Beach Hut Surprise by Louise Allen

Author:Louise Allen [Books, Libertà]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Libertà Books
Published: 2020-06-29T23:00:00+00:00

Inspector Danby summed up the situation in one look and told Sergeant Brooks to call for backup. She helped Lil up and eased her into a chair.

"What happened?" asked the inspector.

Estella, Fran and Libby all began.

The inspector held up a hand. "One at a time."

Lil beat the others to the draw. "He killed that young man," she said, still breathing hard. "They were both… looking… for the stash… from the big house… started fighting." She broke off, coughing painfully.

Inspector Danby was sceptical. "And how do you know this?"

"Saw them," said Lil and leaned back and closed her eyes.

Estella said excitedly, "I told you I'd seen Dave talking to Arthur Strange. I bet they were working together.

"Until they fell out," mused the Inspector. She went across to Strange.

He opened one eye and groaned theatrically, nursing his jaw. "Estella Hope attacked me!"

"He hit Lil," said Estella indignantly. "And he was getting away."

"Citizen's arrest?" suggested DS Brooks, looking at his superior.

"Possibly," said Inspector Danby.

She made a gesture and DS Brooks helped Strange to his feet. The man gave an odd shuffle and DS Brooks looked down.

"Hello, what's this?"

Arthur Strange opened his mouth, looked round and shut it again.

DS Brooks picked a squashy envelope-sized object off the floor. It was grey with age. He turned it over and coughed as dust flew everywhere.

"Looks like a jewellery roll," said Libby, craning forward.

DS Brooks started to unwind it. Once inside the dusty outer layer, it turned into a faded plum-coloured velvet grid. DS Brooks plunged a finger into one of the hand-sewn pockets and brought out a dangly earring, with a blue stone suspended from twisty grey metal.

Inspector Danby drew in a long breath. "That looks like platinum. We need to bag it."

"Better have a good look," said Fran practically. "There should be a Fabergé egg and other stuff somewhere here, as well. Unless Clive Hope already sold it, of course."

Arthur Strange winced.

As soon as the backup arrived, Inspector Danby cautioned Arthur Strange and sent him back to the station with an escort, while other officers took photographs and carefully removed the panelling, searching for more stolen items.

Fran, Libby and Estella fell over themselves to explain what had happened. But then Lil struggled up in the old chair.

"I followed Arthur Strange here, Friday before last," she said slowly. "The young man was already here. Strange was furious. They fought."

"His neck was broken," said DS Brooks, before Inspector Danby could shush him.

Lil said, "Pure bad luck. Must have hit his head when he went down."

Inspector Danby frowned.

"The L'Estrange family built this hut originally, during the war," Lil went on. "Perfect place to hide the Primly Court haul."

"Primly Court haul?" Inspector Danby repeated, bewildered.

Libby said, "Wartime theft. Eighty years ago. We've pieced it together. We can show you."

Inspector Danby looked at her watch. "I need to get back to the station. DS Brooks, would you take Mrs Lil to A&E and…"

But Lil refused to go to hospital. "It's just bruises," she said.

"Look," said Fran, "it's dark and cold and Lil needs a cup of tea.

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