by L. A. Nisula
“I’ve thought of something I need to tell Inspector Wainwright. I’ll catch up to you in a minute.”
Chapter 20
INSPECTOR WAINWRIGHT WAS STILL in the corner where we’d seen him when we’d arrived. He had what seemed to be the same cup of tea in his hand, but now I noticed he’d hidden his notebook behind the potted palm, ready to take notes if he spotted something. I knew he was disappointed when I was the one he spotted.
“Miss Pengear, I know I am attempting to look like a guest at a wake, but I would think you would realize I am working.”
I ignored that and went straight to the point. “Mr. Reynolds lied to you again. He couldn’t have left Mrs. Hoyt in Stow-on-the-Wold to do some shopping. She’s the woman who came into Mr. Elliott’s shop when Mrs. Albright and I were trying to find someone to make us a sandwich. And as that was when Mr. Elliott was trying to figure out what to do with her husband’s body...”
His expression didn’t change. “You’re certain?”
“Positive. She didn’t introduce herself, but I spent a good five minutes standing at the counter with her. And I remember thinking it was strange that she was leaving all the bell-ringing and calling upstairs to me. This is the sort of place where a neighbor would go and see what was wrong when someone acted as strangely as Mr. Elliott had.”
Inspector Wainwright sighed and leaned against the wall.
“I suppose you can’t demand she tell you why she lied about meeting another man at her husband’s memorial. It does bring up the question of why, though. You said she confirmed she was with Mr. Reynolds and stayed behind to do some shopping?”
He nodded.
“So who was the alibi for? Her or Mr. Reynolds?”
He nodded again, acknowledging that I had asked a relevant question, I thought.
“And even if you ask her, as she’s lied about it once already, she’s not likely to tell you the truth.”
“You do seem to turn up and complicate my cases.”
“Believe me, I’ll try to be nowhere near your next case.”
“I would appreciate that.”
I smiled at that and was about to walk away when he added:
“But not nearly as much as I would like it if my suspects stopped lying to me. At least the innocent ones.”
So there was someone he was more annoyed with than me. I paused and decided to give him a little more information, not that I had found much. “There are a couple of women here who he might have had recent relationships with.” I told him about Mrs. Todd and Mrs. Dexter and how I had met them and Mrs. Carney in Mr. Burton’s shop. As he actually took notes, I supposed he was glad of the information. “I was hoping Mrs. Albright might find out a little more about them. She’s coming with Mrs. Otway, and they seem the sort Mrs. Otway would know more about than Miss Hayworth or Miss Dyer would. If I can tell her to ask about it, of course.”
Inspector Wainwright was still writing; in fact, he’d gone on to a second sheet. I waited until he’d finished in case he wanted to ask me anything else. But I was surprised when he ripped the second page out of his notebook and handed it to me without saying anything. I glanced down at it and saw it was the list of names I’d given him and a few notes on what I’d said each was wearing. It only took a moment for me to figure out what it was for, not that that made anything much clearer. I folded the page and slipped it into my glove. “Thanks. If I see Mrs. Albright, I’ll pass it on to her.”
Inspector Wainwright didn’t precisely answer, but he did nod once, which I took to be something positive. I also took it as a sign we ought to go our separate ways while we were still being civil and went to find Miss Hayworth and Miss Dyer.
Miss Hayworth and Miss Dyer were waiting for me not far from where I’d left them. Neither one asked me anything about what I’d been telling Inspector Wainwright beyond Miss Dyer commenting, “He doesn’t seem to have lost his temper, so I take it that was a successful meeting?”
“It does help when he’s someplace where he can’t storm off,” I said, which told them nothing at all.
“Then shall we go see Mrs. Hoyt and have that done?”
I nodded and let them lead me to the small group hovering around Mrs. Hoyt. We waited on the edge until a couple of people drifted away, then Miss Hayworth moved forward, pulling me along.
Mrs. Hoyt was dressed in mourning black, as I would have expected. She looked calm and serious, but not particularly upset. As the majority of the guests most likely knew all about her husband’s dalliances, there was no reason for her to pretend to be more bereaved than she was.
