Read Online To Kill or Cure by Susanna Gregory - Free Book Online Page B

expression was one of deep concern, and the physician hoped it was not bad news about the rent
     war.
    ‘Worse. It arrived a few moments ago, although theporter does not recall how it was delivered. It offers me the sum of twenty marks for uncovering the identity of Kenyngham’s
     killer.’
    Bartholomew snatched it from him, and read it himself. The author claimed that Kenyngham’s death had not been natural, and
     that it should be investigated immediately. The reward money would be delivered to Michaelhouse as soon as the monk had made
     an arrest. The parchment was the cheap kind that might have been purchased by anyone, and the style of writing was undistinguished.
    ‘But Kenyngham was
not
murdered,’ objected Bartholomew, distressed.
    Michael nodded unhappily. ‘I reflected on what you said yesterday, and I have decided to accept your reasoning. The business
     with the “antidote” was nothing – I was reading too much into a casual remark made by a man who later said odd things to you,
     too. So, I imagine this letter was written by someone who grieves – a way of refusing to acknowledge that death comes to us
     all, even to saintly men like Kenyngham.’
    He put the document in his scrip, but Bartholomew wished he had tossed it in the latrine pit, where he felt it belonged.
    ‘I told Langelee that Lynton was shot,’ the monk went on. ‘He can be trusted to keep quiet, and he needs to know why we may
     be out a lot in the coming days. He says we are excused nursemaid duties at these wretched disputations, as long as we find
     someone to take our places.’
    Bartholomew watched the students file into the hall, full of eager anticipation. The Fellows might find the debates a chore,
     but the junior members loved them. ‘No one is free to help us today, so you will have to start the investigation alone,’ he
     said to Michael. ‘I will join you as soon as I can.’
    ‘But I need you to inspect Lynton
now
. And I want your help at Peterhouse, too. I am determined to solve this crime. Lynton was an impossible old traditionalist,
     but he was decent and kind-hearted, and I will not let his killer evade justice. To do that I require your wits, as well as
     my own.’
    ‘Falmeresham would have supervised the disputations for me,’ said Bartholomew dejectedly.
    ‘Deynman can do it, then,’ decided Michael. ‘He is our oldest undergraduate by a considerable margin, and even
he
should be able to sit at the back of the hall and make sure no one escapes.’
    Bartholomew was doubtful, but in the absence of a choice – he also wanted Lynton’s killer under lock and key as soon as possible
     – he beckoned the lad over.
    ‘You can trust me, sir,’ Deynman declared, delighted to be put into a position of power at last. ‘I shall make sure they stay
     in, and do not slip out later to join the lads from Clare in the Angel inn.’
    Bartholomew regarded him sharply, and found himself staring into a pair of guileless eyes; it had not occurred to Deynman
     that he had just betrayed his classmates’ plans.
    ‘Come, Matt,’ said Michael, taking his arm before the physician could have second thoughts about leaving his home in the care
     of such a man. ‘We have a lot to do today, and there is not a moment to lose.’
    ‘The Lilypot first,’ said Bartholomew. ‘I want to see if Blankpayn is back yet.’
    ‘Brother!’ Michael turned to see Langelee hurrying towards him. ‘I need you to deliver these for me. They are letters of appointment
     for Honynge and Tyrington. Do not pull sour faces! I know you are busy, but this is important. We need to know as soon as
     possible if they are going to accept.’
    ‘Honynge!’ spat Michael. ‘How could you all be so foolish? I wager I will be saying “I told you so” within a week of his admission.’
    Langelee turned to Bartholomew. ‘And I am trusting
you
to make sure he does not accidentally “lose” Honynge’s letter along the way.’
    They left, but