7 Pay the Piper by Kate Kingsbury Read Free Book Online

have been.
    When Gertie announced that Elsie Abbittson had asked to see Mrs. Sinclair early that afternoon, Cecily had a strong inkling of the reason for the unexpected visit. She asked Gertie to show the butcher’s wife into the library, and a few minutes later she joined her there.
    Elsie Abbittson wore a perpetual frown and constantly chewed on her nails. Although in her early thirties, she had managed to retain a somewhat faded country-fresh beauty,assisted by a luxurious mane of strawberry-blond curls caught in a knot on top of her head.
    Her clothes were less than fashionable, but her figure was still firm enough to turn a man’s eye. She seemed self-conscious of her appearance in front of Cecily, however, and persisted in smoothing out a fold in her blue serge skirt, or fingering a pleat in her cotton blouse, accompanied by an occasional pat to her hair.
    Doing her best to put the woman at ease, Cecily invited her to sit on the comfortable green velvet armchair by the fireplace, while she herself perched on the end of the chaise lounge.
    “Can I offer you some tea?” she asked as Elsie’s gaze darted about the room.
    The butcher’s wife shook her head, snatching her gloved finger away from her mouth. In an apparent attempt to prevent her hand from straying back, seemingly of its own accord, she clasped it firmly and buried her fingers in her lap.
    “I suppose you’ve heard that the police have taken Tom in for the murder of that poor man,” she said with a trace of belligerence.
    “Yes,” Cecily said carefully. “P.C. Northcott was here this morning to question Samuel.”
    Elsie nodded. “I thought as much, seeing as how it was Samuel who found the body. Must have been a shock for the lad.”
    “Indeed it was.” Cecily paused for a moment. “And for you, no doubt.”
    “Could have knocked me down with a feather.” Elsie raised her hand, then shoved it back into her lap. “He didn’t do it. I know he didn’t. I know my Tom, and he wouldn’t do something like that.”
    “I understand he was fighting with the victim at the pub last night,” Cecily said, feeling sorry for the butcher’s wife. Elsie was obviously distraught. Nevertheless, Cecily had to admire the woman’s loyalty.
    “Well, I’m not saying my Tom’s a saint, mind you. He has his faults like everyone else. And he’s been known to use his fists now and again when he’s drunk. Which is most of the time lately, I’m afraid to say.”
    “Your husband told the constable that he woke up lying in front of the shop and saw you bending over him.”
    “Yes, that’s right. He did.” Leaning forward in her chair, Elsie looked earnestly into Cecily’s eyes. “He didn’t do it, Mrs. Sinclair. It were the knife, you see. He would never have left it lying on the ground like that. My Tom would have cleaned it up and put it back where it belonged. Real particular about his tools of the trade, he is. Won’t let no one touch them but himself.”
    “I see,” Cecily said, wondering when Elsie was going to get to the point.
    “Anyhow, I came here because I knew if anyone could help me, you could.” Elsie nibbled on a nail for a moment, then once more dragged her hand away from her mouth. “When you have a shop in the High Street, everyone talks, you see. I know as how you’ve helped other people, like that Madeline Pengrath, when the police thought she’d murdered someone.”
    “Madeline is a good friend of mine,” Cecily said quietly.
    “Yes, I know. But you see, Mrs. Sinclair, Tom doesn’t have anyone else who can help him. Not clever like, the way you are. The police have already decided he’s guilty, and unless someone helps him, he could end up in prison, or worse—”
    Elsie gulped and searched in her pocket for a handkerchief.
    Cecily waited a minute while the woman loudly blew her nose. When Elsie seemed composed again, she said gently, “I can recommend a very good lawyer in Wellercombe—”
    She broke off as Elsie