“Miss Dyer, Miss Hayworth, how thoughtful of you both to come. I’m sure you’re both busy with projects. It was most kind of you.”
“We did want to pay our condolences,” Miss Hayworth said, patting Mrs. Hoyt on the arm. “And see how you were getting on.”
“As well as can be expected. My niece is coming to help run the pub. She worked in one in London, so she’ll be able to help wait tables. I think it will all work out well.”
“That should be a great comfort to you,” Miss Dyer said. “And this is Miss Pengear, one of the people staying at Oakwood Cottage.”
“Most kind of you to come, Miss Pengear, and while on holiday.” I could tell she was saying something polite without really paying attention to what it was, looking at me while having half her mind on who else was around, and I could tell the moment those words sunk in, the way she turned and took a harder look at me. I wondered if she had recognized me from Mr. Elliott’s shop that day or had merely made the connection between Oakwood Cottage and her husband’s body. “You’re the one who reported finding him to the police.”
I couldn’t tell if she was pleased that I had done that or not. I also found myself wondering if that choice of words had been deliberate or not. After all, it seemed half the village had found him before I had; the only thing distinguishing my encounter was the fact that I did indeed report finding him. And that led me to wonder just what would have happened if I hadn’t been staying at Oakwood Cottage. Would people have just kept moving his body along until he ended up in some other village, or some other county altogether, or perhaps he’d have made it all the way to London? There was a case Inspector Wainwright would love, a body moved all the way from Eybry to London, one crime scene at a time. All completely inappropriate thoughts under the circumstances. “Yes, that was me. I am very sorry for your loss.” That was non-committal enough.
“Thank you.” She didn’t specify if that was for reporting his death or simply for being sorry about it. She exchanged a few more pleasantries with Miss Hayworth and Miss Dyer, then another group approached and we moved out of their way.
“Was that of any help at all?” Miss Dyer asked.
“I got to meet her, that’s something. And anything that helps me to understand the players involved helps.”
“Then we’re glad to have been of some small assistance. Is that Mrs. Albright speaking to the vicar?”
I turned and saw that Mrs. Albright and Mrs. Otway were indeed being greeted by Mr. Morton. As they turned away from the receiving line, Mrs. Albright spotted me. I gave her a small nod so she would know it was fine to come and talk, and she leaned over and said something to Mrs. Otway, who also turned in our direction and smiled at us. Once the crowds near the door had thinned enough to allow them to pass, they crossed the room to where we were waiting.
“Hello, Mrs. Albright,” I said as soon as they were close enough, extending my hand.
If she thought it was odd I was going to shake her hand after we’d just seen each other that morning, she didn’t make any sign, and I was able to slip the list of names to her with no problems. As I greeted Mrs. Otway the same way, I saw Mrs. Albright slip her hand into her pocket before greeting Miss Hayworth and Miss Dyer.
“Have you girls been here long?” Mrs. Otway asked.
“Just long enough to see Mrs. Hoyt,” Miss Hayworth told her. “It’s a very nice turnout.”
“Indeed.” Mrs. Otway looked around. “I wouldn’t have thought so many people would show up for him.”
“I’m sure they want to show her support,” Mrs. Albright said quietly.
“I suppose, but considering... Well, not the time. I expect I should go and show her that I’m here.”
I thought that was an odd way to phrase it.
Mrs. Albright gave me a look that said she agreed with what I was thinking, then turned back to Mrs. Otway. “Do you mind if I come along? I haven’t met her yet.”
“Of course. I’ll introduce you. Miss Pengear? But I suppose Miss Dyer and Miss Hayworth already did, didn’t they?”
I assumed she meant introduced me. “Yes, but thank you.”
