Read Online The Crocodile's Last Embrace by Suzanne Arruda - Free Book Online

of those.”
    “But did you hear what they found?”
    Everyone turned to the new speaker, Steven Holly. The banker wore a belted jacket in a pale brown plaid with a golf-style cap, and looked every bit the dandy he was. Jade stifled a groan. Holly, a notorious womanizer, had pursued her on several occasions, and more frequently since Sam had been gone.
    “Yes, Mr. Holly,” said Beverly. “They found a pea-sized piece of gold. Hardly a fortune.”
    “No, indeed,” said Holly, “but it wasn’t the nugget that was important. It’s what it represents. I know, because I’m a part of it, too.”
    “Part of what?” asked Hamilton and Emily simultaneously.
    “Part of a gold mine in the northern territory, of course,” said Holly. He wore a big grin plastered on his face and rocked up and down on his toes as he watched their reactions.
    “A gold mine?” asked Beverly. Skepticism riddled her words.
    “Yes, Lady Dunbury,” said Holly. “I shall be a rich man.” He smiled and winked at Jade. “But I doubt this was any more than an accident,” he continued. “Dr. Mathews performed an autopsy and could find no obvious cause of death aside from hitting his head in the accident. The man was quite gassed, you know.”
    “Dr. Mathews, did you say?” asked Dymant. “I knew a Mathews in medical college. A year ahead of me. Pleasant fellow. Wonder if it’s the same man.” He threw one arm across his broad chest and balanced the other on it, his fingers tapping his lips as he thought. “Can’t remember his first name, something biblical. Peter?”
    “Paul?” suggested Emily.
    “Yes, I believe it was.”
    “Then that’s your man,” said Hamilton. “He does a good bit of work for the police department, when he’s around. But he’s gone extensively, visiting the military outposts and some of the native villages.”
    “Yes, quite,” said Holly, impatience edging his voice. “But as I was saying, I’m sure this dead Stockton chap had shares in the same mine that I have. It would be too much of a coincidence to have two such mines up north, wouldn’t it?”
    “Indeed,” said Inspector Finch, who’d just arrived. “Pardon me for intruding, but I’m trying to find out more about our friend Stockton. I’m making the rounds of several social functions in the hope of speaking to as many people in one place as possible.” He gestured with one hand towards Mrs. Postlewaithe. “I’ve asked our hostess and she’s agreed to let me disturb the party for a few moments, provided I don’t let the children hear about this.”
    “Perhaps I’d better see that they keep out of the way,” said Beverly. “Jade, will you come with me?”
    “Miss del Cameron should stay here, if you please, Lady Dunbury. I’d like to speak with her, too.”
    Jade caught Hamilton’s smirk, as if he’d been vindicated in thinking the woman mentioned in the papers was Jade. Finch noticed. “I need to speak with Miss del Cameron about a strange parcel she received. Perhaps, since it came through the post, Mr. Hamilton, I should interview you as well.”
    Hamilton colored and coughed. “I don’t handle the posts myself, Inspector. You should know that. And I don’t know anything about the man who went off the Limuru Bridge, so if you’ll excuse me . . .” He touched his cap and made a slight bow to Emily and to Jade before drifting off to a more amiable group.
    Finch ignored him. “Then you knew this Stockton, Mr. Holly?” he asked.
    “Never met the chap,” said Holly. “I only supposed that he and I were partners in the same mine. Rather a surprise actually. I didn’t know there was another investor when I came in on it.”
    Dr. Dymant cleared his throat to cut in. “If you’ll excuse me as well, Inspector, I don’t have anything to tell you and I must get back to town. I’ve an appointment at three o’clock to see about a possible office space and that just leaves me time to make my excuses to our hostess.”
    He