Read Online Superfluous Women by Carola Dunn - Free Book Online

there?” he asked, pointing to the ladies’ parlour. They all shook their heads as he came back to sit down. “We can talk now. But if someone comes in—including servants—we change the subject.”
    â€œAll right,” said Willie. “First, what did you actually see in the cellar? None of us stopped to look. A man or a woman?”
    â€œA woman. Dark hair. That’s about all I can tell you.”
    â€œCan, or will?”
    Alec smiled. “A bit of each.”
    â€œDid the local police tell you not to blow the gaff?” Daisy asked.
    â€œNot in so many words, but the only officer I saw was the local sergeant, Harris. He was out of his depth. I didn’t wait for the detectives to turn up. I’m treading on thin ice here—”
    â€œAnd you don’t want to fall in up to your neck, but at least you’re not quite mixing your metaphors!”
    â€œGreat Scott, Daisy, I’m trying to explain my position here to your friends.”
    â€œI’ve already told them, darling.” She gave him a sweet smile in exchange for his exasperated look. “What was Sergeant Harris like?”
    â€œWell, let’s just say I interrupted him in the middle of his Sunday roast and things went downhill from there.”
    â€œOh dear!”
    â€œSergeant Harris?” said Isabel. “That’s the man who came round a couple of days after we moved in, to introduce himself. He made it very clear he didn’t approve of three unrelated single women living together. I doubt if he has a right side to get on.”
    â€œIf he does, I certainly didn’t get on it!”
    â€œHe knows who you are?”
    â€œI told him I’m an officer of the Metropolitan Police. I didn’t mention the Yard or being a detective, nor my rank. I’ll have to tell the inspector, though.”
    â€œWhen are you going to notify the super?” Daisy sighed. “I suppose you have to.”
    â€œCan you imagine the explosion if I didn’t and he found out? Which he’d be bound to. I won’t disturb him on a Sunday evening, but I’ll send a wire from here before I go in to work tomorrow, to give him time to simmer down a bit, with any luck, before I see him.”
    â€œThey’ll let us go to work, won’t they?” Vera asked anxiously.
    â€œI can’t think of any reason why they wouldn’t. They might turn up with more questions.”
    Vera bit her lip. “I’ll get the sack, for sure.”
    â€œNo, why should you?” Willie cried. “You haven’t done anything wrong.”
    â€œThe townspeople won’t want their children taught by someone who’s been mixed up in a murder investigation. I can’t blame them.”
    â€œMr. Cartwright will stick up for you. The headmaster’s words must carry a lot of weight.”
    Looking even unhappier, Vera said, “Yes, but … No. I don’t know.”
    â€œFor pity’s sake, which?”
    â€œLeave her alone, Willie,” Isabel snapped. “She’s said she doesn’t know. What about your job?”
    â€œI’m not worried about losing it. Alec, I suppose it really is a case of murder?”
    â€œShe didn’t lock the door herself.”
    â€œNo. And there’s no hope of keeping it quiet?” Willie answered her own question: “No, of course not. Even if the press somehow missed it, we couldn’t keep it from Mrs. Hedger and she’d have it all over town in no time.”
    â€œTo do her justice,” said Isabel, “she has her faults, but she’s not a gossip.”
    â€œUntil now, we haven’t given her anything juicy to gossip about,” Willie pointed out.
    On this dispiriting note, their tea arrived. For some time no one spoke of the dire discovery at Cherry Trees. When the waitress came to remove the scant debris, Daisy noticed that everyone looked more cheerful. She felt more