The Pantomime Murders by Fiona Veitch Smith

Author:Fiona Veitch Smith
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bonnier Publishing Fiction
Published: 2023-10-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

It was two o’clock when Clara got back to Newcastle. She wished she could have spent longer with Andrew at St Anne’s but she was aware that the York police would not take kindly to her not leaving town at first light as she had given the impression she would. So she had a cup of tea and a Christmas mince pie with him, brought him up to date with her two cases, discussed the Lemington housing purchase, then hit the road north. The weather had thankfully remained calm and no further snow fell on the gritted and cleared roads.

Clara parked the car in the garage behind her house then walked down to her office on Percy Street. She popped in to see Juju and Jonny but they were both busy with customers. So she went upstairs to the office, cranking open the valve on the radiator as soon as she got in. She really should get the Victorian heating updated when she had time.

Still in her coat, hat, scarf and gloves, she sat at her desk and telephoned Stan Ridpath. It had been Andrew’s idea. When she told him about the house at the end of the terrace where she thought she might have seen someone at the window – 10 River View Row, she had noted – Andrew suggested that Stan might be able to find out who now owned the house via the York Land Registry Office. Stan said he would make enquiries but as it was Christmas Eve, he could not promise an answer before the new year. However, he’d do his best. He knew someone who knew someone who knew someone … He then told Clara that he had formally started the process of buying the Lemington houses, but that too would be on hold for the holidays.

‘Do you have anywhere to go for Christmas Day, Clara?’ he asked. ‘If not, you’re most welcome to have dinner with us. I can pick you up after church, if you like. The children would love to see you.’

‘Thank you, Stan, that is very kind of you. But I do have plans. Please send my regards to Edith and the children. And wish them happy Christmas. Tell them Uncle Andrew sends his love too.’

As Clara put down the telephone she had a twinge of guilt that she had lied to Stan. She had no plans for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Her Jewish friends Juju and Jonny would not be celebrating. Her only other close friend was Andrew. But she didn’t mind. It was kind of Stan to offer but she was actually looking forward to a few days alone. She was exhausted after her trip and would welcome some time to relax. Any idea she’d previously had of doing some decorating between Christmas and New Year was now abandoned; she had a case to solve. She would use Christmas Day to go through her notes, develop the photographs of the fingerprints she’d taken in York and consider a way forward.

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