A Woman Unknown Page 0,20

keep an eye on him.’

My spirits rose. ‘I can do that. I have my car outside, and I’m good at sitting in hotel lobbies, sipping a cocktail. It’s my speciality.’

‘No, Kate. He’s dangerous. And he’d be onto you in a flash.’

‘So someone else will take over from you?’

‘We’re at full stretch. But it occurs to me that your Jim Sykes might step in, if you can spare him. He’s trustworthy and knows the area. If you agree, I could have him sworn in as a special constable.’

‘I’m sure he’d be glad to help.’

That put me in my place. Good enough to interview a nervy chambermaid and comment on a frock. Something rose up inside me. Cold fury. We’ll see, Marcus. You didn’t even know the Runcies were divorcing. You pooh-poohed my thoughts about Hartigan, and the waiter fooled whichever of your minions interviewed him. We’ll see how you get on.

Sykes was delighted to be in demand as a special constable. I hid my fury at being entirely sidelined, and slung my hook. There was plenty for me to do. I should cocoa. Let the boys get on with it. I had a report to type, a letter to write, an envelope to address, a stamp to lick. Not to mention checking through the past few weeks’ newspapers for interesting items.

My cat Sookie came to greet me. She rubbed herself against my legs, leaving hairs on my stockings, threatening to trip me.

‘You’ll have to wait until Mrs Sugden gets back from the market with fish scraps.’

I opened the back door. She bounded out.

Right. I would type my report to the insurance company on our investigation of the fraud case. If I got on with it now, it would be finished before Mrs Sugden returned, and I would avoid having an audience watching to see how it was done.

I was so furious that my fingers thumped the typewriter keys too hard. Every single o and every p lost its centre.

The report ran to two pages. I typed the date at the bottom, and a line for my signature, then released the platen. I typed a short covering letter, and the job was done. I keep envelopes in the dresser drawer, along with table mats, not an ideal arrangement for the efficient office, but it works.

Plenty to do. Envelope. Stamp.

Mrs Sugden returned. She watched me put the cover on the typewriter. ‘I could do that sort of thing. If I learned to typewrite, you could concentrate on your brainwork.’

Mrs Sugden likes to keep busy. She is easily bored. No skill is too tricky. She is cook, dressmaker, knitter extraordinaire, gardener and maker of chutney. We agreed that she should look for a typewriting class.

When back from the market, she wants to talk, about who she saw, what she bought, and for how much.

I escaped. Plenty to do. Sort out August’s newspapers. They were in a pile on top of the piano. I remembered something I had meant to cut out at the time, to send to my aunt. Where was that newspaper? It was easy to date because it had appeared the day after grouse shooting began. And then I found it. There was a photograph, with the caption: LORD FOTHERINGHAM’S SHOOTING PARTY – STRAY SHOT AT SHOOT.

The photograph showed Caroline Windham, clutching her arm, while still holding her gun, unaware of the camera, a look of surprise on her broad, handsome face. Everett Runcie stood beside her. The article read:

The first day of grouse shooting was this year postponed to Monday the 13th, due to the Glorious Twelfth falling on Sunday. Renowned shot, Miss Caroline Windham, shown here in the butts at Somersgill, prepared to enjoy her day as guest of Lord Fotheringham. Moments into the shoot, Miss Windham suffered a grazed arm from a stray shot. She was promptly assisted by her nearest fellow shooters, Mr and Mrs Everett Runcie. Thankfully, Miss Windham suffered no lasting harm. After a brief respite for first aid, Miss Windham continued shooting. She bagged seven grouse by lunch – out-shooting even Lord Fotheringham.

Well she would. Caroline Windham, impeccable aristocratic connections, best seat in the county, archery champion, unrivalled on the tennis court, swimmer in wild places, extraordinary swordswoman. It was said she had inherited all the characteristics of her military ancestors, and none of their wealth. What was left of the family lands and money had gone to her timid younger brother who resented her accomplishments and disapproved of her adventures. He kept to his