Grave Suspicions of Murder by Evelyn James

Author:Evelyn James [James, Evelyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Red Raven Publications
Published: 2016-03-30T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Monday morning dawned and Clara found herself regretting the previous day’s adventures. Her foot was extremely sore and just hobbling downstairs was agony. Her plan to head to the police station and examine the files (if there were any) on the death of Mr Graves senior had to be curtailed. Instead Tommy offered to go to the library and look through the old newspapers for any information. Clara appreciated his assistance, but couldn’t help but feel glum; she was not used to being so housebound.

Annie did not stand for self-pity, she felt it was unproductive. So when she brought through a cup of tea and toast for Clara’ breakfast she swiftly confronted the problem head-on.

“Young lady, cheer yourself up!” she instructed firmly.

Clara glowered at her a little.

“So you can’t leave the house. I’m sure with a mind like yours you can think up some means for occupying yourself indoors,” Annie continued, completely undeterred.

“I need to visit the Graves family,” Clara answered miserably.

“I can do that. My kitchen is clean, we have plenty of cold meat left over for dinner, so no need to put you in charge of an oven, thank goodness,” Annie stood before Clara, hands on hips, looking formidable. “I’ll take Tommy to the library, then catch the tram to the outskirts and see the Graves women again. You want me to probe about the suspect will?”

“Well, yes. That and the mysterious death of Mr Graves’ father. I don’t believe two men can die in exactly the same manner by coincidence.”

“I shall head out at once,” Annie said stoutly. “Now, what will you do while I am out?”

Clara really didn’t know. All the things she wanted to do were outside of the house.

“Perhaps it is time you placed your concerns before Inspector Park-Coombs?” Tommy suggested. “See if he can spare you the time for a visit.”

Clara conceded it was about time she briefed the Inspector on the situation. Better he be warned of the situation then to suddenly descend on him with a murder case, if there was one, of course. Clara still had to face the possibility that Mr Graves’ death was accidental, or even a pure coincidence. But someone had stolen papers from his office, and though she had promised Mr Hatton to keep his name out of the matter, she did need to inform the police of the strange goings-on at the solicitors’ office.

“There is one other person I wish to speak to,” Clara suddenly had an idea. “Annie, would you be so kind as to drop in to the offices of Mr Erikson and ask his secretary to call on me at her earliest convenience.”

“Say no more, it is done,” Annie promised.

With everyone’s goals for the morning decided upon, they went their separate ways, each determined to find the final clue that would unravel the Graves mystery.

~~~*~~~

Tommy was a regular presence in the library and tended to get special treatment from the female assistants who viewed him as some sort of wounded war hero.

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