Death on Swift Wings (Gertrude Harrington Mysteries Book 1) Read online

  ‘Trust me, I’m right, Lady Castleford. Now tell me, if we ignore the money your husband had on him, can you think of any other reason why he might be the target of a killer?’

  Philippa sighed deeply. ‘Look, there are a lot of people locally who don’t especially like Arthur, but I wouldn’t say any of them actually hated him, and certainly not enough to want him dead.’

  ‘All right,’ said Gertrude, ‘can you think of any other reason why, having killed your husband, the killer would come here? What unfinished business could the killer have to bring him to the home of his victim?’

  Philippa shrugged helplessly. ‘I really don’t know, Miss Harrington.’

  ‘Think, Lady Castleford. There have been a lot of robberies over the past month, all Big Houses within what, a twenty mile or so area? The thief – or thieves – they’re very clever, and very swift in their escape with thousands of pounds worth of jewellery. They seem to strike when the owners are out, and the staff never seems to hear anything.’

  ‘That would imply the staff might be involved in some way,’ said the Brigadier.

  Gertrude nodded. ‘Either someone in each house let the burglar in, or they pretended not to notice them as they ransacked the rooms looking for jewellery. Either way, I believe you are correct: someone in each house has been involved in some way, and we must look for a connection between those other burgled houses.’

  ‘Do you think the burglar is after my jewellery?’

  ‘Quite possibly, yes. Your husband may have spotted someone and given chase in the car, and that’s why he was killed. So I must ask you first – is any of your jewellery missing?’

  Philippa shook her head. ‘Not to my knowledge. My finest jewellery is locked away in the safe. Only the cheaper pieces are in my bedroom, and as far as I know they’re still there. I can check them if you like?’

  ‘That’s an excellent idea. By the way, has anyone in your staff been behaving in an odd manner recently? Perhaps someone skulking about in places that they shouldn’t? Maybe someone hasn’t been turning up for work reliably?’

  Still not wishing to think ill of someone who had worked for her husband’s family for so many years, Lady Castleford chose to ignore the fact that she had found Jackson loitering outside the library earlier. She shook her head. ‘No. I can think of no-one.’

  Gertrude read Philippa’s body language and the instant Lady Castleford had answered she sensed instinctively that she was lying. But why? She decided not to pursue her feelings for the moment. She would divulge all the things that had been said in his absence to Chief Inspector Lennox once she had his undivided attention.

  ‘While the Chief Inspector is outside looking for the intruder, let’s go and check on your jewellery, Lady Castleford.’ Gertrude turned to the Brigadier. ‘Why don’t you stay here in case the Chief Inspector returns while we’re gone?’

  Brigadier Barrington-Smythe nodded. ‘I think that’s a jolly good idea. You two toddle off.’

  Gertrude stood. ‘Come on, my dear. Let’s go.’

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Chief Inspector Lennox stood on the lower step of the main entrance to the house, luxuriating in the cool breeze. The temperature inside Castleford Manor had been too hot and he’d been pleased of the excuse to step outside for a while. He squinted into the distance, scanning the edge of the copse to the left of the driveway looking for any signs of the intruder.

  Although he could see no-one, he couldn’t discount the probability that Lady Castleford had not imagined the figure. She might be highly sensitive due to current events, but that didn’t make her prone to flights of fancy: if she said she saw a figure lurking in the trees, then that was what she had seen.

  The question is, Lennox thought, who was it?

  Someone has been burgling the various Big Houses in the vicinity.

  Someone has been killing Lord Castleford’s pigeons.

  Someone has been blackmailing Lord Castleford.

  Someone clearly had it in for Lord Castleford, and succeeded in killing him.

  Four separate incidents; potentially four separate antagonists, and yet was it possible some – or all – of the events were linked in some way?

  If they were linked, then Lord Castleford was clearly central to the events.

  Did that mean the Countess might also now be in danger? Did it mean that their son, having apparently disappeared from his school, had been abducted? Was he too in danger? Should they expect a ransom note?

  Was the person Lady Castleford had seen lurking in the trees one of the antagonists, and if indeed they were different people, which one?

