How to Solve Murders like a Lady by Hannah Dolby

Author:Hannah Dolby [Dolby, Hannah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781804544433
Publisher: Head of Zeus

*

I recognised the tall form of Benjamin inside the shop already, so I clambered over the little step and went in. He was trying to right a wardrobe, and he looked at me grimly.

Someone had destroyed everything they could lay their hands on. All the furniture was upended, drawers lying everywhere, cupboards askew, lamps smashed, wardrobes with doors swinging open. It looked as if it had been done with anger, as if someone had come in and deliberately caused as much damage as they could.

Benjamin sat down heavily on an upturned crate and put his head in his hands. This was his livelihood, his oeuvre, much more than the detective work; he had used his furniture business to put himself back together after his father died, inch by lovingly polished inch, and I could not bear it for him. I sat next to him and took one of his hands.

‘It will be all right,’ I said. ‘We will put it back together. Maybe some of it can be saved.’ Although I had to admit to myself, looking at the level of destruction, it would be hard, if not impossible. Someone had taken an axe and gone wild with it, leaving gashes and dents wherever they could.

‘It brings in the money,’ he said. ‘It’s what helps me support Agnes and the children. It was a successful business, and I’m not sure we can resurrect this.’

‘Why would anyone be so vicious?’ I asked. I spotted my typewriter lying in a corner upside down, and unexpected tears welled up in my eyes. But I would not let them out, because this was worse for Benjamin.

‘Someone has a grudge,’ he said. ‘Or they were searching for something. I cannot envisage…’ He did not finish the sentence, just sat quietly contemplating the destruction of his dreams. I rested my head on his shoulder and sat with him.

‘Your typewriter,’ he said eventually, and got up to right it. It was almost too heavy to pick up, but together we managed to lift it and place it back on the oak desk that had magically stayed upright, although its drawers had been thrown across the shop. The typewriter keys were stuck together, and the wheel that typed the letters had become dislodged. Some of the paint, the delicate black and coloured lettering that made it such a beautiful machine, had chipped off. I gave it an affectionate stroke.

‘It is not too badly harmed,’ I said. ‘There may be other things we can save too,’ but my fiancé gave a sigh so deep from within his soul I knew he was not ready for optimism yet.

‘Someone will have seen who did this,’ he said. ‘I will go and ask around. I cannot face… I will deal with all this another day.’

‘And I will help,’ I said. ‘Do not despair.’ He gave me a hug, resting his chin on top of my head briefly.

‘We’ll find the bastards,’ I said primly, startling him into laughter. I hoped he would not judge me for it.

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.