A Christmas Murder of Crows by D.M. Austin

Author:D.M. Austin [Austin, D. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Donna Marie Wilkinson
Published: 2022-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

‘What does this tell us, Collins?’ Having departed company with Harry James at the forest path, the inspector and sergeant were free to discuss the investigation.

‘Murderer always planned on killin’ two people.’

‘In which case he or she knew of the contents of Sir Henry’s will. Equally…?’

‘Equally?’

‘Equally, Collins, it could be that Sir Henry was always the only intended victim resulting in our murderer, after making a grievous error, having a busy night.’

‘Trudgin’ through that place in’t dark’ – through the low light, Collins looked back across the grounds towards the forest – ‘to get another feather before comin’ back, climbin’ up to the top o’t tower and murderin’ Sir Henry!’

‘Yes, I agree, it seems far-fetched. Plausible, nevertheless – providing our murderer knows the forest as well as Harry James,’ Dunderdale added, opening the door to the gun room and finding Tom waiting for them.

‘Detective Inspector, could I have a word?’

Dunderdale and Collins followed Tom next door, into the estate office. After closing the door, Tom said, ‘I’m wondering what your interest is in culled daws?’

‘Why d’you ask?’

‘It’s only that after you left with Harry James I was reminded of something… from Christmas Eve.’

‘Go on.’

‘Late in the afternoon, I was standing here, by the window, and I saw Miss Clara lead Mr Johnson into the forest; and since you’ve been gone I got to wondering your interest in dead daws when I remembered Pearl’s story of the sacrifice of a murder of crows and their feathers, and then there’s the feather that was found with Sir Henry with no feathers missing from the cloak or mask and so – well, I put two and two together, though now I’m wondering whether my arithmetic might be out!’

Gilbert Dunderdale put his hand into his coat pocket and when he pulled it back out it was clutching a bunch of jackdaw tail feathers. ‘One bird, twelve tail feathers plucked, ten remaining.’

‘Only ten?’ Tom said with surprise.

‘A tail feather has also been found in the pocket of Mr Bowes’s trousers.’

‘Then…?’

‘Then, Mr Atkinson, I’d say there’s nothing wrong with your sums!’

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.