Deadly Beloved by Alanna Knight Read Free Book Online

a shoulder cape. And a dark green costume with brown braid, a cream-coloured silk blouse. Looked a picture, she did. Is there anything else, sir?"
    "I wonder if I could have a look at her room."
    "Her room, sir. Which one would you be meaning? Him and her both had their own bedrooms."
    "I'd like to see the room she occupied."
    "I don't see why not. Ina will show you."
    The housekeeper rang the handbell on her table and Faro asked, "By the way, could you let me have a list of any callers Mrs Kellar received during the days before she left?"
    "Callers?" Mrs Flynn frowned. "You mean tradesmen and the like?"
    "I was thinking of more personal callers."
    Mrs Flynn gave a throaty chuckle. "Oh, you mean gentleman callers and such, do you, Inspector?"
    Faro tried to look nonchalant. "Something like that."
    "Only the young doctor, him that works for the master. He was with you at the dinner party. He calls on Mrs Kellar quite regularly. He looked in as she was packing. Went upstairs and stayed for ... " Mrs Flynn paused and thought, "for twenty minutes or so. I expect his address will be in her book up on the writing desk, if you want it."
    She obviously had no idea that Vince was his stepson. A tap on the door announced Ina and, turning to leave, Faro said, "One thing more, Mrs Flynn. Is there anything missing from the house that Mrs Kellar might have taken with her besides her personal possessions?"
    Mrs Flynn gave him a puzzled look. "I couldn't say, sir. I'm new to this house. It takes years to get to know one well."
    "Well, if you hear of anything missing, you will let me know."
    Glad to be out of the housekeeper's gloomy uncomfortable sitting-room, Faro thanked her for her help and followed Ina along the chilly corridor and into the hall, to gratefully breathe in the purer air of the house's upper regions.
    As they climbed the stairs, he asked, "Did you assist the mistress to pack?"
    "No, sir. She didn't ask."
    Ina opened the door into a bedroom expensively furnished, but apart from the silver brushes, jewel box and toilette set on the dressing table, there were fewer mementoes than Faro would have expected to see. This characterless room gave no hints about Mrs Kellar's personality, but he realised that he could hardly, with decorum and in the presence of the maid, conduct a careful search of wardrobe and chest of drawers.
    "Do you come into this room every day?"
    "Yes, sir. I make up the bed and clear the ashes from the fire, re-lay it. I empty the slops and dust ..."
    "Good. Then you can tell me if anything has been moved since Mrs Kellar left."
    "Nothing, sir. Mrs Kellar is a very neat tidy lady, very thoughtful for everyone."
    "She didn't have a personal maid?"
    "Oh no, sir. The master didn't think such expense was justified and Mrs Flynn told me that when the mistress's maid who had been with her for years took sick and left he said a housekeeper and a maid should be enough."
    "Do you happen to know where Mrs Kellar's maid lives?"
    "She died last year and Mrs Kellar went to her funeral. Such a kind lady, if it wasn't for her, he'd never get anyone to stay. Look at Mrs Flynn. She's only staying on as a favour — he had to fair beg her, I'll bet. And now she's working her notice, so to speak, she's very hoity-toity."
    Suspecting compassion from this nice policeman, Ina was no longer bashful or afraid. "She does as little as possible, I can tell you. Says she's poorly with her toothache and her sore throat, gives me my orders, prepares the doctor's dinner and then retires to her room ..."
    Only half-listening to this tirade against Mrs Flynn, Faro was surveying the room very carefully, making mental pictures of the contents. When he left he would be able to write out an exact list of everything it contained. That was part of his job.
    The writing desk by the window was a handsome davenport. He opened the lid and a cursory glance revealed the usual stationery and pens. There was no address book in evidence. It might have been