The Painted Penny Stamp: Vita Carew Mysteries Book 4 by Fran Smith

Author:Fran Smith [Smith, Fran]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hog Fen Publishing
Published: 2022-05-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

A lone figure slipped out of a shadowy doorway as Vita came down the steps of the police station. She paused, catching her breath, but it stepped into the lamplight and revealed itself to be Aloysius Derbyshire.

‘I did not mean to startle you. Your Aunt has asked…’

‘Oh, Mr Derbyshire, surely not! Surely my aunt does not fear me walking home from the police station alone. It is hardly ten minutes’ walk.’ Vita strode ahead.

Derbyshire trotted to keep up with her. ‘But, who knows what forces of evil lurk across Parker’s Piece, waiting to kidnap young women and carry them to Bluebeard’s castle, or into slavery in Brazil? Quite apart from the awful Longbridge!’ he called.

‘Slavery in Brazil!’ Vita snorted. ‘What utter nonsense! I have just been released from the most irritating interview with the police. Now, kindly make way, I am in no mood for tomfoolery.’

‘I’m willing to bet the Inspector decided there was no charge to answer and thanked you for your public spirited action in returning the money,’ Derbyshire called, still hurrying to keep pace.

‘You are half right. No thanks were offered. He seemed suddenly to want to get rid of me as quickly as possible. A titled lady dies in odd circumstances, and Llewelyn immediately drops everything else. There must be a new development in that case, I think.’

‘How fascinating! I wonder what it was?’ As usual, Derbyshire made no attempt to conceal his gleeful enjoyment of the tragic news story currently monopolising the Cambridge headlines.

‘He sprang up as soon as I told him that I believed Longbridge had hidden himself in the roof after Albert Flett died.’

‘In the roof?’

‘I think he hid in the eaves because there were people coming and going in Flett’s room. He could hear what they were saying. He waited until night, then pushed his way out through the roof and climbed down the drainpipe.’

A pair of young men on bicycles passed them. One balancing a large music instrument - a cello, perhaps - on his handlebars.

‘Perhaps someone did the same at Miss Longbridge's house!’ Derbyshire suggested, relishing the idea.

‘Mr Petit would know. He knows all the roofs in Cambridge. I shall ask him.’

‘Of course,’ Derbyshire went on, ‘Longbridge may not have needed to break in or out of his aunt's house. He might have had a key.’

‘No, they had a falling-out. He was in her bad books.’

‘Well then, perhaps a servant let the nephew-gone-to-the-bad in. Perhaps he offered the butler or the housekeeper a juicy bribe! Or, if he was such an expert climber, which I doubt - he is a lazy beast and his muscular strength was not impressive when I worked with him - he might easily have let himself in at a window. There are a great many windows to choose from.’

‘This speculation is not helpful.’ Vita said. ‘Although, now you mention it, perhaps they suddenly realised they had checked everywhere in the house but the roof.’

Vita came to a sudden halt and turned to face Derbyshire.

They

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