Murder in Mount Pleasant by Sarah M Stephen

Author:Sarah M Stephen [Sarah M Stephen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: WZE Press
Published: 2023-08-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Jack

Seeing dark curtains hanging in the windows of the Pegg house, Winston braced himself for a conversation with a family in mourning. Susie Pegg opened the door to Winston and Miller, her face set in a frown. “Do you have news about my sister?”

“Yes, Miss Pegg.” Winston held his hat under his arm. “We’d like to ask you a few questions.”

“Does this mean you’re taking her death seriously?” The words came from her mouth sharply.

“We need to speak to you today.” He paused. “I know this is difficult.” Her assumption that the police wouldn’t take her sister’s death seriously rankled him. Winston had taken care to visit her after Doctor Evans’ autopsy to let her know the direction the investigation was heading in. Was she lashing out now in anger and loss, or was she attempting to deflect questions?

“Fine.” She held the door open to let the policemen inside. “Since you’re here, can I fix you a cup of tea?” She took their overcoats and hung them beside the door, making room by shifting the family’s coats off two pegs.

“That won’t be necessary.” Winston wanted to get to the questions quickly.

“What do you want to ask me?”

“Perhaps we could sit somewhere?” Seeing more of the Pegg family home might help answer what had driven Kate to leave and not tell her family where she was going.

Instead of the sitting room they had met in previously, Susie led them into the house’s kitchen. “I know you said you don’t want a cup of tea, but I think I would,” she explained. Her tone had softened somewhat.

Winston and Miller chose the two seats facing the preparation area so they could see Susie as she worked. Miller pulled his notepad from his pocket. “When did you last see your sister before she died?” Winston asked.

“You know this, Detective. I hadn’t seen her for two weeks. Not since we left the Shuttleworths’. Kate was angry with me about how I spoke of Clay.” She closed her eyes. “I wouldn’t have left it so long if I’d known she was going to die.”

“Was it usual for the two of you to quarrel?”

Pain pinched her features. “Kate was stubborn. And quick to anger. We might be silent for a few days, but we lived here and worked together. Eventually we had to speak.” Susie set slices of cake in front of the policemen. “We’ve received so much. Someone needs to eat it.”

“Why didn’t you look for her earlier?” Miller asked. He pulled his plate closer.

She dabbed at her eye with a handkerchief. “I thought she would come home eventually. She would see that Clay wasn’t the right man for her.”

Still raw after learning of his brother’s death, Winston recognized her grief as genuine. Yet what would drive sisters so far apart, especially when they were supposed to be close? And was Susie grieving because she was the cause of her sister’s death? Winston softened his voice. “Did you know of her marriage to Mr. Block?”

“Her what?” While preparing the tea, Susie had kept her gaze away from Winston and Miller.

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