Room With a Clue (Pennyfoot Hotel Mystery) by Kingsbury Kate

Author:Kingsbury, Kate [Kingsbury, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 0425143260
Published: 2012-06-27T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

12

Cecily glanced at the clock, wondering how much longer it would take for the constable to arrive. She could hardly send for the inspector, since she had no proof to support her suspicions.

Yet even if P.C. Northcott suspected murder he would not be qualified to conduct the investigation himself. And it could be morning before the inspector might arrive. Cecily was not at all happy about that.

The first thing she must do, she decided, was go to the ballroom and find Keith Torrington. Somehow she must find an excuse to speak with him.

At that moment the main doors opened. Cecily was surprised to see Baxter come through them. His hair looked mussed by the wind, and he wore a harried expression as he strode toward her. He carried a lighted lamp in his hand, and she looked down at it as he reached her.

“Where have you been?” She couldn’t imagine what had taken him outside again so close to eleven o’clock.

He smoothed his hair down with the palm of his hand. It was a gesture she knew well. Baxter always did that when under a certain amount of strain.

“I have been to the courtyard,” he said, lifting the lamp high in the air in order to turn it out. “John needed a lamp out there.”

“John is still out there?”

“Yes, madam.”

Cecily frowned. “What’s he doing out there in the dark?”

“He is replacing the torn-up plants. There is also a stain on the bricks he wanted to remove before it became set.”

“I’m not sure that’s a terribly good idea, Baxter.”

He looked confused. “I don’t understand what you mean, madam.”

“I mean that John is very likely removing evidence of a crime.” Glancing around to make sure no one was in earshot, Cecily quickly explained about the note and Madeline’s discovery of the sign.

“I think that someone wanted the death of Lady Eleanor, and when he saw the sign warning about the damaged wall, he saw a way to bring his wish about. He removed the sign, then invited her up there. Since she was unaware of the danger, it would have been a simple matter to lure her close to the wall, and at the opportune moment—give her a firm push.”

Baxter’s face looked pale in the light from the overhead chandelier. “I have to admit I have considered the possibility. Now in view of this matter with the message, it does seem a very strong likelihood.” He shook his head. “Whoever in this world would want to do such a thing?”

“I don’t know.” Cecily hesitated. “But I can hazard a guess or two. It seems clear to me that whoever sent that note to Lady Eleanor knows a good deal more about this situation than we do. I think we have to determine who sent the note, then confront that person with the evidence.”

Again Baxter’s hand smoothed down his springy dark hair. “We cannot be certain that whoever wrote the note was responsible for Lady Eleanor’s death.”

“True. But it certainly seems suspicious, doesn’t

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