Read Online The Dead Letter by Finley Martin - Free Book Online Page B

his chair again.
    â€œNot a problem,” said MacFarlane. “Consider this a courtesy call to the Island’s new top cop.”
    â€œIs that what you think this job is?” Ben asked.
    â€œIt’s what I’ve heard in various corridors. Should I take all that scuttlebutt with a large grain of salt?”
    â€œI’ll let you know after I’ve waded through all this bullshit,” Ben said, picking up the copy of the Police Act and dropping it down again.
    â€œBetter you than me. I try to stay away from politics as much as I can. Too much dancin’ around…and tryin’ not to step in somethin’ nasty.”
    Ben grinned back at MacFarlane, but he remembered rumours of MacFarlane currying political favours himself. You don’t get to be Chief of Police on merit alone, not on Prince Edward Island , thought Ben.
    In fact , he said to himself, I’d be surprised if he wasn’t doing a slow dance right now .
    â€œAnyway, I won’t keep you any longer. You look busy.” Ben studied MacFarlane’s face, but he could detect neither irony nor sincerity. MacFarlane stood. “Just a courtesy call, as I said. Drop down to the station sometime, and I’ll show you around. By the way, what’s your interest in the Villier case? You doing historical research or something?”
    â€œNot me. A private investigator. Billy Darby.”
    â€œHe’s dead.”
    â€œBill Darby is. It’s his niece, Anne Brown… Billy Darby.”
    â€œWhat’s her angle?” MacFarlane sat down again.
    â€œNew evidence.”
    â€œThat case has been closed for a hell of a long time. What evidence could she have come up with that wasn’t dug up and examined years ago?”
    Ben opened the bottom drawer of his desk, pretended to look for something, and pulled out the only scrap of paper there.
    â€œHere’s a photocopy of a letter she received in the mail.” Ben handed it to MacFarlane.
    MacFarlane read the letter. Ben watched his eyes move back and forth across the page. Then he watched his eyes scan it a second time before he spoke.
    â€œMy guess is…it’s phoney…somebody’s sick idea of a practical joke.”
    â€œIt’s legitimate. I saw the envelope and the cancellation stamp, and the handwriting on the envelope matches the letter.”
    â€œI don’t know exactly what went on then. I was on other duties with the department when they investigated Villier’s murder, but they would have followed the book. They always did. Every lead would have been investigated. Everyone remotely connected with the victim was interviewed, and her killer went to prison. And this letter shows up now? Somethin’ smells…”
    Ben shrugged.
    â€œSo…you’re goin’ to reopen the case? I think you’re making a mistake, Ben.”
    â€œI’m not reopening anything…at least I’m not planning to at this time…but, as I said, Billy Darby will be looking into it. I’m just making the file available. Maybe something will come of it. Maybe not…but if you’re concerned and have a recollection of what happened, you could offer her your two cents…maybe help her figure out how this letter fits into the Villier murder.”
    â€œNo thanks. Then two people would be wasting their time, wouldn’t they, Ben?”

16.
    Anne woke early for a morning run, but the sky was dismal grey, and cold rain pelted the windows. Instead, she took a backpack from the closet and set it beside the front door in case she could fit an hour of gym time into her schedule.
    Jacqui was still asleep and would remain so until Anne flicked on the light in her room. In the meantime, she took out a couple of bowls and boiled some water. It would be a perfect day for hot oatmeal, she thought.
    By the time Jacqui washed and dressed, breakfast was on the kitchen table. Anne sprinkled blueberries over the oatmeal.