Read Online 02 - Mrs. Jeffries Dusts for Clues by Emily Brightwell - Free Book Online Page A

“Why don’t you take Mrs. Crookshank outside for a bit of fresh air? I wouldn’t want to question her until she’s quite recovered herself.”
    “I ain’t lost,” Luty interrupted, “and you can ask me any questions you want. There’s only one thing that’s important now and that’s findin’ Mary’s killer.”
    “Are you going to keep the bag of clothes?” Bosworth asked. He was staring at Luty Belle in morbid fascination.
    “Yes, yes. Of course I’m going to keep the clothes. Thisis evidence, man.” Witherspoon made a mental note to speak to Constable Barnes. The deceased’s effects should have been taken into evidence at once.
    “Luty,” Mrs. Jeffries said. “Can you identify the pin?” She pointed to the silver broach.
    “Yup. It’s Fiona Lutterbank’s all right, but I can’t figure how it comes to be on Mary’s dress.” She pursed her lips. “I knows Mary didn’t steal it.”
    “Are you saying this broach is stolen property?” Witherspoon asked curiously.
    “According to Fiona Lutterbank it is.” Luty shrugged her shoulders. “But I wouldn’t believe her if she told me that dogs have fleas and cows eat grass. Girl’s a god-awful liar. She probably give Mary the pin and then told her father Mary stole it.”
    “Oh, dear,” Witherspoon said. He didn’t much like the way this was going. Mrs. Crookshank didn’t seem the type of lady who would stand back and let the police handle this murder in a tactful and diplomatic manner. He certainly hoped she wouldn’t go about making wild accusations and calling people liars. That could make things most awkward. Most awkward, indeed.
    “Are you absolutely certain that Mary didn’t steal that broach?” Mrs. Jeffries wasn’t sure why she was pressing the point, but her instincts were telling her it was important.
    “Hepzibah. I’m a very old woman, and I’ve spent my life learning to judge a person’s character. That’s the only way you survive in a wild place like Colorado.” Luty crossed her arms over her chest. “And I’m tellin’ you, that girl was no thief. She’d have starved to death before she ever took something that didn’t belong to her. I don’t know whys that danged pin is on her dress, but I do know that however it got there, Mary Sparks didn’t steal it.”
    “But nonetheless, the pin is there.”
    “Bosworth,” Dr. Potter shouted from the other end of the corrider. “Would you mind getting back to work?”
    Bosworth started and then reluctantly excused himself. Hecontinued to look longingly at the three of them as he trudged off.
    “Now, now, Mrs. Crookshank,” Witherspoon said. “I don’t question that you’re an excellent judge of character, but sometimes even the best of us are fooled.”
    The inspector refused to let go of the idea that Mary Sparks was a thief. Well, it would explain so very much. Yes, yes, he could see it now. No doubt Mary Sparks was part of a ring of thieves. Masquerading as a housemaid, she obtained positions in fine homes and took to stealing. There was probably a man in the situation as well, he decided. Someone she passed the goods on to. No doubt he’d stabbed her when she demanded a bigger share of the booty.
    Luty glared at him. “Speak for yurself, Inspector. I ain’t wrong about Mary. And if’n you’re fixin’ to pass her murder off as a fallin’ out among thieves, you’d best just think agin.”
    For one horrid moment, Witherspoon thought she’d read his mind. “No, no,” he assured her quickly. “I’m sure Miss Sparks was of the very finest character. You have my solemn word, madam. Regardless of the circumstances under which the unfortunate young woman was slain, I won’t rest until her killer is brought to justice.”
    “Humph.”
    While Inspector Witherspoon and Luty Belle were sparring with each other, Mrs. Jeffries was thinking hard. Her mind went over and over every scrap of information she and the other servants had come across. Luty was certain