Mydworth Mysteries - A Shot in the Dark (A Cosy Historical Mystery Series Book 1)

by Matthew Costello

  “Go on.”

  “That chap Coates? He helped the footman with our bags.”

  “Hmm, interesting,” said Harry. “So, he came up here into your rooms, saw it all stowed?”

  “Believe so.”

  “Unpacked, too?”

  “No, I unpacked later,” said Claudia. “The maid – the young one – she helped.”

  Harry nodded. “You didn’t bring staff yourself?”

  Again, Harry saw a look between them.

  “Um, no,” said Reggie. “We’re, er, rather short-handed at the moment, still looking for a new valet – dashed hard to find good people these days, I’m afraid.”

  “And we had to let my own maid go,” said Claudia. “Only last week.”

  “Oh, really?” said Harry. “Nothing to do with theft, I hope?”

  “Um, no,” said Reggie.

  Harry waited for more explanation, but none came.

  Interesting, he thought. To lose one member of staff is a problem, but two…

  For people like this, a major calamity.

  “What about this young maid who helped you when you arrived, Claudia? Trustworthy, you think?”

  “Well, I hardly know her, but yes, she seems like a good girl. What’s her name? Jenny, I believe. Polite. Helpful.”

  “And could she have seen where your jewellery was kept?”

  Harry watched carefully. An anxious look flickered across Claudia’s face.

  “Well… I…”

  “Did she, Claudia?” asked Reggie.

  “I don’t want to get her into trouble,” said Claudia. “But I suppose it’s possible.”

  “Dear me,” said Reggie. “I knew we should have put everything in the butler’s safe, the minute we arrived.”

  “But you decided not to?” said Harry.

  “My fault. Came down for drinks early, got distracted. No valet to remind me, you see. Looking forward to a cocktail, meeting everyone, socialising, you know.”

  Harry nodded.

  Socialising.

  And the jewels didn’t get locked up.

  Something not sitting right here, Harry thought.

  But what?

  *

  Kat sat opposite Mrs Woodfine in the housekeeper’s office, sipping her third cup of tea that morning, notebook in front of her on the table.

  The room was cosy but sparsely furnished. Through the glass panels behind the housekeeper, Kat could see the kitchen, cook and maids busy preparing for lunch.

  Mrs Woodfine had seemed happy to talk, but so far she hadn’t been able to tell Kat anything useful.

  Apparently, Coates rarely came into the house, keeping to himself in his small rooms above the stable. And when he did, he spoke little of his previous positions or background.

  “So, you didn’t really have much of an opinion of the man?” said Kat.

  “Ah well now, I didn’t exactly say that.”

  Kat leaned forward, now interested: “Go on, please.”

  She saw Mrs Woodfine look over her shoulder as if perhaps the kitchen staff might hear, then: “He had an air about him – you know? A kind of superior air.”

  “Hmm, not so nice, then?”

  “Exactly. I mean, I don’t like to speak ill of the dead but…”

  Kat leaned forward conspiratorially, encouraging.

  “Took liberties with the maids, he did. That whole uniform thing. Leather boots, gloves – you know – called himself Lady Lavinia’s chauffeur, no less.”

  “Kinda cocky – hmm? For a driver?”

  “Cocky? Yes, cocky, that’s exactly the word.” The housekeeper lowered her voice. “Even asked for a pay-rise!”

  “Really?”

  “Hardly here a month, and the money not good enough? I ask you.”

  Kat made a note in her book, then saw the housekeeper glance down anxiously at the pages.

  “Don’t worry, Mrs Woodfine,” said Kat. “This is all confidential. But it may help catch the man who got away with the rest of the jewels.”

  “Oh, I do hope so.”

  “Anything else you remember? About Mr Coates?”

  “Well, whenever we had guests, well, again he’d make himself just a bit too familiar with the ladies.”

  “Hmm,” said Kat. “And how exactly did he do that? Do you remember?”

