THE UPTON UNDERTAKERS a captivating Victorian historical murder mystery (Inspector Ravenscroft Detective Mysteries Book 7) by KERRY TOMBS

Author:KERRY TOMBS [TOMBS, KERRY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books historical mysteries
Published: 2020-11-01T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

UPTON-UPON-SEVERN

‘I am sorry, Tom, I should have known that Stapleford would have done something like this,’ said Ravenscroft dispiritedly.

‘You were not to know that the man would lock us in here,’ replied Crabb attempting to lighten the mood.

‘In our eagerness to look inside that box I completely forgot that he was standing behind us.’

‘It could be worse, sir. At least he left us the oil lamp, so we are not entirely in the dark.’

‘Let us hope the oil lasts out until the morning, or until someone comes to find us.’

‘Hoskings knew where we were going,’ said Crabb hopefully. ‘If he comes up this way he will be sure to find the horse and trap down the lane, and guess that something has happened to us here.’

‘I wish I shared your optimism, Tom, but I have a nasty feeling that the lazy fellow gave up waiting for us long ago when we were outside Thextons, and that he went home to his comfortable bed,’ replied Ravenscroft gloomily. ‘Our wives will be wondering why we have not returned.’

‘My Jennie will never believe me when I tell her I spent the night in a cellar with a corpse in a box for company!’

‘At least I can confirm your story,’ laughed Ravenscroft. ‘Let us see what time it is. I see we have been here for nearly two hours now. Time enough for Stapleford to have carried out his escape from the area, I have no doubt.’

‘At least we stopped him carrying out his evil work on poor Miss Cleaves.’

‘Yes, that is a consolation. When we get out of this we must ensure that she is given a safe and decent burial as soon as possible. This table we are sitting on must be where Stapleford carries out his macabre dissections, before adding the parts of his victims to his anatomical collection. Those must be the tools he uses in the corner over there.’

‘The thought sends shivers down my spine,’ said Crabb.

‘Talking of this table, if we were to move it nearer the wall, there is a small grille at the top. We might be able to stand on it and make ourselves heard if anyone should walk outside,’ suggested Ravenscroft.

The two men lifted the coffin from off the table, and placed it in a corner of the room before attempting to move the heavy table.

‘Stop, Tom. I don’t think we are having much success this way. If we try to drag it across by pulling on this side we might have more success.’

They struggled for some minutes to move the heavy wooden table, gradually heaving it inch by inch nearer to the wall.

‘I think that should do. Can you climb up onto the table and reach the grille?’ asked Ravenscroft.

Crabb clambered up onto the table, and stretched upwards towards the small narrow aperture at the top of the wall.

‘Can you see anything, Tom?’

‘I can’t quite reach it, sir. All I can see looking upwards is a black sky,’ replied Crabb, almost standing on tiptoe.

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