  Since everything seemed to point to Castleford Manor and its occupants, this then was where he must concentrate his investigations.

  Having seen no movement over by the trees whilst stood on the step, Chief Inspector Lennox turned and re-entered the house. He saw the telephone on the table in the hallway and crossed to it. He lifted the receiver, noting there was no dial. He waited for the operator, and asked to be put through to the police station at Lympton-On-Sea.

  ‘Sergeant Callaghan,’ he said when his call was answered, ‘Lennox here. I’m at Castleford Manor and it would appear there may well be an intruder in the grounds. I want you to come up at once and bring two of the men with you. Oh, and could you stop off in Clyst St James on your way and pick up the local constable? I’ll brief you some more when you get here.’

  He replaced the receiver as he heard the tone of the sergeant’s voice turn to one of argumentative impertinence, and then turned to return to the drawing room just as Gertrude and Lady Castleford descended the staircase.

  ‘I thought it prudent for Lady Castleford to check on her jewellery,’ said Gertrude, noting the expression on the Chief Inspector’s face. ‘If we’re looking for a motive for Lord Castleford’s murder then we must assume it has something to do with the burglaries. If Pegasus had struck, I thought it best to find out early.’

  ‘And has he?’

  Gertrude shook her head. ‘Not so far as we can tell, Chief Inspector.’

  ‘My valuable jewellery is in the safe in the library,’ said Philippa. ‘I know that’s all still in there because I checked it when I was looking at the cash. What I keep in the bedroom is negligible in value by comparison, and it appears that’s all still there as well.’

  ‘Well, now that you’ve ascertained that your jewellery is safe, perhaps we could return to the drawing room? There are still more questions I must ask, Lady Castleford.’

  It was clear from her reaction that Philippa didn’t relish the thought of yet more questions, but it was equally obvious from her expression that she resigned herself to its necessity. ‘After you then, Chief Inspector.’

  Lennox led the way, somewhat surprised to see the butler polishing the door handle to the library opposite the drawing room. He wasn’t altogether certain, but something told him that polishing the door handle wasn’t the butler’s job. He chose to ignore the fact, setting it aside in his mind to question later.

  Brigadier Barrington-Smythe appeared to have not moved from the settee. He seemed to have found a comfortable spot on the sumptuously overstuffed piece of furniture and wasn’t about to readily relinquish his position.

  ‘Did you find anything outside?’ the Brigadier asked, glancing up from his stooped position as he stroked his dog affectionately.

  Lady Castleford was gratified to see that the Brigadier hadn’t allowed his dog to clamber onto her settee. There was, she felt, little worse than animal hair on furniture. It stuck to every piece of clothing and was a devil to remove. She forbade Arthur from keeping cats or dogs for that very reason. ‘Yes, Chief Inspector,’ she said, turning her attention to Lennox as he stood in the centre of the room waiting for the two women to take their seats, ‘was there any sign of the intruder?’

  Lennox shook his head. ‘None, I’m afraid. But that doesn’t mean there was no-one out there. I truly believe that you did see someone skulking near t
he trees.’

  ‘Well, Chief Inspector, I am most relieved that you don’t believe I wasted your time by imagining it.’

  Chief Inspector Lennox said: ‘So then, getting back to business, we’ve covered the blackmail; tell me about the pigeons. When did the first one die?’

  ‘It must have been around a month or so ago,’ said Philippa, pausing for thought. ‘Yes, I think Henry had just returned to school, and that was the beginning of August.’

  ‘That’s early for school to start its autumn term,’ said Gertrude. ‘Most have only just broken up for the summer holidays by the end of July.’

  Philippa nodded. ‘Yes. Pupils at St James’ School for Boys only get July off for the summer. St James’ is a private boarding school for – delinquents.’ She paused briefly before finishing the sentence, not wanting to admit aloud to others that her son had been out of control. ‘I’m ashamed to say it, but Henry had become a bit of a bully at his old school, so we sent him to St James’ to thrash that out of him.’

  ‘My brother was sent to St James’ by our father over twenty years ago,’ said Lennox. ‘It was the making of him; set him on the straight and narrow before he went into the army. He said it was the best thing Father did for him, sending him to that school.’

