A Death of No Importance by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788635059
Publisher: Canelo Books
Published: 2019-07-24T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

A little while later, I found myself in a modest but comfortable restaurant that clearly catered to an Irish clientele. Seeing Norrie’s clothes had left me feeling unsettled, and when Mr. Behan told the waiter to bring me a whiskey, I drank it. Slowly, disliking the taste. But I drank it.

When the whiskey had done its work, I said, ‘All right. I did what you asked. Tell me what you know about Miss Charlotte.’

Behan tapped his finger on the edge of the table. Finally he said, ‘Let me ask you something. You think Newsome really meant to marry your girl?’

‘Why?’

‘Because a friend of mine puts him in a Philadelphia hotel with a young woman not long before he got his head bashed in.’

‘So?’

‘Well, since Charlotte Benchley was in New York, we know she wasn’t the girl in Philly.’

I shrugged. ‘If there was another girl, I’m sure Charlotte knew nothing about it. Even if she did, I’m not sure she would have cared. She once told me she was going to marry Norrie Newsome and nothing would stop her.’

‘Here’s the thing, though. He signed them in as Mr. and Mrs. Robert Newsome Jr.’

‘Well – isn’t that what young men do?’

‘Is it? What if it happened to be the truth? What if he was already married? And he broke the news to Charlotte Christmas Eve? What if that’s why he went to Philadelphia, to get married in secret?’

‘I congratulate you on your imagination, Mr. Behan. Really, you ought to write novels.’

‘Any guesses on who the real Mrs. Newsome Jr. might be?’

‘There is no Mrs. Newsome Jr.,’ I said, keeping memories of Beatrice’s accusations at bay. ‘It’s probably some girl he met in the city. I doubt he remembered her name the next morning.’

‘Well, it’ll be awkward if she turns out to be the heir to the Newsome fortune.’

‘Stop it. You’re not actually going to write this, are you?’

‘It’s a good story.’

‘But people will think…’

‘What will they think, Miss Prescott?’

I lowered my voice. ‘You’re giving Charlotte Benchley a motive.’

Behan whispered back, ‘Maybe I didn’t give it to her. Maybe her intended did.’ He sat back. ‘Anything good from the funeral?’

I thought. William’s confession, Lucinda’s vengeful spit, Beatrice’s malice. The new note Rose Newsome had told me about. What had it said? Now your son is dead. So clear in its meaning, but vague in its intent. Now your son is dead? Now your son is dead? Meaning the killer might move on to the next family member?

I asked, ‘Has your paper heard about any more threats to the family?’

‘No. Why?’

I looked at him, unsure of how much to tell.

‘You think they’re going after the daughter?’

I thought of Lucinda standing in front of the mausoleum as if waiting for permission to enter. ‘Eight children died at Shickshinny. Is one Newsome death enough?’

‘Well, but it depends on what the murder was meant to avenge. Eight kids or one girl in a hotel room?’

‘The Newsomes were very kind to Charlotte,’ I argued. ‘They don’t seem to share your suspicions.

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