"Kind of you to say."
Gandhi nodded and sipped more tea.
"This Kian chap, almost let the cat out of the bag a couple of times. In fact, I'm certain that will be brought into evidence. For example, I told him that we found the weapon he used, a cane modified to shoot bullets as it happens, and he said that someone must have planted it in his room, though I made no mention of where we found the weapon."
"Very clever, Frances," said Amar, "you tripped him up then?"
"A few times," she said, smiling, "but sadly, he would not come straight out and admit to it. But we have the weapon, we have additional bullets found in his room. I'm sure we'll find his prints on the weapon, and we have his name on the Vegetarian Society's registry along with a handful of witnesses. And I am certain that by the time it gets to the court there will be many more witnesses. I want to assure you that Mr. Hudnall will bear the fullest brunt of British justice. I will make sure of it."
Gandhi smiled at her.
"You continue to inspire with your confidence, Frances, of that I have no doubt. But were you able to find out why he did this terrible act?"
"He was one of two policemen involved in the death of Mr. Pai and Mr. Panchal. He was dishonorably discharged from the British Indian Police, and I believe he continues to hold a grudge against Indians generally, but you specifically, Mohandas. I'm afraid he's just a man twisted and filled with terrible bile and hatred."
Gandhi nodded and placed his teacup on his saucer. He smiled at her.
"I have met such men before, and I have noticed that you sometimes cannot turn all hearts with love and kindness."
"I fear you are right, Mohandas. Some are so blackened that no light can get through their hatred," said Frances.
"Thankfully they are few and far between," said Gandhi.
Frances nodded at him, and smiled weakly, as weak as the tea she had not allowed to steep long enough for her liking.
"Is the evidence good that he was responsible for killing his colleague?" asked Amar.
Frances looked up at him.
"It appears to be just as solid. I did not question him on why he killed Mr. Trafford Leak, as he was so disagreeable, and I finally couldn't stand his vitriol anymore, so I left. But the coroner confirms the same weapon fired all bullets that killed both men. I'm sure that confirmation will be strengthened when he has a chance to test the weapon. As to why he killed his friend, if indeed they were friends, is beyond me. Perhaps they had a falling out. Perhaps Mr. Hudnall wanted to finish the job but Mr. Leak protested. There could be a myriad number of reasons."
Amar nodded.
"I suppose that if a man can kill one, he can go on to kill many," said Patel.
"I believe so," said Frances. "After all, is that not what war is all about? The sanctioned development and cultivation of mass murderers."
Eric looked over at his wife but he didn't say anything. There wasn't much to say. She was right, as she often was, but that was only one slice of the whole pie. War was a much more complicated matter, out of which nothing good really ever came.
"Non-violence might be the harder path in the short run, as it requires great patience and belief in humanity, but in the long run, the results are sound," said Gandhi, "it isn't stained with the blood of lost souls, and the guilt that comes with it."
"You're quite right, Mohandas," said Eric, "I have had the displeasure of serving in war, the Boer War, and I've never seen any good come of it. But sadly, your non-violent approach is something new and strange, at least to the eyes of Europeans. I fear it may yet take several years for us to get a handle on how to best deal with it."
Mohandas nodded. Frances saw Ginny as she came round the corner from the hallway and into the living room. She was carrying another silver tray. This one was covered with scones, biscuits, lemon curd tarts and two different cakes. The cakes that Ginny had baked were an Angle cake and a Battenberg cake. Clotted cream and jam were also on offer.
Ginny lay the tray down on the table, and then looked at Frances.
"Will that be all my Lady?" she asked.
Frances nodded, and smiled at her.
"That will be plenty, Ginny. Thank you my dear, you have outdone yourself."
Gandhi looked at Ginny and smiled kindly at her as she left.
"After the savories must come the sweets," said Frances. "I hope you have all saved some room. More tea?"
Frances went around and filled the teacups of those present, and the conversation turned to the baked goods on offer as Amar, Gita and Sujay helped themselves. Gandhi did not take anything. The rest of the afternoon was spent talking about a variety of topics from Indian and British relations, the parts of India that the Marmalades had visited as well as an optimistic future where the economy of Britain recovered.
TWENTY-EIGHT
Chapter 28
LADY Marmalade had come down to join her husband and son for breakfast. It was just after eight in the morning. Eric as usual was reading the paper. He folded it over and put it to the side when Frances came up and kissed him on the lips.
"There's some good news in here," he said, stabbing at the paper with his finger, "that I'm sure you'll want to read."
Frances walked over to her chair and sat down, having kissed her son on the cheek.
"Really, how wonderful. I hope it has to do with the economy. I can't fathom why unemployment still remains above twenty percent. And those poor souls searching the coal slag heaps to keep warm. I can't believe in this great country we have allowed such a disenfranchised group to form amongst our midst."
Eric smiled at her.
"I know, my love, but this has nothing to do with any of that. In time, hopefully we will learn to take care of the less fortunate amongst us. No, this is more personal. Here, have a look."
Eric handed the paper to Declan who handed it over to his mother.
"Can I tell Ginny what you'd like to eat, my Lady?" asked Alfred.
Frances put the paper next to her and looked up at Alfred.
"Just a poached egg and some sausage. Thank you, Alfred."
