Mrs. Jeffries Appeals the Verdict by Emily Brightwell (lightest ebook reader txt) 📕

impatiently. “Don’t be silly. Of

course you’d be curious. It’s only human nature to want to

know things about people. Not that most of us admit it, of

course. But that’s simply the way we’re made.”

“You’re very understanding,” Ruth replied. She liked

Olga Spreckles. Despite her wealth and position, she was

quite an intelligent, compassionate woman. “I’m sorry you

lost your friend.”

“We weren’t terribly close, but I did like and respect

Caroline very much. She was a rather private person, very

orderly and predictable in her habits. At least that’s what

we all thought before she married Keith Muran. Most of us

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75

hadn’t a clue she was even seeing him. Then one day I see

the announcement of the marriage in the Times. ”

“You hadn’t met him before they were married?” Ruth

asked casually.

“No one had,” Olga exclaimed. “Everyone in our neighborhood was wildly curious when it happened. No one had any idea she was contemplating such a thing.” She broke

off and grinned. “Oh I shouldn’t say such things, but that

marriage set tongues wagging.”

“Gracious, why was that?” Ruth asked easily.

“Because Caroline wasn’t the sort one ever thought of

as being in the least interested in a husband. Then one day

she up and marries the very handsome Keith Muran. From

the gossip I heard, even her brother was surprised, and I

shouldn’t have thought that, considering Russell’s life, there

would be anything in this world to surprise him.” She sighed.

“Oh well, poor Russell was at least spared knowing his sister was murdered. Perhaps the two of them have met in heaven. At least one hopes so.”

“When did her brother die?” Ruth fiddled with the linen

serviette on her lap.

“I’m not sure of the exact date.” Olga frowned. “But it

was sometime last year.”

“What happened to him?” Ruth had no idea if this was a

useful question or not, but as she couldn’t think of anything

else, it would have to do.

“He died when he was in America. I’m not very clear on

the details, and it wasn’t the sort of thing one could mention,

but his obituary suddenly appeared in the Times and that’s

how everyone found out he’d died. It was a very simple announcement as well. Odd isn’t it, how the same family can produce two such different people.”

“I expect it happens more often than we realize,” Ruth

murmured.

“It was such a tragedy.” Olga put her cup down on the

table and leaned back. “They were raised very plainly. I believe their mother was a Quaker. Caroline was studious and 76

Emily Brightwell

serious while Russell wasn’t very serious about anything at

all, especially his duty to take over the family business. He

was a terrible disappointment to their father.”

“How sad that both of them are dead,” Ruth said. She

had no idea if she was learning anything useful.

“The gossip had it that that’s why Caroline was left control of the factory instead of her brother. Their father’s will gave Caroline a majority interest in the business. But to be

fair, he left Russell the house. Rumor had it that Caroline

actually bought Russell’s share of the company several

years back, but if that’s true, I’ll warrant that he’d not much

left of that money by the time he died.”

“I take it he wasn’t very good with money,” Ruth said

softly.

“It slipped through his fingers like water.” Olga shrugged.

“It was the usual vices—liquor and gambling. Apparently he

wasn’t much good at either activity. But the poor fellow’s

dead now, may he rest in peace.”

“Did Russell Merriman and Keith Muran get along?”

Ruth asked, unsure of why this particular question had

popped into her head. Investigating murder was actually

much more difficult than she’d imagined. On the previous

cases she’d helped with, Mrs. Jeffries had usually given

her some suggestions as to what information she ought to

obtain. But her only instruction this time was to find out

what she could. She didn’t think she was doing very well.

“I never heard that there was any problem between the

two men, but Russell did move out shortly after the marriage. Perhaps he felt awkward living with two newlyweds.”

“So Caroline and Russell lived together before she married Keith?” Ruth picked up her teacup.

“Oh yes, despite the differences in their characters, they

were very close. Caroline was quite upset when Russell

left the country.”

“As you said, let’s hope brother and sister have reunited

in heaven,” Ruth said quietly.

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77

“Oh, I do hope so. I know it broke Caroline’s heart when

she got the telegram telling her about Russell’s death.”

“And you’ve no idea how he died?”

Olga shook her head. “No. But I do know his death was

very painful to Caroline. But she never spoke of the matter.”

“I wonder exactly where it was he died?” Ruth took a

sip of her now cold tea.

“It was in one of those western states.” Olga’s brows

furrowed as she concentrated. “Oh dear, what’s the name

of that big state at the very end of the country?”

“California.”

“That’s it.” Olga nodded. “That’s right, I remember now.

My tweeny told me that the telegram came from a place

called Los Angeles. Russell died while he was in jail

there.”

C H A P T E R 5

Q

Constable Barnes stood in front of the huge redbrick building that was New Scotland Yard and took a deep breath. The day was overcast and the damp from the river had seeped

into his bones. He hoped he wasn’t here on a fool’s errand.

More importantly, he hoped he wasn’t doing something that

would ruin his career and the inspector’s. Not that he ought

to be terribly concerned about the matter; after all, he was

getting close to his pension, and Witherspoon had plenty of

money, so neither of them would starve. Besides, what could

happen? He was simply going to have a look at a file. If

anyone asked what he wanted with it, he’d simply tell them

he thought it might relate to one of their current cases.

The mournful bleat of a boat horn sliced through the

noisy traffic of the embankment, startling him out of his

reverie. He straightened his shoulders and started across

the paving stones to the door. He’d best get this over with.

For goodness’ sakes, it was only a file. It wasn’t like he was

out to pinch the queen’s jewels. He climbed the short flight

of stairs and stepped