  A wistful look crossed the Chief Inspector’s face, and Philippa wondered whether he was thinking of his brother or their father. ‘I’m glad the regime at St James’ actually works,’ she said.

  Lennox agreed. ‘Oh, it works all right, but it’s brutal, and it breaks as many lads as it turns into law abiding citizens. My brother was one of the lucky ones. Two of the lads who were there at the same time as him are dead. One hung himself, and the other drowned himself in cheap alcohol.’ He noted Philippa’s apprehensive look and smiled reassuringly. ‘I’m sure that’s not happened to your son,’ he said. He waved his hand dismissively. ‘But let us get back to these pigeons. Who found the first dead body?’

  ‘That was Parkes,’ said Philippa after a moment of thought. ‘He’s our head gardener here at Castleford Manor, and he’s always the first one out and about in the mornings. He couldn’t believe that anyone would want to shoot the poor things. In fact, I’d go so far as to say he was livid to the point of apoplexy by the time the second dead bird was found.’

  ‘That’s interesting,’ said Lennox, making notes. ‘Did he help look after the birds?’

  Philippa made a face. ‘Oh no, Chief Inspector. No one but Arthur is allowed anywhere near the dovecote.’

  ‘He knew every one of them by name, did Arthur,’ the Brigadier interjected.

  ‘The pigeons literally are – were – Arthur’s pride and joy.’ Philippa’s voice caught in her throat as she corrected herself. She withdrew a handkerchief and dabbed her moist eyes, then waved at the Chief Inspector to carry on as she discreetly blew her nose.

  ‘How many did he keep?’ Lennox asked.

  Philippa cleared her throat. ‘Must be upwards of fifty by now,’ she suggested with a frown. ‘I’m afraid when it came to the pigeons I didn’t really share the same level of affection as Arthur. I should think fifty is probably around the right number.’

  ‘And is it true that they all came from eggs laid by the ones from the war, the ones who carried messages in and out of Occupied France?’ asked Lennox.

  Philippa nodded. ‘Every one of them, Chief Inspector; and the Brigadier’s right – Arthur could have named each and every one of them.’

  ‘How many have been killed?’

  ‘After the one the Brigadier found yesterday, eight I believe.’

  Brigadier Barrington-Smythe harrumphed indignantly. ‘Didn’t just find the bally thing, did I? I saw the blighter who shot the poor creature.’

  The Brigadier’s statement piqued the Chief Inspector’s interest. ‘Really? Could you describe the man who shot the bird?’

  The Brigadier bristled indignantly, misinterpreting the Chief Inspector’s tone of interest for one of disbelief. ‘Well, I couldn’t see his face, exactly. I was quite a distance from him.’

  ‘What did you see?’

  ‘Well, I’ve noticed my guns have been fired recently, and then yesterday one of them went missing.’

  Chief Inspector Lennox held up his hand. ‘Wait a minute,’ he said sharply. ‘Are you telling me that you have a missing gun, and you haven’t informed us about it?’

  The Brigadier tapped the side of his head. ‘Bit forgetful, laddie,’ he muttered. ‘But I’m telling you everything now, aren’t I?’

  Lennox scribbled in his pad, motioning the Brigadier to continue.

  ‘So anyway, yesterday when I was out with Jasper I heard the unmistakable sound of my Enfield being fired.’

  Lennox held up his hand again. ‘I’ve heard many types of gun being fired over the years, and they all sound pretty much the same to me. How could you possibly know it was your gun?’

  The Brigadier snorted derisively. ‘I bet you anything your brother could have picked out the sound of his service revolver from a dozen different gunshots!’

  Lennox didn’t want to be reminded that his brother had died a few years ago. They hadn’t always been particularly close, but he closed his eyes and pictured his brother resplendent in his army uniform, proudly showing their father his weapon of issue. His had been an Enfield, much like the one the Brigadier had spoken of. Lennox imagined his brother blindfolded, listening to twelve separate gunshots, and he firmly believed that the Brigadier was correct in his supposition: Lieutenant John Lennox would most certainly have been able to detect which of those twelve shots had come from his Enfield.

