Death Is in the Air by Kate Kingsbury Read Free Book Online Page A

your bicycle past the woods.”
    Polly barely heard the rest of Violet’s words. She was too hung up on the news of the murder. She sat downhard on the bottom stair, trying to make sense of what she’d heard. “A land girl? Who was she? Who done it, then?”
    Violet shook her head. “I don’t know who she was, but it looks like that German pilot who got away yesterday killed the poor little mite. He must have been hiding in the woods, and the poor girl just happened to come across him.”
    Polly frowned. “What was she doing in the woods all alone, anyway? I thought those girls always went around together.”
    “Well, apparently this one didn’t.” Violet massaged the sides of her forehead with her fingers. “Anyway, get on with your work. I’m going back to the kitchen. All this upset has given me a headache.”
    Polly moved aside to allow her to pass her on the stairs. She couldn’t believe it. Another murder in Sitting Marsh. Things had certainly changed since the Yanks had come to town. But at least they couldn’t blame this on the Yanks. Polly thought about the German bomber pilot hiding in the woods and shivered. Thank goodness someone was going to take her home tonight.
    She pulled herself to her feet, then her pulse leapt as an idea blazed in her head. Maybe she could get Sam to take her home. Blissfully forgetting about the murder, she began a daydream about Sam and her alone in the Jeep under the stars—a dream that would last her the entire day.
     
    The three land girls, all of whom were strangers to Elizabeth, seemed suitably impressed when Sheila introduced her visitor as the lady of the manor. Pauline, a stocky redhead and obviously the leader of the group, startled everybody when she demanded in her strident voice, “Did you come about the murder, m’m?”
    Maisie stared down at her feet, while Kitty’s pudgy face turned a bright red. Elizabeth studied their reactionswith interest and made a mental note to question them all individually.
    “How did you hear about that?” Sheila spluttered, obviously put out at being robbed of her big announcement.
    Pauline shrugged. “Biggs told me. He got it from the milkman when he came to pick up the milk this morning. He said it were a poacher what came across the body.”
    Sheila’s face was quite pale as she stared at Pauline. “Did Biggs tell you who had been murdered?”
    The girl looked uncomfortable. “No,” she said slowly, “but we all think it might be Amelia, ’cause she never came back from her date last night.”
    “You’re sure she didn’t come back?” Elizabeth asked.
    Pauline exchanged looks with the other girls. “Well, m’m, her bed hadn’t been slept in. We all went to bed early, but Amelia slipped out to meet her boyfriend. When we woke up this morning we saw she hadn’t come back.”
    “And you didn’t say anything to Mrs. Macclesby?”
    “Yes,” Sheila put in, “why didn’t you tell me?”
    Pauline’s chin shot up. “Well, you was asleep when we got up. You always told us not to disturb you in the mornings, so we made a cup of tea and a jam sandwich and then went to work. Then, when Biggs told us a land girl had been murdered, we all decided it had to be Amelia. There didn’t seem much point in telling you she was missing after that.”
    “I hope you didn’t use more than a teaspoonful of jam,” Sheila said crossly. “That stuff is rationed, you know.”
    “Tell me what isn’t,” Pauline grumbled.
    Maisie, who seemed to be the most disturbed by the news, looked at Elizabeth. “Excuse me, Lady Elizabeth, but did the police find out who killed Amelia?”
    “We all know who did it,” Sheila declared before Elizabeth could answer. “I was thinking about it whileI was upstairs. It had to be that German pilot who ran off yesterday. Who else would want to hurt such a nice young lady?”
    “I can think of a few,” Pauline murmured.
    “Hush!” Sheila said curtly. “Do not speak ill of the dead. Go into