  “Oh, little things,” said Mrs Woodfine. “Helping take bags to rooms; cleaning the car special, like; offering lifts into town; carrying shopping for them. All that… attention, you know?”

  “Popular with the lady guests then?”

  “Oh, for some, why yes. Good looking enough.”

  “What about here, below stairs? Did he have a sweetheart, you think? Anybody special?”

  “I’m sure you know. With her ladyship – it’s very clear that’s not allowed. Not allowed at all.”

  Kat nodded, though she certainly didn’t know the rules of an English country house.

  “I understand, but we all know it happens, Mrs Woodfine. Human nature, yes?”

  “Hmm, I suppose so.”

  Kat could see the housekeeper had something to tell her. Something important.

  It would need a nudge.

  Time to take a gamble.

  “Well, I guess we all know now, Mrs Woodfine, that Coates was a bad apple,” Kat said. “And a charming one too, from the sound of it. You and me – we’re wise enough to see through that. But I’m thinking, a young girl. A girl like Jenny. Easily swayed, no?”

  “Oh,” said Mrs Woodfine, looking shocked. “Then you know about her already then?”

  Kat nodded – the gamble worked.

  “Such a silly girl, she is. I told her not to get involved with him. Warned her.”

  “But she didn’t listen?”

  “In one ear, out the other.”

  “When did it start?”

  “Barely a week or two after Coates arrived. Up until then, Jenny had a sweet spot for the under-gardener, Arthur, Arthur Huntley. Nice local boy. Proper cut up by it all, too, he is.”

  “So, you saw Coates and Jenny together a lot?”

  “Tried to hide it from me and Mr Benton, they did. But I could tell. Thick as thieves they were, whispering and all,” said Mrs Woodfine. Then she paused, as if she heard her own words: “Oh dear. What am I saying? The man’s dead!”

  What indeed, thought Kat, knowing who she needed to talk to next.

  “Is Jenny here this morning?” she said. “I’ve not seen her.”

  “Her day off,” said Mrs Woodfine. “Good thing too, all things considered. She’ll be with her mother, in the town, I expect.”

  “Ah,” said Kat. “Never mind. I’ll talk to her tomorrow.”

  But Kat had no intention of waiting until tomorrow. As soon as she caught up with Harry – next stop Mydworth.

  If Coates had help on the inside, Jenny the maid was now a prime suspect.

  10. Secrets Revealed

  Harry held the Webley revolver – the weapon heavy in his hand.

  Heavy too with memories.

  Every time he’d taken off over the fields of Flanders back in ‘17, he’d carried this same weapon in his holster. Ready to defend himself if he crash-landed.

  Or worse – take his own life if he was going down in flames.

  Every pilot’s nightmare.

  “You served near the end, hmm, didn’t you?” said Reggie.

  Harry nodded. “RAF.”

  “Heard you had a pretty good war, my boy,” continued Reggie, patting him on the shoulder. “You survived. Like me. Well done.”

  A good war? That wasn’t how Harry remembered it. Six months of terrifying action – then another six months recuperating from his injuries after being shot down.

  And then the call to work in Army Intelligence, leaving all his pals to carry on the work at the sharp end while he sat behind a desk sifting information, interrogating captured officers.

  He released the catch on the revolver to check the rounds – knowing already from t
he feel that the chambers were full.

  “Always keep it loaded?” he asked.

  “Better safe than sorry, right?” said Reggie.

  Harry wrapped the gun in cloth again and handed it to Reggie, who went over to the bedside cabinet, placed it in the top drawer.

  “Would you mind – just curious really – showing me where you were when you fired?” said Harry. “You must have acted fast.”

  Maybe Reggie’s vanity would open him up?

  And Harry watched as Reggie went to the door that connected the bedroom to the dressing room.

  “Well – right. I could hear Claudia was in trouble,” said Reggie, opening the door. “So, I stepped through smartish.”

  Harry followed him.

  “Had my gun up already, of course. Chap number one was already at the window, then – gone in a flash. I knew I couldn’t get a decent shot off – still trying to get the gist of what was going on, you see.”

