Read Online Vow of Obedience by Veronica Black - Free Book Online Page B

said. ‘Do you know anything about what happened here?’
    ‘It was me that found her, wasn’t it?’ Padraic answered with deep gloom. ‘Went to pick out a couple of things I’d storedthere – there’s a market for antiques nowadays – astonishing what you can pick up when you’ve a mind – anyway I came with Luther – you don’t know my second cousin, Luther.’ He nodded towards a thin man who twisted his cap between his hands and scowled darkly at being brought into the limelight. ‘He’s been away a few months – eighteen months to be exact. Anyway, we opened the door and there she was, poor maid, all doubled up on the straw. Gave me quite a turn.’
    ‘So you rang the police?’
    ‘No need to ring them. Two of them was just arriving, wanting fingerprints from the kids who went to your school. They said on account of another murder. And that’s it.’
    ‘Are you certain you didn’t touch the body?’ Sergeant Barratt asked. ‘If you did you might as well admit it at once. Saves us and you a lot of trouble in the future.’
    ‘Tell the man, Sister.’ Padraic grimaced, folding his arms and standing a little way off.
    ‘If Mr Lee says he didn’t touch the body then he didn’t,’ Sister Joan said.
    ‘I didn’t realize you knew him well enough to serve as a character witness,’ Sergeant Barratt said with delicate scorn.
    ‘Sister, will you have a look yourself and tell me if the girl is in the same position as Valerie Pendon?’ Detective Sergeant Mill asked.
    ‘I’m quite ready.’ She folded her hands at her waist and stepped within the roped-off space, unconsciously jerking her chin slightly to meet the emotional challenge.
    The police constable pulled open the door and she stepped to the threshold. Inside a variety of objects, ranging from Padraic’s precious fireirons to a rusting bicycle were stacked against the rough plank walls. There was straw piled against the opposite wall with wisps of it lying everywhere. Old sacks and bundles of newspapers created a fire hazard.
    No attempt had been made to conceal the body. Tina Davies was huddled on the straw, her white dress neatly smoothed over her bent knees, the wreath of fading leaves crowning the tousled brown hair.
    ‘She’s in the same position,’ she said, crossing herself, keeping her voice low and calm. ‘I don’t see any difference at all.’
    ‘Thank you, Sister.’ Detective Sergeant Mill had drawn inhis breath slightly.
    She turned away, glad when the constable pushed the door to again.
    ‘Who identified her?’ Detective Sergeant Mill looked round the circle of faces.
    ‘I did,’ Padraic said instantly. ‘Works in the little bread shop over on the industrial estate. Nice girl.’
    ‘You knew her intimately?’ Sergeant Barratt spoke sharply.
    ‘I’d seen her a few times. She served me with bread now and then when I was doing a bit of shopping for the wife. Told me her name was Tina. There’s no law against that.’
    ‘What were you doing buying bread over on the industrial estate?’
    ‘I was there doing a bit of gardening, wasn’t I? There’s some ladies that like a bit of help at rock bottom prices.’
    ‘And some girls who might find it exciting to be chatted up,’ Sergeant Barratt said.
    ‘That’s a bloody filthy suggestion.’ Padraic clenched his fists and took a menacing step.
    ‘If I might have a word with you, Sergeant?’ Sister Joan spoke firmly as she might have done to a defiant pupil, moving aside several steps, tacitly forcing the other to follow.
    ‘Sister, I’d take it kindly if you didn’t …’ Sergeant Barratt began.
    ‘Didn’t provide you with helpful information? Sergeant, Padraic Lee is devoted to his wife. She has – well, she has bad health and he’s brought up their children with very little help. He doesn’t – play around.’
    ‘If you had as much experience of the criminal mentality as I have …’
    ‘You think that being a nun insulates one entirely from reality?