Read Online A Pocketful of Eyes by Lili Wilkinson - Free Book Online Page A

so – he checked himself out of hospital after three days and went home. And nobody heard from him after that.’
    ‘Except you saw him in the Red Rotunda.’
    ‘The day that Gus died. And then I saw him again, sitting outside the museum, on the morning they found Gus’s body.’
    Toby took off his glasses. ‘So Gus was working for Cranston,’ he said. ‘And Cranston was in the room where Gus was found dead, mere hours before the murder. Doesn’t that kind of point towards . . .’
    ‘Towards the possibility that Cranston knew about the murder before it happened.’
    ‘Do you think he did it?’
    Bee shrugged. ‘I don’t know. He must have been involved somehow, otherwise it’s just too much of a coincidence. But what could his motive have been?’
    ‘Maybe Cranston was mad that Gus came to work at the museum instead of remaining his assistant.’
    ‘Maybe. But that still doesn’t explain what Adrian Featherstone has to do with it.’
    ‘Oh, and he does have something to do with it,’ said Toby. ‘I do not like that man at all . He’s definitely involved.’
    Bee looked absently at the clock on the wall. Who had changed the time back so it matched her watch?
    ‘So is it time for the next step?’ asked Toby.
    ‘What next step?’
    ‘In your detective methodology. Making a list of suspects.’
    Bee blinked. ‘I suppose so.’
    ‘So who’s on it?’
    ‘Well, Cranston is currently at the top of the list. He has a connection with the victim and was present at the scene of the crime. Except I don’t know what his motive could have been. He certainly can’t have killed Gus for money. Revenge, maybe? For something Gus did?’ She narrowed her eyes. ‘Then there’s Adrian Featherstone. He’s hiding something. Why did he have that clipping on his pinboard? And I’m pretty sure I caught him going through Gus’s desk the other day. And . . .’
    ‘What?’
    ‘I don’t know. There’s something else. I’m just not sure what it is. I think we have to find out what his connection to Cranston and Gus is. And see if he has an alibi.’
    Toby grinned. Bee raised an eyebrow.
    ‘Sorry,’ said Toby. ‘It’s just in the last minute you’ve said victim and scene of the crime and motive and alibi . I feel like I’m in an episode of Midsomer Murders .’
    ‘I feel like you’re not taking this seriously.’
    ‘Sorry,’ Toby said again. ‘Carry on. Any other suspects?’
    Bee gave him a suspicious look. ‘We should find out which security guard was on duty,’ she said. ‘Even if they’re not a suspect, they might have seen or heard something. And I think we should also see what we can find out from Akiko Kobayashi.’
    ‘You think she’s a suspect?’
    Bee shrugged. ‘She might be able to shed some light on the whole Cranston–Gus–Featherstone thing.’
    ‘So what first?’
    ‘Let’s have another look in the Red Rotunda.’
    The Red Rotunda was as empty as ever.
    ‘So this was Cranston’s personal collection?’ asked Toby, indicating the glass cases.
    Bee nodded. ‘He was fascinated with the inner workings of animals and how they compared to humans. He even preserved his own pet dog and cats for study.’ She pointed at the mangy animals.
    ‘Nice,’ said Toby, squinting at the jar of mole paws.
    Bee looked at the skeletons, jars and mounted specimens. What had they seen the other night, through their veils of glass and methylated spirits? Who else had been here in this room with Gus? If only they could tell her. If only it had been her eyes in Gus’s pocket . . . Bee shook her head. She was going crazy.
    ‘Hey,’ said Toby. ‘Here’s the horseshoe crab.’
    It was in a small glass case alongside an ugly black critter labelled Deathstalker Scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus) , and several types of spider. Bee shuddered.
    ‘They’re actually very interesting creatures,’ said Toby, still peering at the horseshoe crab. ‘I did some reading last night after I talked to my