I watched as Mrs. Otway and Mrs. Albright made their way across the room towards Mrs. Hoyt. While they were waiting for the crowd to thin, I saw Mrs. Albright slip her hand into her pocket and glance down. So my list of names had been delivered. I turned back to Miss Hayworth and Miss Dyer, only to find that they had already started to speak to someone I hadn’t seen before, a young woman in a navy cycling suit which seemed a bit too modern for this gathering. Miss Hayworth caught my eye and gave me a questioning look. The young woman didn’t look like someone involved in the case, and they both seemed quite interested in the conversation, so I gave a small shake of my head to let her know they didn’t need to amuse me the entire time and wandered away to get a look at some of the other people in the room. I was hoping to be able to spot some of the other ladies I’d run into in town whose behavior had seemed odd at best, suspicious at worst so I would be ready to point them out to Miss Hayworth and Miss Dyer when they’d finished socializing.
As I passed the refreshments table for the second time, I spotted Mrs. Todd moving towards the back of the hall. I drifted towards the table, pretending I was planning on getting something to eat, and watched her. She was heading for the corner where the coats for the people staying, people like the vicar and Mrs. Hoyt, were being kept. I supposed she had come as some sort of volunteer and was retrieving her own coat, but she passed them and went to stand by the window. A bit of fresh air, then, or some time alone. Hopefully the former, as I was already making my way across the room in her direction. I doubted I’d catch her alone again, and certainly not at a time when she would feel obligated to speak to someone she most likely would not recognize. If I wanted to find out anything, now was the time.
Of course, I didn’t know what I was trying to find out, but engaging her in conversation might lead somewhere, and give me an introduction should I need it later. Complaining about the stuffiness of the room was always a possibility at these sorts of gatherings. Or complaining of feeling a bit faint, but that might make her go to fetch someone. Asking if she’d seen Miss Hayworth or Miss Dyer would work as well, and give her some idea of how I fit into the village since she clearly wouldn’t know me.
With my story decided, I took a more direct route to the window, and had to stop almost at once as I realized I wasn’t the only person who wanted to have a word with Mrs. Todd. Mr. Reynolds was also approaching. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself, but I was too far past the refreshments table to look as if that was my destination. The story of being faint in a stuffy room, then, if I was spotted. And the most natural thing to do in that circumstance was find a bit of fresh air. I slipped through the first door I saw that looked like it could conceivably be a place I’d go to look for a window and closed it just enough so it would look like it had closed on its own, then stayed put, hoping I would be able to hear when Mr. Reynolds had finished with Mrs. Todd and left, allowing me to get on with my questioning.
The pair spoke in low voices, so I couldn’t make out more than a word here or there, none of which helped at all without any context to explain them. I was just considering if I ought to see if there was another way out of the room I was in, which seemed to be some sort of storeroom for the various groups that must meet at the hall, when I heard Mrs. Todd raise her voice.
“I said I did not think that was an appropriate way to handle things.”
“I assure you, I would never ask you to conduct yourself in a way that...”
“Now really, Mr. Reynolds...” and then her voice dropped again and they continued the conversation in the same low voices they’d used before, although I thought they were both speaking more quickly than they had been before, as if they were both agitated, although that might simply have been because I’d heard them snap at each other. But they were definitely speaking less carefully, and I could almost make out a few words. I slid closer to the door and leaned against it, hoping to hear something.
“I don’t see how talking about it could be of any help.”
“It may not, but if he doesn’t have all the facts...”
“Mr. Reynolds, how could you suggest that?” Her voice dropped again and I had to lean against the door to hear anything. Unfortunately, I was so intent on hearing the conversation that I didn’t notice that I was already quite close to the door and leaned into it more than I intended, causing it to move the slightest bit. That on its own might not have mattered, but the hinges also creaked, a small sound, and yet when the parties you were listening to had something to hide, they did tend to listen closely for any sound, and the creak of the door was enough to make them both stop speaking, and that left me with a dilemma. I very much wanted to know what it was Mrs. Todd didn’t want to talk about and who it was she didn’t want to talk about it to, but if I was caught in any sort of a situation which even suggested that I had been listening in at doors, Mrs. Todd would certainly not speak to me and might very well tell the other ladies not to either. No, the best thing to do was reveal myself and pretend I had been looking for someplace with a bit of fresh air.
