The Sculthorpe Murder by Karen Charlton

Author:Karen Charlton [Charlton, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781503938243
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Published: 2016-08-29T22:00:00+00:00

Woods enjoyed the Sunday service at St Dionysius’ Church. There were plenty of hymns, the musicians were accomplished and the acoustics in the high-vaulted, stone-arched church were excellent. He liked singing and belted out the words to the hymns in his rich, deep baritone, oblivious to the stares of his neighbours in the congregation who were mesmerised by the singing policeman from London.

After the service, he retrieved his horse from the stables and set out back to Middleton. A thin veil of silvery mist floated above some of the low-lying fields but the sun glimmered hazily in the sky above him.

It took him several hours to travel the seven miles between Market Harborough and Middleton because he called at all the cottages and farmhouses lining the road. The farmers and labourers who answered the door to him were surprised, polite but unhelpful. No one had seen or heard a gang of men riding to or from Middleton on the night of the storm. He knew the gang had disappeared on the Rockingham Road but he reasoned that as he had plenty of time before Lavender’s return, he might as well investigate every road in and out of the village.

It was growing dark when he finally handed over the reins of his horse to the blacksmith at the village forge and tramped wearily along the quiet street towards The Woolpack Inn. The tavern was quieter tonight and apart from the Bunnings, Susie Dicken and old Pete Jarman, Woods didn’t recognise any of the customers hunched over the low tables.

While he ate the thin stew and soggy dumplings served up by Susie Dicken, Woods watched the interaction between her and the landlord’s young nephew. Isaac Bunning didn’t miss an opportunity to fondle the woman every time she glided past his table, but then again, neither did half of the men in the room. The jiltish ladybird enjoyed the attention and flirted and giggled her way from table to table, stroking the men’s beards and sideburns, touching their hands and sometimes sitting in their laps. As soon as Frank Bunning appeared, everyone behaved with decorum around Susie and the woman became quieter, more dignified and less tactile.

Woods cursed as he jarred his tooth on a sharp piece of gristle. He spat it out and stared down at the unappetising slop before him. He didn’t recognise the meat and wondered if the damned woman had skinned an old cat for his evening meal.

As if on cue, Susie let out a peal of laughter. Frank Bunning was absent from the room and once again she was sitting on Isaac’s lap. The young man fondled her left breast. It was obvious to Woods that Isaac’s feelings for Susie weren’t those a nephew normally held for the woman betrothed to his uncle. But how far had lust led Isaac and Susie? Had they consummated their relationship, and if so, had William Sculthorpe known about this? Did he threaten to tell Isaac’s uncle and blackmail the young man for cash? Is that why I.

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