The Sons of Helios: A Sherlock and Lucy Short Story (The Sherlock and Lucy Mystery Series Book 13) by Anna Elliott & Charles Veley

Author:Anna Elliott & Charles Veley [Elliott, Anna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wilton Press
Published: 2019-10-06T04:00:00+00:00

Pargeter asked me to accompany him to see the great hall and site of the theft of the painting. We were standing before the bare spot on the wall when the telephone rang.

A few moments later, Drake appeared. “The call is for Inspector Pargeter,” he said. “Constable Briggs is calling from the Capitol and Counties Bank.”

Pargeter bustled forward, spoke hurriedly on the telephone, then returned, flushed and excited.

“A new theory of the case may be required,” he said. As he continued, he led me to where the two bodies had been found.

“I had asked my constable to learn what he could about the one victim, the banker Crutchley,” Pargeter said. “Well, it seems Crutchley was about to be given his notice by the bank! Into gambling trouble, he was, and his superiors had got wind of it. Changes things fundamentally, yes indeed!”

“In what way?”

“Don’t you see? Crutchley may have been in on the theft! Probably worked it with that tramp fellow in advance, getting the bloke to take the painting and hide it somewhere. Then he comes back last night or early morning, and the tramp won’t deliver! They fall out over it, they fight, and they kill each other!”

He paused for breath and looked at me, his eyes bright. “What do you suppose your Mr. Holmes will think of that?”

“He will probably wonder why the two men chose this cloakroom as the venue to settle their dispute.”

Pargeter considered, but only for a moment. “They heard someone, and then they ducked in here to hide.”

“He will also ask why, while killing each other, they obligingly placed one of the robes on the floor beneath their bodies in order not to stain the varnish.”

“No need to be satirical about it. The robe may already have been on the floor.”

“Finally, he will ask how the pistol from the cloakroom managed to make its way up two flights of stairs to where it was found beneath Miss Shepperton’s pillow.”

From outside came the rattle of a coach and horses, driving away.

Pargeter took no notice. He was not to be dissuaded from pursuing his argument, not by me, nor by the coach or the sound of footsteps hurrying down the stairs above us. He continued. “The pistol may have been moved by one of the servants. In fact, one of the servants could have had it in for Miss Shepperton. Taken a dislike to her. Saw the opportunity to cause her a bit of—”

“Inspector!” Holmes interrupted, coming down the staircase, followed by Lucy. In his hands was an iron incense grate heavily flaked with black and gray ashes. “Who was on that coach?”

“What coach?” Pargeter looked puzzled.

“The one that just drove away from the carriage house.”

“Why, yes, I think I heard it,” Pargeter said. “Must have been Lord Shepperton, on his way to his solicitor’s. In Farrington, he said. He’ll be back by seven o’clock for supper. Anyway, let me give you my new information. I’ve just had a call—”

Holmes interrupted. “Why was luggage strapped onto the back of the coach?”

A wary look came into Pargeter’s close-set eyes.

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