Pernicious Woman: A Smith Investigates Mystery by Beth Byers

Author:Beth Byers [Byers, Beth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-02-27T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

I gave Miss Allen the direction for the house where we were staying, so she could stay at the other location, and we could pretend to be strangers. Then I found Kate just leaving her own room.

“Is the baby all right?”

“She’s currently cooing at the open window and happily entertained.”

“It’s hard to be the youngest,” I said, even though I could only imagine.

We eyed each other and then Kate said, “My father says our responsibility is to the vulnerable.”

“Bettina Birde?”

Kate nodded.

“Is that what you were thinking?”

Kate nodded again. “Honestly, Bea, I’m flabbergasted. This is madness. I might have suspected this sort of shady nonsense from Cousin Bettina, but I wouldn’t have thought of this at all from Jason.”

I wondered for a moment what Smith was doing and where was Victor? Actually, now that I thought it, I wondered if he wasn’t making friends with the local constable or listening for gossip at the pub.

I pushed my hair back and said, “What did Lucy say?”

“Lucy said that she’d gone to see the vicar’s wife, post letters, and visit the bank.”

“Hmm,” I muttered. “I think we should start with the vicar’s wife, yes?”

Kate nodded. “I think we should talk to the constable first. We need to find out what has been done.”

Rather than take the auto this time, Kate and I gathered up Victor and then made our way to the tiny police station. An elderly man sat at the desk, smoking a cigarette, and reading a paper.

“Hello,” Victor said, smoothly. He somehow shifted into a variation of the nobility that Vi occasionally did. I had to admit I hated how quickly the constable looked up and then frantically smoothed himself into respectable employment. The cigarette was stubbed out, the paper folded, and the somewhat scattered desk neatly arranged.

“Hullo,” the constable said, “just having a short break before I get back to things. What can I do for you?”

Victor grinned charmingly and said, “Well, I’m so glad you’re here. You see, we’re here about Mrs. Birde.”

The constable shuffled. “Mrs. Birde is my cousin.”

“Then we must be cousins,” Kate said, holding out her hand. She gave a trail of family history, and the two of them bonded for a moment before she added, “Cousin Sheffield, we’re just worried that she’s not been found and well—please don’t take this the wrong way, but it seems the urgency to find her has abated.”

The constable nodded. “Well now. To be honest, I’m a bit concerned about that myself.”

“Cousin Bettina is a challenging creature.” Kate didn’t beat around the bush, and it seemed the right thing to say for the constable to nod fervently.

“She is indeed. I won’t deny it.”

“The thing is…” Kate struggled to find the words, so I suggested.

“Perhaps it seems easier to not find her. I understand she was quite terrible.”

“I don’t think anyone wants to not find her.” The man seemed so earnest, I decided I trusted him.

“Maybe you can help us understand what’s been done so far.”

“Well now.” Constable Sheffield cleared his throat.

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