Read Online Murder's Sad Tale by Joan Smith - Free Book Online
Authors: Joan Smith
Tags: regency mystery
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made, or at least sold. The label says ‘The Brinks Hat Emporium, Bedford.’ Well, we knew it wasn’t a Baxter.”
“The question is,” Luten said, “whose hat is it? Cooper would hardly plant one of his own hats in Russell’s fiat to call attention to himself. It could belong to Russell. He would have been wearing a hat the night he was killed in the park. I wonder if this is the one. And if so, how did Cooper come by it, unless he was there?”
“Killed him, you mean?” Corinne asked.
“Why carry the hat home if he murdered Russell? The murderer might have left it behind. Cooper kept a pretty sharp eye on Russell. If he followed him that night, saw the murderer, noticed he left his hat behind, he might have picked it up and taken it to Russell’s flat hoping to involve the man.”
“Mickey would have noticed,” Coffen said. “He didn’t mention anyone else being there.”
“Mickey was in a hurry. He might have missed the hat. Cooper stayed behind and picked it up later. It’s just one possibility. I’ll drop Townsend a note at the Bow Street office, ask if the corpse was accompanied by a hat when it was picked up.”
“Let us know as soon as you can,” Coffen said. “If it wasn’t found on Russell’s head, my bet would be that Mickey filched it, but I don’t see how Cooper ended up with it, or why he’d take it back to Russell’s place.”
Luten frowned at the hat and said, “Mickey seems a wide-awake scamp, and not too nice as regards probity. If he saw the murder, might he not have managed to follow Cooper home to try his hand at blackmail? The hat would confirm Mickey had been there, and presumably seen the whole thing. But it still doesn’t explain why Cooper took it to Russell’s flat.”
“If that’s the way it was, the bleeder’s been lying his head off, holding out on me, and after I gave him a golden boy for his help,” Coffen said angrily. “I must say, from the way Cooper was talking, I don’t think he’d have the nerve to kill a fly.”
“And would a mere link-boy be brave enough to confront a murderer in any case?” Corinne asked.
“Ho, you don’t know him,” Coffen said. “He’d confront a herd of lions for a few bob.”
“Pride,” Prance said.
“Greed is more like it,” Coffen said.
“A pride of lions,” Prance said, “a herd of elephants or cattle.”
“And a swarm of bees, but there were no animals there other than the murderer’s mount, so what’s your point?” Coffen demanded.
“Accuracy,” Prance replied. “Never mind.”
Corinne took the hat and studied it. “I doubt this is Russell’s hat,” she said. “It’s old and not at all stylish. Russell had a reputation as a bit of a dandy. Yet if it’s not Russell’s hat but Cooper’s, then he’d hardly plant a clue pointing to himself, so it must belong to someone else.”
Coffen considered this a moment, then said, “Luten’s already said that. What’s your point?”
“Perhaps he’s trying to involve some other suitor for Miss Fenwick. You don’t think him capable of murder, Coffen, but would he be capable of a stunt like that?”
“That sounds more his style,” Coffen said. “I’d say he’s mad enough about Miss Fenwick to try anything that doesn’t demand physical nerve.”
“You might have a word with Mrs. Ballard, Corinne,” Luten suggested. “See if any other suitors had their noses out of joint. And show her the hat, see if she recognizes it.”
“This is thirsty work,” Coffen said, casting a hopeful glance at his hostess. She took the hint and rang for Black, who soon came with coffee and a plate of scones.
They continued discussing the case over coffee. Coffen filled them in on the details of his meeting with Cooper. Luten congratulated him, urged him to keep up the good work, then rose to leave.
“Are we doing anything tonight?” Reg asked, rising with Luten to return to his labors.
“Lady Dunn has invited Luten and me to a small rout party
“The question is,” Luten said, “whose hat is it? Cooper would hardly plant one of his own hats in Russell’s fiat to call attention to himself. It could belong to Russell. He would have been wearing a hat the night he was killed in the park. I wonder if this is the one. And if so, how did Cooper come by it, unless he was there?”
“Killed him, you mean?” Corinne asked.
“Why carry the hat home if he murdered Russell? The murderer might have left it behind. Cooper kept a pretty sharp eye on Russell. If he followed him that night, saw the murderer, noticed he left his hat behind, he might have picked it up and taken it to Russell’s flat hoping to involve the man.”
“Mickey would have noticed,” Coffen said. “He didn’t mention anyone else being there.”
“Mickey was in a hurry. He might have missed the hat. Cooper stayed behind and picked it up later. It’s just one possibility. I’ll drop Townsend a note at the Bow Street office, ask if the corpse was accompanied by a hat when it was picked up.”
“Let us know as soon as you can,” Coffen said. “If it wasn’t found on Russell’s head, my bet would be that Mickey filched it, but I don’t see how Cooper ended up with it, or why he’d take it back to Russell’s place.”
Luten frowned at the hat and said, “Mickey seems a wide-awake scamp, and not too nice as regards probity. If he saw the murder, might he not have managed to follow Cooper home to try his hand at blackmail? The hat would confirm Mickey had been there, and presumably seen the whole thing. But it still doesn’t explain why Cooper took it to Russell’s flat.”
“If that’s the way it was, the bleeder’s been lying his head off, holding out on me, and after I gave him a golden boy for his help,” Coffen said angrily. “I must say, from the way Cooper was talking, I don’t think he’d have the nerve to kill a fly.”
“And would a mere link-boy be brave enough to confront a murderer in any case?” Corinne asked.
“Ho, you don’t know him,” Coffen said. “He’d confront a herd of lions for a few bob.”
“Pride,” Prance said.
“Greed is more like it,” Coffen said.
“A pride of lions,” Prance said, “a herd of elephants or cattle.”
“And a swarm of bees, but there were no animals there other than the murderer’s mount, so what’s your point?” Coffen demanded.
“Accuracy,” Prance replied. “Never mind.”
Corinne took the hat and studied it. “I doubt this is Russell’s hat,” she said. “It’s old and not at all stylish. Russell had a reputation as a bit of a dandy. Yet if it’s not Russell’s hat but Cooper’s, then he’d hardly plant a clue pointing to himself, so it must belong to someone else.”
Coffen considered this a moment, then said, “Luten’s already said that. What’s your point?”
“Perhaps he’s trying to involve some other suitor for Miss Fenwick. You don’t think him capable of murder, Coffen, but would he be capable of a stunt like that?”
“That sounds more his style,” Coffen said. “I’d say he’s mad enough about Miss Fenwick to try anything that doesn’t demand physical nerve.”
“You might have a word with Mrs. Ballard, Corinne,” Luten suggested. “See if any other suitors had their noses out of joint. And show her the hat, see if she recognizes it.”
“This is thirsty work,” Coffen said, casting a hopeful glance at his hostess. She took the hint and rang for Black, who soon came with coffee and a plate of scones.
They continued discussing the case over coffee. Coffen filled them in on the details of his meeting with Cooper. Luten congratulated him, urged him to keep up the good work, then rose to leave.
“Are we doing anything tonight?” Reg asked, rising with Luten to return to his labors.
“Lady Dunn has invited Luten and me to a small rout party
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