Murder at Enderley Hall: A completely addictive cozy mystery (A Miss Underhay Mystery) by Helena Dixon

Author:Helena Dixon [Dixon, Helena]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781838880644
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2020-03-18T16:00:00+00:00

Sixteen

Matt hoped Kitty would heed the warning he’d given her. He knew she was chafing at the bit to be involved more deeply in the investigation. Looking at the bloated and disfigured face of the vagrant who had been pulled from beneath the pontoon on the lake that morning, he was glad she was not party to the scene.

He gave the corpse only the briefest of glances, noting the worn, shabby clothing. He had seen too many bodies in this state, abandoned on the battlefield, unable to be retrieved safely by their comrades, their flesh bloated and rotting in the mud. He had no desire to revisit those memories. Sir Horace and Inspector Greville, themselves both former military men, appeared to share his disinclination, turning away from the scene as soon as decently possible.

‘Nothing on the fellow to identify him, I suppose?’ Lord Medford held a handkerchief over his nose and mouth, muffling his words.

Matt accepted a cigarette and a light from Sir Horace. His hand trembled slightly as he lit his cigarette and he despised the involuntary betrayal of his feelings. The cool rush of nicotine and resulting smoke helped mask the odour starting to arise from the corpse which lay just a few feet away.

‘No, sir. His pockets are empty, and he has no watch or wallet.’ Inspector Greville looked across the meadow to where the cheery, rotund figure of Doctor Carter was making his way towards them.

‘Another one, eh, Greville? You’re giving my motor plenty of outings I must say,’ the doctor remarked as he drew closer. He tipped his hat to Lord Medford and Sir Horace before opening his bag and approaching the corpse.

As of one accord, Matt and the others moved a little further away whilst the doctor completed a brief examination. He joined them as they were finishing their cigarettes.

‘I’d say he was knocked over the head before hitting the water. Probably been in there for at least a couple of weeks, judging by the state of him. I’ll be able to tell you more later.’

‘Then he may have been Frau Fiser’s face at the window?’ Sir Horace said.

‘Possibly, sir. At least the first one she saw,’ Greville agreed.

Matt was relieved to see that a sheet had now been placed over the poor, deceased soul and arrangements were being made to remove him from the scene.

‘A case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time perhaps?’ Matt asked.

Greville met his gaze. ‘Perhaps.’

‘But if that chap was killed a couple of weeks ago, well, that was before the documents were taken. What the blazes is going on in my own damn house?’ Lord Medford said.

‘If we consider the wax Captain Bryant discovered, indicating the planning involved in the theft of the papers, then it seems likely that this chap stumbled upon something he was not meant to see or hear. Though he may not have been aware that he’d witnessed anything out of the ordinary. Our murderer is intent on ensuring there are no witnesses to his or her actions.

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