Read Online Superfluous Women by Carola Dunn - Free Book Online Page A

cheerful herself.
    She knew, though, that Alec, despite his announced detachment from the investigation, wouldn’t be able to resist returning to the subject that was on all their minds.
    Isabel got in first. “I’ve been trying and trying to think what we can do about saving your job, Vera. No brilliant ideas so far, I’m afraid.”
    â€œWe’ll come up with something,” Willie said confidently, “if the issue ever materialises. As long as the children like you and behave for you, I doubt the board, the parents, or the head will want to lose you. Mr. Fletcher, how long is it likely to be before the police let us back into the house? I’ve got important papers that I need at work tomorrow.”
    â€œI really can’t say. There are too many variables. You won’t want to move back in until it’s been thoroughly cleansed and disinfected, of course. Would your Mrs. Hedger tackle a nasty job like that?”
    â€œI don’t know,” said Isabel. “She might if we paid enough. If not, I just hope I’ll be able to find some odd-job man glad to get any work. In the meantime, what am I supposed to do about things like the milk delivery? The post?”
    â€œSorry, I’ve never had to deal with that side of things. The inspector might be persuaded to bring out the papers you need, Miss Chandler, after they’ve been examined.”
    â€œThe papers are highly confidential.”
    â€œThen you’d have to insist that only he see them. Men rarely reach the rank of detective inspector if they’re incapable of keeping information confidential.”
    â€œAll very well, but my boss … I’d have to get his permission. Mr. Davis, of Spencer, Mott, and Davis.”
    â€œHave it out with DI Underwood.”
    â€œI need the children’s work papers that I took home to correct,” said Vera. “Those are not confidential, of course.”
    â€œWill they really rummage through all our stuff?” Isabel asked in dismay.
    â€œSorry, I would, in the circumstances. I can’t speak for the local chap. Now you’ve had time to think, can you still not recall any visitors since you moved in?”
    Isabel frowned. “Not what I’d describe as a visitor. The house agent dropped in one morning. He wanted to check that everything was all right.”
    â€œDid you ask whether he had a key to the cellar?”
    â€œYes, as a matter of fact. He said Mrs. Gray never let him have any keys. She insisted she should always be present when he showed the house.”
    â€œWhat about the solicitors?”
    Willie answered: “When we signed the papers, her solicitor handed over a set of keys, all he had. Of course, we weren’t to use them before the first. Come to think of it, he should have got Mrs. Gray’s set from her when she left, and turned them over. Which he didn’t.”
    â€œGood point.”
    â€œShe may have gone off with them by accident.”
    â€œYes, or he may have forgotten to give them to you. I—Underwood must ask him. What’s his name?”
    â€œDarling, it’s not your case,” Daisy reminded him. “No solicitors.”
    â€œRight, love. Miss Sutcliffe, are you certain that Vaughn didn’t have any keys?”
    â€œI only know what he told me.”
    â€œIf Vaughn had had them,” said Willie, “I wouldn’t count on him to give them up. Assuming his claim is true, I don’t blame Mrs. Gray for not trusting him.”
    â€œWhy?”
    But Willie would say no more.
    Alec turned back to Isabel. “Vaughn didn’t offer to write to her to ask about the cellar key, or keys in general? I assume you haven’t got her present address.”
    â€œNo, and nor did he. He asked me if I had it. In fact, I thought at the time that was the only reason he came. He was disappointed when I said I didn’t, and he left pretty quickly