint,’ says Deedee.

‘I thought you’d have been here before?’ say I.

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