The Three Locks by Bonnie MacBird (learn to read books txt) 📕

this activity,’ said Holmes. ‘Accidents will happen.’

Atalanta Wyndham smiled. ‘I shoot at dawn. First light. Only the cook is awake, preparing breakfast – and she is on the other side of the house. My parents keep the rest of the staff working late and have moved their hours to start later in the morning.’

‘How convenient. But I thought you stayed up at night to write?’

‘I do both,’ said she.

‘And who retrieves the arrows for you?’

‘The gardener.’

‘And you compensate him … in some way?’

The slender creature drew herself up at this question. ‘Sir! You imply impropriety!’

‘Not at all, Miss Wyndham, nor did it occur to me. Do you pay him?’

‘Yes. What has all this to do with Dillie’s disappearance?’

‘I do not know which facts pertain until I have them in hand. Earlier you said Dillie has several admirers. Do you know who they might be?’

‘Well, at last you attend to the real issue,’ snapped Atalanta Wyndham with a toss of her head. ‘That young deacon is infatuated with her. Hopeless fool. Buttons, what a stupid name! Then, of course, Mr Eden-Summers – if she hasn’t scared him away. And there is another: a science student at St Cedd’s. I did glimpse him once, in Dillie’s room. His name is Leo Vitale.’ She pronounced his name ‘vih-tally’.

‘Italian name?’ said Holmes.

‘I suppose. But English now. Pale, glasses. Face of a surprised baby owl. I don’t know what she sees in him.’

‘Here? Young Mr Vitale visited your sister here?’ I blurted out. ‘How is it that your parents would allow—’

Holmes held up a hand to silence me. ‘Thank you very much, Miss Wyndham, you have been helpful. And have no fear, I will not give away your secret archery practice.’ He turned to leave but paused at the door and turned back. ‘Oh, but one other question, if you would. Has it rained here in Cambridge in the last few days?’

‘No, but I wish it would. This heat is oppressive!’

So, I felt, was the Wyndham family.

We returned downstairs. Holmes asked to speak with Polly, the maid, but we were told she had been sent on an errand. He informed Professor Wyndham that evidence pointed to his daughter Dillie’s planned departure, and that he did not believe an abduction had taken place.

Wyndham’s response was quick, decisive, and rude. ‘Deliver this observation to the police, then, and they will take it from there. If there is no abduction, we have no further need for your services.’

‘Professor Wyndham, yet I believe this doll – designed to look like your daughter and found dismembered in the lock – is clearly a kind of message. It could well be a direct threat of bodily harm. I would like to find your daughter and get to the bottom of it.’

‘This is a private matter now, and the family will deal with it. Return to London, Mr Holmes, and not a word of this to anyone, or I shall have legal proceedings instituted.’

‘Sir,’ said Holmes in his chilliest manner, ‘your idle threat is uncalled for. I have no interest in bringing shame to anyone. Only to solve a crime where a crime has been committed. Not in this house, apparently.’ He turned abruptly and left. I followed.

I was more than happy to depart this strange household.

A servant was sent to fetch us a carriage as we waited near the road some twenty yards from the house.

‘What of this doll, Holmes? Who could have put it in the river, and why?’

‘I mean to find out.’

‘But Madame Borelli?’

‘Yes, Watson, I have not forgotten. But the threat here may be more imminent. The severed arm. Cut, not broken. It is an ugly act, after all.’

‘Indeed!’

‘I am uneasy about Miss Wyndham’s three suitors. When a girl of her nature plays with so many hearts … I fear the message is a warning. And she clearly has no guidance from her family.’

‘How would this fellow have obtained the doll from the girl’s room?’

Holmes nodded in the direction of the house. ‘Do you see that tree? Its heaviest branch extends directly to one of the windows of Miss Odelia’s sitting-room. It would be a simple matter for an agile person to climb in through the window in the cover of darkness.’

Of course, Holmes had examined that area before entering the house. ‘You saw footprints at the base, I suppose?’ I said.

‘Yes, there is evidence of one female and two male climbers. One of the men’s boots has a patch on the right sole.’

Just then the maid Polly exited a side door to the house and furtively approached us.

‘Sirs?’ she began, ‘I can give you the address.’

‘Ah,’ said Holmes, ‘I thought so. She is all right, then?’

‘She was when I went back to check there this morning.’

‘What time?’

‘Early. Maybe five?’

‘Before dawn. Another risk for you, young lady!’

The girl nodded, embarrassed, then gave Holmes a slip of paper which he passed to me. On it was an address, written in an extremely untutored hand.

‘What is your mistress’s game?’ asked Holmes.

‘No game sir. She just needs to … escape.’

I could well imagine it.

‘But I think she needs … She might need …’

‘Go on, Polly.’

‘Well, Miss Odelia, she—’ began the girl. ‘She might ought to use some help. Three fellows loves her. But I think she is … confused?’

I suddenly became aware of being watched. I turned back to the house to see the white face of Atalanta Wyndham staring down at us from the third floor. Polly followed my gaze, and her own face paled. Without a word, she ran back into the house. Atalanta Wyndham’s fierce expression was pinned on us. She vanished from the window and pulled the curtains shut.

That maid would face some trouble, I thought. And so, to my surprise, would we.

CHAPTER 15

Bloom Where You Are Planted

We started out walking towards the address provided by Polly. It was only ten in the morning but already the sun beat down upon us mercilessly. Despite our linen suits and straw hats, I found myself sweating