Murder by Umbrella by Jaye Rothman

Author:Jaye Rothman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jaye Rothman
Published: 2021-02-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 4 Day Four

Nikki sat at the kitchen table, staring at the garden, as another new day tinted the sky. What had Jasmine said? Something about the sun rising and days ending even although your heart had broken. Jasmine was long gone, yet she still remembered her profound words.

She had forsaken her Countess and, in that dreadful moment, that split-second decision she’d made, Nikki’s heart had shattered. For the millionth time Nikki wished she hadn’t listened to Fraser. She should’ve defied him and stood her ground. Now she had to live with her decision, day after day, week after week, month after month. Regrets had become the story of her life. She hunched over, rested her head on her arms and closed her eyes.

“Nikki! Nikki!” Lonnie was shaking her shoulder.

Blinking rapidly, Nikki stared up at her friend.

He held two steaming mugs in his hands. “Here you are, that should get you going.” He grinned and sat down opposite her. “Late night, was it?”

Nikki smiled and sipped her tea. “Yes, but worth it. I found out about the rivalry between Professor Lange, Eva and Bryant.”

“Do tell. That sounds interesting.” Lonnie leaned forward.

Nikki ran through the conversations she’d had with Eva, omitting all other events.

“I reread Jan Nemec’s file. As much as I dislike the man, I can’t see why he’d murder his colleagues and put his future in England at risk. That he’d assist the Czech Secret Service, or the KGB, doesn’t make any sense.” Lonnie sipped his tea. “I met him in the pub last night, and we had a chat. He likes it here. Nobody bothers him, and he’s left to concentrate on his work. Nemec told me that if the British government sent him back to Czechoslovakia, he’d find himself doing time in a labour camp, and he’d never survive. A type two diabetic, he’s reliant on insulin.” Lonnie let out a slow breath. “He was virtually singing the praises of Doctor Buchanan. Nemec is the first defector I’ve met who actually likes living here.”

Nikki put down her mug. “While we’re on the subject of motives, Irma Lange doesn’t have any reason to kill Mester or Zakutin. If Bryant or Eva were found dead, then she’d be top of the suspect list. If she was repatriated to East Germany, Irma would spend the rest of her life in gaol for the murder of her husband. So, I can’t see any reason she’d willingly work for the Stasi.” Nikki paused. “Irma’s desperate to meet a woman and begin a relationship. She could hardly do that in solitary confinement. Anyway, in six months, when she’s fulfilled her contract, Irma plans on a move to London. I can’t imagine she’d throw the last four and a half years away.”

“I agree. Both Nemec and Lange have too much to lose. So, we can cross them off?”

“Yes, which leaves us with Eva, Professor Watkins, Yerzov and Polakoff.”

“We can’t rule out Bryant and Jarvis,” Lonnie said. The shrill tone of a ringing phone shattered the silence of the room.

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