  Lennox sighed. ‘I believe you, although it’s a moot point Brigadier, since he’s no longer with us, but go on – what happened after you heard the sound of your gun being fired?’

  ‘Well I saw the blighter bending over, as if he was picking something up off the ground. I shouted out and he ran off. When I got to the place where I’d seen him, Jasper found the body of one of Arthur’s pigeons on the ground. It had been shot, so it’s obvious that’s what the man had been doing.’

  Lennox tapped his pencil against his notepad ‘If he’d had plenty of time, why did the man leave the pigeon behind?’

  The Brigadier shrugged. ‘It would seem that all the pigeons have been left on the ground to be discovered later on. It was just fortuitous that I happened to see this one being shot.’

  ‘Why are these pigeons being shot? Does someone have such a grudge against Lord Castleford that they tried to get to him by killing his prized birds? If it’s so personal, why not just kill him?’

  Philippa looked up at Lennox. ‘Surely we’ve established that Arthur was killed for the money he had in the car?’

  ‘Perhaps, but then we’re assuming someone knew he had that money with him. If it wasn’t the blackmailer or an accomplice, then it had to be someone from this household. You, for instance Lady Castleford, or one of the members of your household staff.’

  ‘I can assure you it wasn’t me,’ Philippa snapped icily.

  Lennox nodded. ‘Indeed, I believe you are not guilty of murder, Lady Castleford. Which leaves your staff. Who has the most to gain from your husband’s death? Who had the most reason to kill him?’

  Philippa sighed. ‘No-one from this household, I shouldn’t think. Arthur sometimes got on well enough with the staff, when he made the effort to speak with them. He just didn’t do so that often. He left that sort of thing to me. But Chief Inspector, I really cannot imagine any one of them would wish him dead for something like that.’

  ‘Very well, we shall try another tack. Has any member of the staff been acting in a suspicious manner recently?’

  Philippa didn’t want to say anything out of turn that might get someone innocent into trouble, but her conscience told her that should an innocent man be questioned, if able to prove his innocence then nothing bad would happen to him. ‘Well–’ She paused, unsure whether to reveal what was on her mind. She took a deep breath: if Jackson was
involved somehow then he had to be brought to justice. ‘Our butler, Mr Jackson. I would never have thought anything bad of him, but he’s been acting – I don’t know – a little shifty this morning.’

  ‘You mean hanging around outside in the hallway?’ said Lennox. ‘Polishing door handles and balustrades when that’s not, to my knowledge, a butler’s job?’

  Philippa nodded emphatically. ‘That’s exactly it. When I went to the library earlier he was loitering outside the door with no real reason for doing so.’

  ‘In that case,’ said the Chief Inspector, pocketing his notebook and pen, ‘I think we should have a word with Mr Jackson and find out what he has to say for himself.’

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Juliet stood outside the front door of Brigadier Barrington-Smythe’s house, her heart thumping wildly in her chest as she wondered whether checking up on Herbert was the right thing to do.

  She didn’t like to think the worst of her fiancé, but with everyone questioning the origin of her engagement ring, coupled with the fact that Herbert hadn’t turned up for lunch yesterday, her mind had been playing tricks on her. All sorts of ideas floated around in her head now concerning Herbert, and she was beginning to question his suitability as her future husband.

  She hated herself for her thoughts, but couldn’t help it. The only way to alleviate her fears was to speak with Herbert – but how could she do that when he seemed to have disappeared off the face of the Earth?

  She took a deep breath and pulled the chain to ring the bell, waiting patiently for the door to open. ‘Good morning,’ she said politely as Mrs Grainger greeted her frostily. Juliet fashioned a smile, even though she sensed it was wasted on the old woman, ‘Might I speak with Brigadier Barrington-Smythe?’

  Arms folded, Mrs Grainger regarded Juliet testily. ‘Brigadier ain’t here,’ she said, her tone terse with animosity.

  ‘Do you know when he might be back?’ said Juliet, wondering what she had done to incur such rudeness from the woman.