I stayed hidden behind the edge of the door as long as I could, just in case they chose to ignore the door and assume it was some sort of settling of the building. When it seemed certain they would not be continuing, I pushed on the door. Of course, Mr. Reynolds chose that moment to start speaking again. “Now Mrs. Todd, I realize that I, as a mere male, cannot understand the solidarity of women, but surely— Ah, Miss Pengear, how nice to see you.”
Mrs. Todd turned on her heel and marched off towards the refreshments table, shoving her way around us as she passed.
“I am sorry, Miss Pengear. She does have a strong sense of loyalty. Commendable, I suppose.”
“Yes.” As I didn’t know what he was talking about, vague agreement seemed wise.
“Of course, gentlemanly feelings prevent me from... But then I suppose one does feel a certain amount of sympathy. I myself have, upon occasion, allowed my chivalrous desire to help a lady get in the way of good sense. But then when she has been the victim of so much unpleasantness from the inconsideration of others, one does feel a certain amount of sympathy. Indeed, sympathy and chivalry.”
He clearly thought he was making some point with me, but I had no idea what it was. All the talk of chivalry gave me the vague sense that he was trying to explain his lies about Mrs. Hoyt, but the whole thing was so convoluted, I couldn’t be sure. “I’m sure your sympathy does you credit.”
“Even if certain people,” his gaze darted towards Inspector Wainwright, confirming my theory that this was about his lies in the case, “don’t understand such fine feelings.”
I managed to smile and nod at that.
“Indeed, well, they seem to have put out a lovely spread. Shall I get you a plate?”
I wasn’t sure if he was being polite or hoping to find out how much I heard, so I decided against questioning him further. “No, that’s very kind of you. I was just looking for a bit of a breeze.”
“It does get a bit warm in here. Would you like a glass of punch?”
Now that I’d decided against questioning him, I was rather curious to see where he would go. Would he try talking to Mrs. Todd again? Leaving? Talking to someone connected to whatever they had been speaking about? “No, I’ll just go rest b
y the window there for a moment. Thank you, though.”
I found a good position by the window where I could angle my head so it looked as if I were looking out at the street but still see the majority of the room. Unfortunately, my excellent position was wasted on watching Mr. Reynolds. He went back to the refreshments table and took another glass of the weak punch, added a bit of something from a flask in his coat pocket, then wandered along the outskirts of the room. Eventually, he encountered Mr. Burton, and the pair began what seemed to be a stilted and awkward sort of conversation. In short, exactly the sort of conversation I would expect to see between two businessmen who’d recently settled a somewhat acrimonious dispute and had realized the other was the best company they were going to find. At least they knew better than to continue any squabble they had, although perhaps matters really had been resolved to their satisfaction, although I would have expected a little resentment from Mr. Reynolds if he’d had to dip into his own profits to settle things. Still, there didn’t seem to be anything to be learned there, and I didn’t want to waste my good viewing spot, so I began watching the rest of the room.
The rest of the room proved far more useful. Mrs. Todd was coming back towards the windows, looking for someone, I thought. It wouldn’t hurt to know what she would tell me of her conversation with Mr. Reynolds. I waited until she was too close to change direction without obviously trying to avoid me, then stepped away from the window. “Mrs. Todd, isn’t it?”
“Hello, Miss...” I could see her struggle to place me.
“Cassandra Pengear. I’m one of the people staying at Mrs. Foster’s cottage.”
“Oh, yes, I heard she was loaning it to someone.” Then she seemed to remember something. “You’re the one who found him, then.”
Along with half the village, it seemed, but I nodded. From the way everyone reacted to realizing I’d been the one to report Mr. Hoyt’s body, I was beginning to think they’d all rather he’d been left to decompose in Mrs. Foster’s sitting room, or perhaps that I had dragged him over to the river and dumped in him. Although, come to think of it, Miss Dyer had tried that and it hadn’t worked out particularly well either. The village needed a deeper river.