The Diane Dimbleby Murder Collection Volume 2 by Penelope Sotheby

Author:Penelope Sotheby [Sotheby, Penelope]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jonmac Limited
Published: 2019-05-20T22:00:00+00:00

♠ ♠ ♠ ♠ ♠ ♠

The short drive to the lake was taken in silence.

Diane looked out of the windscreen, the colour drained from her face, her mind flicking through possibilities, eventualities, none of which gave her cause to smile.

Inspector Crothers gripped the wheel of the car roughly; his knuckles matched Diane’s complexion. His annoyance at Diane’s interference was overshadowed by preparations for what was to come. Gary Sandrake was in the wind, and he only hoped that there might be a clue at the lakeside.

The pop of gravel ended as the wheels of the car rolled onto the tarmac, the surface changing at the entrance to Priorslee Lake’s parking area. He guided the car through two wooden fence posts that stood sentry at the opening and entered an empty car park. The earlier rain and breezy day had kept visitors away, deciding on other pastimes that were dryer and warmer.

The parking area was an elongated circle with space for around ten vehicles. A narrow path led off to the side through overgrown bushes to a more secluded spot. Inspector Crothers knew the location fairly well from its reputation as a spot for “adventurous” individuals to enjoy themselves. Several times people had been stumbled upon in the throes of lewd acts that had led to the police being called.

Branches scratched at the doors and leaves buffeted against the windows as the car rumbled along the path. There were splashes and jolts from rain-filled trenches dug into the uneven road, harmless booby traps that made Inspector Crothers grind his teeth. He knew his worry about the noise that they were making was baseless as Gary Sandrake would be long gone by now, but every crunch of tire and groan of the suspension concerned him that their approach would be given away.

An open patch of grass sprang from the lashing branches, the lane continuing as two rutted tracks, all of which was dappled with sunlight that poked through the overhanging trees. The space was larger than the lane would have suggested. Several cars could have parked there easily and given each other adequate privacy.

The ruts led to the far side of the clearing and into another lane. Cutting across this was a stretch of unkempt grass that sloped gently down to the lakeside where reeds poked brushes out several feet into the water. On either side, trees dipped lank branches down as if frozen mid-sip of the lake waters.

Inspector Crothers turned from the tire grooves and bobbled the vehicle to a stop facing towards the water’s edge.

“Diane,” said the Inspector roughly. “You need to stay…”

“Inspector,” she interrupted. “There appear to be patches of wax in the grass to my side of the car.”

“Stay in the car.”

The slam of the driver’s door was probably harder than necessary, and Diane watched as the Inspector stepped carefully around the car to observe the wax spots.

“Candles?” Diane had rolled her window down and addressed the stooping Inspector. He grunted affirmation as he ran a plastic gloved finger over the patches.

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