Read Online A Dismal Thing To Do by Charlotte MacLeod - Free Book Online
Authors: Charlotte MacLeod
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no trouble picking up the little extra emphasis, the quick expulsion of breath.
“Doctor, I’m sure you noticed how tense my wife was despite her efforts to appear calm and collected. I think I should tell you that we had a small nervous crisis just now. No, Muriel, it’s quite all right. Nurse Nurney is giving her a sedative. But the gist of it is, Janet thinks it would be best if she got away to her people for a few days. They’re a close-knit family, and she says she’d feel safer among them. I must say I agree. Complete rest, quiet chats with her relatives—”
That was laying it on a bit. Fancy anybody having a quiet chat with Annabelle, the one-woman soap opera. But Annabelle was fond of her young sister-in-law, and Janet would indeed be well protected there with Bert and the boys and Sam Neddick, the hired man who saw all, knew all, and told only what he was of a mind to.
It was a good thing Janet hadn’t yet got around to putting up the family photographs. Mr. X nodded, all unawares. “Don’t see why not, if she feels well enough to travel. Probably the best thing for her. You weren’t planning to stay there with her, I don’t suppose?”
It was an order. Madoc let Mr. X know he understood that fact.
“Oh, there’s no need. She’ll be well taken care of and I can always nip over when I get some time off. Would you care for a little more of the pie?”
Mr. X announced himself replete and in a rush to get back to the—er—hospital. He beamed kindly on Muriel, addressed her as “gracious lady,” and left her pleasantly aflutter and no doubt champing at the bit to run up and tell Janet all about it, if Nurse Nurney would only let her. That was all right; she could help with the packing. Madoc would ride back to headquarters with Mr. X and the deputy commissioner, stay just long enough to tie up some loose ends, and negotiate the loan of his own chief’s Winnebago. He could then tuck his Jenny up in a comfortable bed, make the trip without discomfort, and have her in Pitcherville by nightfall. Tomorrow he’d take a little run over to Bigears.
Chapter 7
J ANET HAD LAUGHED HIM out of the Winnebago, which was probably just as well. She’d insisted she’d be fine in the car and, as far as Madoc could see, she was.
They’d waited until morning to start because Madoc had to clear his desk first and besides, as Janet thriftily pointed out, they still had last night’s supper to eat. She’d taken a trial run down to the kitchen late in the afternoon and found she could manage well enough so long as she didn’t try any fancy bending or stretching. So Officer Nurney was freed to go off duty and Muriel to run home and tell Jock all about the big doctor from Winnipeg, and Janet and Madoc to spend a cozy evening and a cozier night together.
Then Janet had treated herself to a good hot soak in the tub to limber her up, got dressed with more help from Madoc than she really needed, and they were off. Muriel was going to water the plants and take in the mail. Every man and woman on the Fredericton Police Force, not to mention the local RCMP, would be guarding the property off and on as other duties permitted. Nevertheless, Janet rather hated to leave. This was the first time she’d be sleeping away from her own home since they moved in, and she wasn’t keen on the idea. On the other hand, if Madoc was going to be detecting somebody over at Big-ears, she’d be near him. Now she knew how Lady Rhys felt when Sir Emlyn got an invitation to conduct a chorus in Riga or Wellington.
They didn’t bother to phone ahead to the farm. That would only have put Annabelle into a premature tizzy. Janet still had her door key, but she wouldn’t be apt to need it. At least one member of the family was pretty sure to be around. There was also the question of security.
Madoc didn’t actually think their phone had been tapped, but he did know some people in Pitcherville still had party lines. Marion Emery, old Maw
“Doctor, I’m sure you noticed how tense my wife was despite her efforts to appear calm and collected. I think I should tell you that we had a small nervous crisis just now. No, Muriel, it’s quite all right. Nurse Nurney is giving her a sedative. But the gist of it is, Janet thinks it would be best if she got away to her people for a few days. They’re a close-knit family, and she says she’d feel safer among them. I must say I agree. Complete rest, quiet chats with her relatives—”
That was laying it on a bit. Fancy anybody having a quiet chat with Annabelle, the one-woman soap opera. But Annabelle was fond of her young sister-in-law, and Janet would indeed be well protected there with Bert and the boys and Sam Neddick, the hired man who saw all, knew all, and told only what he was of a mind to.
It was a good thing Janet hadn’t yet got around to putting up the family photographs. Mr. X nodded, all unawares. “Don’t see why not, if she feels well enough to travel. Probably the best thing for her. You weren’t planning to stay there with her, I don’t suppose?”
It was an order. Madoc let Mr. X know he understood that fact.
“Oh, there’s no need. She’ll be well taken care of and I can always nip over when I get some time off. Would you care for a little more of the pie?”
Mr. X announced himself replete and in a rush to get back to the—er—hospital. He beamed kindly on Muriel, addressed her as “gracious lady,” and left her pleasantly aflutter and no doubt champing at the bit to run up and tell Janet all about it, if Nurse Nurney would only let her. That was all right; she could help with the packing. Madoc would ride back to headquarters with Mr. X and the deputy commissioner, stay just long enough to tie up some loose ends, and negotiate the loan of his own chief’s Winnebago. He could then tuck his Jenny up in a comfortable bed, make the trip without discomfort, and have her in Pitcherville by nightfall. Tomorrow he’d take a little run over to Bigears.
Chapter 7
J ANET HAD LAUGHED HIM out of the Winnebago, which was probably just as well. She’d insisted she’d be fine in the car and, as far as Madoc could see, she was.
They’d waited until morning to start because Madoc had to clear his desk first and besides, as Janet thriftily pointed out, they still had last night’s supper to eat. She’d taken a trial run down to the kitchen late in the afternoon and found she could manage well enough so long as she didn’t try any fancy bending or stretching. So Officer Nurney was freed to go off duty and Muriel to run home and tell Jock all about the big doctor from Winnipeg, and Janet and Madoc to spend a cozy evening and a cozier night together.
Then Janet had treated herself to a good hot soak in the tub to limber her up, got dressed with more help from Madoc than she really needed, and they were off. Muriel was going to water the plants and take in the mail. Every man and woman on the Fredericton Police Force, not to mention the local RCMP, would be guarding the property off and on as other duties permitted. Nevertheless, Janet rather hated to leave. This was the first time she’d be sleeping away from her own home since they moved in, and she wasn’t keen on the idea. On the other hand, if Madoc was going to be detecting somebody over at Big-ears, she’d be near him. Now she knew how Lady Rhys felt when Sir Emlyn got an invitation to conduct a chorus in Riga or Wellington.
They didn’t bother to phone ahead to the farm. That would only have put Annabelle into a premature tizzy. Janet still had her door key, but she wouldn’t be apt to need it. At least one member of the family was pretty sure to be around. There was also the question of security.
Madoc didn’t actually think their phone had been tapped, but he did know some people in Pitcherville still had party lines. Marion Emery, old Maw
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