Alfred bowed and left the dining room. Frances poured herself a cup of tea and added some lemon to it. She then picked up the paper, it was The Manchester Guardian. The front page was another story about how poorly the economy was doing. The paper was Thursday's, the 8th of September, 1932. Frances looked up at Eric and frowned.
"The inside pages. Go to the city section," he said.
Frances leafed through several pages until she got to the section Eric had mentioned. The headline read, "Former Indian Police Officer Guilty of Two Murders". Frances read the story with interest. Kian Hudnall had been found guilty of murdering both Trafford Leak and Ravi Meda. The article went on to say how damning the evidence had been. Mr. Hudnall was sentenced to death by hanging. Frances looked up and smiled at Eric.
"Isn't it good news?" he asked.
She smiled and nodded at him.
"It is. I knew he couldn't get away with it. Justice has been served, though I've been thinking ever since we last spoke to Mr. Gandhi, whether capital punishment is the answer."
"Well, it is the answer we have at the moment. And we can rest assured that this Hudnall chap will no longer be a threat to anyone else."
Frances smiled wistfully and looked down at the paper again, and nodded.
"It is good to see justice served," she said. "I must mail this to Mr. Gandhi, I am sure he will be interested in the outcome."
"That's a terrific idea," said Eric.
"Maybe if Mr. Hudnall had only confessed. Shown just the smallest bit of contrition, perhaps the court would have been lenient and he might have dodged the death penalty. An eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind. I think Mr. Gandhi might have spoken truthfully when he said that."
"I agree, Mum," said Declan. "But until the time when the law changes, Hudnall will no longer be poking out anymore eyes."
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I write two mystery series. A cozy mystery series and a hardboiled detective mystery series.
Lady Marmalade Mysteries:
The charming and warm Lady Marmalade is the Baroness of Sandown. But don’t let that full you, she also loves solving crime and crafting the best ever marmalade jam you’ll taste.
Check her out for some cozy, warm mysteries set between the two World Wars. You’ll find cameos by some of history’s greatest characters like Gandhi and Lord Mountbatten!
Anthony Carrick Mysteries:
The tough drinking, hard talking Anthony Carrick is an ex-LAPD homicide cop with a conflicted past. From the same mold of Sam Spade and Mike Hammer, he enjoys seeking justice for the downtrodden. Sometimes that means using his fists.
He’s a painter in his spare time and lives with a one-eyed rescued cat called Pirate. For fans of noir and hardboiled fiction, this is your stiff, tall drink of fun.
Table of Contents
Beggar's Pardon
Cover
Contents
Title Page
One - Chapter 1
Two - Chapter 2
Three - Chapter 3
Four - Chapter 4
Five - Chapter 5
Six - Chapter 6
Seven - Chapter 7
Eight - Chapter 8
Nine - Chapter 9
Ten - Chapter 10
Eleven - Chapter 11
Twelve - Chapter 12
Thirteen - Chapter 13
Fourteen - Chapter 14
Fifteen - Chapter 15
Sixteen - Chapter 16
Seventeen - Chapter 17
Eighteen - Chapter 18
Nineteen - Chapter 19
Twenty - Chapter 20
Twenty-One - Chapter 21
Twenty-Two - Chapter 22
Twenty-Three - Chapter 23
Twenty-Four - Chapter 24
Twenty-Five - Chapter 25
Twenty-Six - Chapter 26
ENJOYED THE BOOK?
SOME OF MY OTHER BOOKS
Sins of the Father
Cover
Contents
Title Page
One - Chapter 1
Two - Chapter 2
Three - Chapter 3
Four - Chapter 4
Five - Chapter 5
Six - Chapter 6
Seven - Chapter 7
Eight - Chapter 8
Nine - Chapter 9
Ten - Chapter 10
Eleven - Chapter 11
Twelve - Chapter 12
Thirteen - Chapter 13
Fourteen - Chapter 14
Fifteen - Chapter 15
Sixteen - Chapter 16
Seventeen - Chapter 17
Eighteen - Chapter 18
Nineteen - Chapter 19
ENJOYED THE BOOK?
SOME OF MY OTHER BOOKS
Gandhi's Sorrows
Cover
Contents
Title Page
One - Chapter 1
Two - Chapter 2
Three - Chapter 3
Four - Chapter 4
Five - Chapter 5
Six - Chapter 6
Seven - Chapter 7
Eight - Chapter 8
Nine - Chapter 9
Ten - Chapter 10
Eleven - Chapter 11
Twelve - Chapter 12
Thirteen - Chapter 13
Fourteen - Chapter 14
Fifteen - Chapter 15
Sixteen - Chapter 16
Seventeen - Chapter 17
Eighteen - Chapter 18
Nineteen - Chapter 19
Twenty - Chapter 20
Twenty-One - Chapter 21
Twenty-Two - Chapter 22
Twenty-Three - Chapter 23
Twenty-Four - Chapter 24
Twenty-Five - Chapter 25
Twenty-Six - Chapter 26
Twenty-Seven - Chapter 27
Twenty-Eight - Chapter 28
ENJOYED THE BOOK?
SOME OF MY OTHER BOOKS
Lady Marmalade Cozy Murder Mysteries: Box Set (Books 1 - 3) Page 70