The Woods Murder by Roy Lewis

Author:Roy Lewis [Lewis, Roy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books crime mystery
Published: 2018-11-03T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

After the two constables had packed Lendon’s loose papers in the car, Mrs Bell asked Crow if he’d like a cup of coffee before he left. He did not ask himself why he accepted: it was not something he would normally have done, accepting such an offer in such a situation, but he could have said that his acceptance was motivated by a desire to get more about Lendon’s background from her, and more about her relationship with Lendon. Nevertheless, had he asked the question of himself he would have been forced to admit that it was the sheer pleasure of watching her and hearing her low, modulated voice that played an important part in his acceptance.

They sat downstairs in Lendon’s sitting-room. Crow had looked briefly over her flat and there seemed little point in going up to its cramped confinement when there was room downstairs like this. Mrs Bell sipped at the strong coffee and glanced up at Crow; her eyes were dark, and direct.

‘Did they find anything that might be of assistance?’

‘The two constables? Well, I don’t know yet. There’s a lot of stuff there, and a large number of what appear to be legal papers. We’ll be down at the station tomorrow sorting them out. We’ll see then.’

‘And you have no leads yet as to who might have . . . murdered Charles?’

He smiled faintly, and made no attempt to answer. His patent reluctance brought a brief smile to her own face. He was pleased at her sensitivity, and quick reaction. ‘You must forgive me,’ she said, ‘but women are constitutionally inquisitive.’

‘It’s part of their charm,’ Crow replied gallantly. ‘Is your brother calling tonight?’

Alex Bell shook her head; Crow had been right about the russet hue, for he caught the light behind her hair now and his guess was confirmed.

‘No, John is staying at the hostel in Canthorpe, as usual. He’ll probably be out to see me tomorrow afternoon: he often does come then.’

Crow weighed his words carefully.

‘You said, last time we met, that your brother had not had a happy life. He seems very much on edge to me; has he any record of nervous trouble over a long period?’

The woman sitting across the room from him nodded, her handsome features smooth and calm.

‘I’m afraid he has. You see, John was the third child. My elder brother, Henry, was killed in the war at about the same time as . . . as my husband. John was the youngest and was very much protected by Mother, so that when she died my brother Henry looked after him. When Henry was killed John turned to me. But . . . well, Mother had always spoiled him, you know . . . I think she wanted him to be dependent upon her. And I suppose I’m no better than Mother. I was eighteen when my husband died, and John came to me and I was able to help him through school with the insurance money. But I organized John’s life, made him dependent on me.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.