Diary From The Grave: Is a serial killer competing with the Ripper? (Jameson & Argenti Mysteries Book 2) by John Matthews

Author:John Matthews [Matthews, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sapere Books
Published: 2019-07-11T22:00:00+00:00

“I wondered, Mr Paige, if you know any of the following families: Banker Josiah Berenton, accountancy firm head Bartholomew Corbett, Pharmaceutical manufacturer Gerald Ottmeir, Bellevue Hospital Governor Christopher Harlech, lawyer Phillip Standen of Standen, Meade and Beckett...”

Jameson faded out Argenti’s voice as he went through the list of victim’ families with Silas Paige in search of a connection — something they’d already done with all the other families without bearing fruit so far. He glanced around the drawing room, a grand space fifty-foot square in French Regency style with a high-domed ceiling and a minstrel’s gallery. Several portraits lined the upper gallery walls, which were no doubt Silas Paige’s ancestors, peering down at him through the railings to ensure he kept up the family’s tobacco trading empire.

Silas Paige applied thought for a moment as he puffed at an ornate clay pipe. “I’ve done some business with Josiah Berenton before and I have some shares in Ottmeir & Glenning, like many others. But outside of that, no. I’ve never used Bartholomew Corbett’s firm as accountants or Phillip Standen as a lawyer.”

Argenti nodded and waited for John Whelan to catch up with his notes.

“And your daughter, Celia, might she have known any of the daughters of those families, either through the debutante circuit or any other social connections that come to mind?”

A glimmer of recognition appeared to strike Silas Paige for a moment, then just as quickly it died. He slowly shook his head. “I’m sorry. Nothing I can think of. I don’t think she was acquainted with any of those other girls.”

Jameson looked back at the gallery and continued scanning: a Long Island Beach scene by Dennis Miller Bunker and what looked like a Harnett still life of old books. They’d recently revisited all of the victims’ families to ask the same question. In many cases it was a painful raking over of the coals; some of them had started to believe it might be random illness related, now the spectre of a purposeful murder was back before them.

In some instances those enquiries had met in the middle; the first cases they’d thought might be poison administered by those close to the girls: family, friends, servants. Then with no common friends or servants amongst such a broad circle of girls, they started widening that possible contact list. Without success so far.

Jameson took a fresh breath as he looked back directly at Silas Paige. “And is there anyone you can think of who might have had a grudge or grievance against your daughter, Celia?”

“None that I can think of.” Silas Paige shook his head, his face clouding. “For goodness sake, she was only a sixteen-year-old girl, Mr Jameson.”

“My thoughts precisely. But you understand I have to ask.”

Paige nodded sombrely after a second. “I understand.”

“And how about in your own work and business? Any grudges or grievances there that come to mind?”

“Well, yes... I suppose.” Silas Paige appeared put off stride by the question. “But no more than any other businessman in my position, I would hazard.

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.