A Cotswolds Murder by Roy Lewis

Author:Roy Lewis [Lewis, Roy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books crime thrillers and mystery
Published: 2019-03-17T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 5

It rained heavily during the night and John Crow woke twice to the violent drumming of rain against his window. When he looked out at seven in the morning it was to a pale sun, and the Broadway looked as though it had been swept clean. There were no gipsy caravans, the street itself gleamed wetly in the sunshine and the woodland on the hill beyond was dark, bright green. Crow breakfasted well — kidneys and bacon crisped as beautifully as Martha could ever do — and drank three cups of coffee before he made his way across to the operations room at Stowford Police Station. There was every sign that the sun would continue to shine all day — it was to be no early morning brightness followed by dark clouds of rain — and it gave a corresponding lift to his spirits. He wished the startled constable inside the door a hearty good morning and made his way to his office. He sat down with his files and began to go through them painstakingly. When George Stafford arrived some twenty minutes later he nodded to him, then went on reading. Stafford went out, and came back in a half hour later.

‘That salesman we’ve been looking for has arrived. And did you send a squad car for Mr Hartley?’

‘I did. But he can wait. Will you ask a constable to cheer him up with a cup of coffee? I’ve no doubt he’s wearing his best hangdog expression.’

Stafford grinned. ‘He isn’t looking too happy, that’s for sure. I gather you know him?’

‘Of old,’ Crow said grimly. ‘But we’ll come to that. First of all, settle him down. Then I’d be grateful if you could let me have the file on that recent burglary you told me about—’

‘Cobham Park? Well, that’s hardly recent—’

‘That, and anything you have on the tipoffs about Northleach Hall being given the once-over. There has been an informer, hasn’t there?’

Stafford nodded, obviously somewhat puzzled as to why Crow should be interested in mere burglaries when he should be more concerned about the murder investigation he was conducting. ‘Do you think I need to tell Inspector Edwards you’re looking at the files? He’s in charge of the cases.’

‘Not necessary. I just want some information, that’s all. But if he does ask, tell him I might have something for him later. That’ll cheer him up, no doubt.’

Stafford went out, and a few minutes later a chubby constable came in with a file which he handed to John Crow. It contained several papers, a number of statements, and it made fairly interesting reading.

Cobham Park was a fifteenth-century mansion house set in about twelve acres of ground. It was owned by a retired major who used it as a summer retreat and a place where he could entertain friends. It contained a number of not very valuable paintings, and a certain number of rather more valuable items of jewellery which for some curious reason the major had thought would be more safe in the vault in the house than in London.

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