  Harry turned to Claudia. “Where were you, Claudia?”

  He saw her hesitate. “Oh. I’m not sure. It was all so frightening. Perhaps – right here?”

  She pointed to one side of the room, then looked to Reggie.

  “That’s it,” said Reggie. “I saw her, right down there. Coates, you see, had pushed her. I think she fell. Dazed, of course. Then Coates ran to the window.”

  Harry was silent, trying to form the picture. He knew how difficult it was for witnesses to remember details.

  “But you saw the jewels?” asked Harry.

  “Damned right I did! Fellow had a proper fistful. Pockets overflowing, too.”

  “So, is that when you shouted a warning?” asked Harry.

  “Yes! Damn fool ignored me, even with a gun in my hand. Climbed up on the window… Turned…”

  “And you shot him.”

  “Aimed plumb between the eyes,” said Reggie. “Had to – damned thief!”

  Harry mentally calculated the distance. Twenty feet.

  “From, right about here?” said Harry.

  Reggie nodded. “Fine shot, eh?”

  “Extremely,” said Harry.

  Then he turned to Claudia.

  “And where were the jewels kept, Claudia?”

  He watched her walk over to a small chest, which was just visible under a tall wardrobe. She slid the chest out and opened it.

  Harry could see the chest was now empty.

  “I wonder,” said Harry. “Did the two men seem to know where the jewels were hidden? I mean, did they go right to your case?”

  “I don’t know,” said Claudia. “You see – I just walked in – and here they were.”

  “And they had the chest open?”

  “On the table there. Sharing it out between them, I think.”

  “And when you entered?”

  “The big one – grabbed me. Put his hand on my mouth. He pushed me over.”

  “Did either of them say anything?” said Harry. “Anything at all?”

  “I think he said… the big one said… ‘shut it, or else’. Something like that. I’m still in shock, you see. So hard to actually recall.”

  “I understand. But all this is so useful. I don’t suppose you remember his accent?”

  He watched her thinking, struggling to recall and then suddenly her eyes lit up. “Yes, yes! It was very London. You know? East End.”

  “Not an educated voice?”

  “No, no – not at all. It was rough. Harsh. Horrible.”

  Harry saw her sway, a sob breaking her lips.

  “There, there, my dear,” said Reggie, stepping in and cradling his wife.

  “Oh, Reggie. If you hadn’t turned up – I daren’t think what they would have done with me!”

  “Never you fret my dear. You’re always safe with me.”

  Reggie looked over to Harry as if glad that his protective stance was being well noticed.

  But to Harry, well, it all seemed a bit theatrical.

  Then Reggie turned. “I say, old man, think that’s enough for now, don’t you?”

  Harry nodded.

  “Of course,” he said. “Everything we’ve discussed – it’s all so very helpful. Must have been difficult for you both to relive it. So… thank you.”

  Reggie nodded, as Harry headed for the door, then out onto the landing, where he stopped.

  He guessed he had what he needed, for now.

  And he certainly knew more than he did over breakfast.

  The second man wasn’t a local.

  Reggie was an extraordinarily good shot with a pistol. Barely a couple of seconds to get off the fatal shot.

  And one more thing.

  Which felt more like an instinct versus a fact.

  Both Lord and Lady Tamworth were lying about something.

  Question was – what?

  *

  Kat sat on a swing seat at the side of the house, sipping coffee, enjoying the warm morning sunshine, and swinging gently to and fro.

  From where she sat, she could see the meadows she’d walked across the evening before. And through the trees to the other side – the spire of Mydworth church was just visible.

  The town itself just half a mile away, it seemed.

  How many times had she imagined what this first weekend in Mydworth would be like? A stroll around the town, exploring the small shops, lunch with Harry at a pub on the river, a lazy afternoon in the garden making plans for their future, then perhaps dinner out.

  Instead – here she was planning a trip to interview a suspect in a jewel robbery!

  No doubt which of the two versions she preferred.

  And what was also troubling her: seven shots.

  She’d definitely heard seven shots, not six.

