Murder in Pelham Wood: (A Hermione Bradbury and Lyle Revel Murder Mystery) by Jared Cade

Author:Jared Cade [Cade, Jared]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Crime
Publisher: Scarab Books
Published: 2022-03-03T00:00:00+00:00

10

Hermione and Lyle spent the next half an hour, moving in a clockwise direction around the gallery, admiring the paintings on display. Presently, they found themselves listening into Lord Milsham’s conversation with Clare and Edmund Bates. The couple had just arrived and were clearly in a state of awe to find themselves talking to someone as important as Lord Milsham.

‘Attending Ted Schofield’s trial placed an enormous strain on Abigail’s parents,’ said Lord Milsham, ‘but they were determined to see it through.’

‘Our hearts really go out to the Mitchells,’ said Edmund. ‘We were shocked when we heard that Abigail’s father had died, weren’t we, Clare?’

‘Yes, Henry Mitchell passed away a week ago,’ said Clare. ‘I said to Edmund – shortly before the trial began – “I’m convinced it’s going to end in tears.” And I was proved right. Poor Emily Mitchell has lost her daughter and now her husband.’

Hermione and Lyle were startled by the news.

‘I can’t say I’m surprised,’ said Lord Milsham. ‘Henry Mitchell had a weak heart. There’s only so much suffering a human being can endure.’

Hermione and Lyle were about to move on when they overheard a valuable piece of information that was to alter the entire course of their investigation.

Clare glanced over Lord Milsham’s shoulder and exclaimed, ‘Oh, goodness, there’s Abigail’s former schoolteacher Leonard Brooks.’

Lord Milsham followed the direction of her gaze. ‘Ah, yes, he’s now a successful playwright. Used to live in Gosford, I believe.’

‘Since he moved to Brimhurst he frequents our bookshop quite regularly,’ said Edmund. ‘He recently came into Bookends and bought a paperback called Lolita.’

Lord Milsham’s eyebrows rose. ‘I’d much rather read The Times,’ he said. ‘Some of these classics are a bit too strong for my taste.’

Hermione and Lyle had seen the 1962 Stanley Kubrick film based on the famous erotic novel Lolita, which was about a professor who becomes obsessed with his twelve-year-old stepdaughter and sexually molests her. The couple found themselves wondering if Leonard Brooks had entertained similar sexual fantasies about Abigail.

‘As soon as we realized Lolita was such a controversial book, we refused to stock it again,’ said Clare. ‘You’re not going to believe this, Lord Milsham, but Leonard Brooks is renting 6 Gillespie Close in Brimhurst.’

‘Well, he’s got to live somewhere,’ said Lord Milsham.

‘Yes, but how many people would deliberately rent a killer’s bungalow overlooking a wood where he raped and strangled his victim?’

Hermione and Lyle were astounded. Leonard Brooks’ decision to live at 6 Gillespie Close struck them as distinctly macabre.

‘I need another glass of wine,’ murmured Hermione.

She left Lyle gazing at a Leighton nude, Venus Disrobing for the Bath, and went in search of a waiter who replenished her empty glass. The talk of Abigail’s death had upset her and she needed to be alone to clear her thoughts. As she drifted around the gallery, gazing curiously at the patrons and admiring the masterpieces on display, she was surprised to see Vladislav Nicu. The dark-haired Romanian violinist’s sulky features were transformed by a smile that made him look even more attractive.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.