Murder in the Churchyard: A 1920s cozy mystery (A Tommy & Evelyn Christie Mystery Book 3) by Catherine Coles

Author:Catherine Coles [Coles, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Inspired Press Limited
Published: 2021-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

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“What on earth—” Tommy’s words were cut off as he saw Mrs Warren, Elsie’s mother, standing in the middle of the pub shrieking unintelligibly while shaking Evelyn roughly by the shoulders.

Partridge was doing his best to extricate Evelyn from the larger woman’s hands whilst Evelyn spoke in a calming voice. The din Mrs Warren was making made it impossible for Tommy to hear what she was saying.

Tommy grasped Mrs Warren’s hands and removed them from Evelyn and propelled the woman away from his wife. “Mrs Warren, what is the meaning of this?”

“Elsie!” the woman sobbed. “That man is trying to kill my Elsie.”

Now was not the time to explain to Mrs Warren that grabbing hold of Evelyn and screaming incoherently was not helping her daughter.

“Are they at your house?”

Mrs Warren nodded. “Please help her!”

Partridge followed Tommy to the door, and both men pulled on their boots and coats as they hurried out of the pub. As they reached the garden gate to Elsie’s home, Tommy slipped on the icy path. He grabbed the gate post to keep himself upright.

A moment later, he rushed through the front door of the house he had visited earlier with Evelyn. In the kitchen, they found Elsie laying on the floor with Len standing over her.

“What have you done, man?” Tommy barked at him.

Leonard Williams stared at his hands. “She had to be silenced.”

Tommy knelt next to Elsie and put his fingers against her neck. The imprints of Len’s fingers were easily discernible against the white column of her throat. “There’s a pulse!”

“I’ll go for Dr Mainwaring.” Partridge stared at the still form of Elsie.

“Better to try Dr Wilder first,” Tommy instructed. He turned to Len. “Why? Why did you think this was necessary?”

“She had been nattering to you. It was only a matter of time before my Dorothy got to hear the filth she was saying.”

Tommy sighed. “She admitted only to a kiss in an alcove near the entrance to the church. That is obviously not acceptable for a married man, who is also a churchwarden, but I don’t think it classes as filth.”

“I am unclean. I am dirty.” Len paced the length of the small kitchen, looked at Tommy, and then began his agitated steps again. “I have had immoral and impure thoughts and deeds. I will go to hell.”

Tommy thought it was more probable that Len would go to hell, if such a thing existed, because he had half killed Elsie and not because of his adulterous behaviour. “Calm down, Len. I’m sure the vicar will listen to you, should you wish to unburden yourself to him. As I’m sure you know, he’s an extremely understanding and wise man.”

“How will that help Dorothy?” Len sneered. “She will make my life a living hell.”

Tommy chose not to voice his opinion that would take a complete role reversal as far as he could tell. From what he had witnessed earlier that day, it was poor Dorothy Williams who led a far from ideal life with Len choosing to do what he wanted when he wanted.

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