  She felt two warm hands close over her eyes from behind.

  Harry.

  “Penny for them,” he said.

  “I was thinking about those gunshots,” she said.

  “Funny,” said Harry, joining her on the swing seat and putting an arm around her. “So was I.”

  “You first,” she said.

  “Reggie and Claudia. Just spoke to them. Got a funny feeling they’re hiding something. In fact – I’m sure of it.”

  “But why? They’re the victims.”

  “True, they are. But – I just don’t buy Reggie’s version of the shooting.”

  “And then there’s that extra shot.”

  “Exactly,” said Harry. “You said there was a big gap between the first shot and the others?”

  “There was.”

  “I wonder. Perhaps Reggie didn’t give a warning. Shot Coates point blank.”

  “Why would he do that?”

  “Anger,” said Harry. “Rush of blood. Might make sense.”

  “So now he’s covering up?”

  “Claudia, too. If it’s true – it’s a bad show. The police may not have picked up on it, but if they did, Reggie would be for the high jump.”

  “There we go again… ‘high jump’?”

  “Oh – sorry. Slang. Means you’re about to get punished.”

  “Interesting. Yes, he may indeed. But there’s nothing we can do, to find out one way or the other. Or is there?” said Kat.

  She could see that Harry was upset by this. Always hating it so much if natural justice could not be served.

  “Nothing at all,” he said, shrugging. “Unless he owns up – and somehow I can’t see Reggie doing that. So how about, let’s try to learn what we can about this robbery. What did you find out?”

  So, as they sat together in the swing seat drinking coffee, Kat told him about Coates’s reputation and about Jenny the maid.

  *

  “Sounds like Jenny’s the key,” said Harry, after he’d told Kat about the chest of jewels. “Maybe she knew about the robbery. Was an accomplice? That would make sense. You going to pay her a visit?”

  “That’s my plan. But also – I think we should take a look at Coates’s room, over the stables.”

  “Good idea. I
could do that while you go into town,” said Harry. “But you know, to be honest…”

  “And you English are always so honest.”

  “I’ve rather missed you this morning. First full day in the old mother country, after all.”

  “Me too,” said Kat. “So, shall we do it together?”

  “Like two cops in a crime flick, hmm?”

  “Long as I get to be the tough one.”

  “You have all the fun, hmm?” said Harry, laughing and standing up and making the seat rock. “What are we waiting for?”

  And thinking: Can a guy be any luckier than to be married to Kat Reilly?

  11. The Under-Gardener

  Kat saw Harry shake his head, smiling as they walked away from the small greenhouse tucked behind the manor house.

  The gardener, Mr Grayer, had no compunction about giving Harry an enormous hug, all formality banished between these two.

  I like him, Kat thought.

  Harry looked over as they made their way around to the stables, to where Grayer had said they’d find the under-gardener, Huntley, tinkering with the old tractor, trying to get it to work.

  “Grayer? Tell you, he had me doing all sorts of things when I was a boy,” said Harry. “I know more about mulching and pruning than your average knight of the realm does, that’s for sure.”

  Grayer, unfortunately, had offered no thoughts on Coates, only having seen him behind the wheel of Lady Lavinia’s car.

  “He certainly seemed happy you’re back,” said Kat.

  “I know. He’s at an age now he could stop working, and my aunt would provide for him. But that man there? I doubt he ever will.”

  As they got closer to the stables, Kat saw a few cars parked in rows, including one silver sedan that just might have been the biggest automobile she had ever seen.

  “Hey, is that Reggie and Claudia’s car? Wow.”

  “Yes. A Bentley. Top of the line. Hmm…”

  “What?”

  “What do you mean: ‘what’?”

  “I do believe I just heard a ‘hmm’.”

  “You did,” Harry stopped by the Bentley. “Car like this? Not cheap.”

  “I can imagine.”

  “And, well, you would usually be travelling with your driver.”

  “And they didn’t bring anyone with them?”

  “Right.”

  “They did say they were having trouble filling positions.”