Rules of Murder by Julianna Deering Read Free Book Online Page A

breath coming in little smothered gasps.
    He flung the coat back into place and stood up, as shaken as she.
    “Come on. Let’s go back inside.”
    “Drew, that’s—”
    “Come on,” he urged, and he led her back to the house, through the kitchen door, and into the chair nearest the fire.
    “Are you all right?” he asked, dropping to one knee on the stone floor beside her. “Here, give me that, if you please.”
    He snatched a drink from the tray Anna was taking to the guests and pressed Madeline’s hands around it.
    “Drink that down. You all right?”
    “I don’t—”
    “Drink it,” he insisted, and she managed a sip.
    “Is the young lady ill, sir?” Anna asked.
    Drew looked up, distracted. “No. Yes. Go and get Mr. Parker straightaway, if you would, please.”
    “Yes, sir.” She bobbed a tiny curtsy and disappeared through the kitchen’s swinging doors. A moment later, the doors swung again and Mason came into the kitchen.
    “Drew? Madeline, my dear, what is the matter?”
    Drew got to his feet. “We just found Lincoln in the greenhouse. I’m afraid he’s taken a load of buckshot to the head.”

Four
    W e’re to touch nothing in the greenhouse and allow no one to leave the party until they arrive,” Mason said as he replaced the telephone receiver.
    “I could have told you that much,” Drew muttered, wishing he could do something more than stand about waiting for the police. “Besides, it’s too late about the greenhouse. No telling what evidence we’ve ruined.”
    “I’m sure the police can handle this,” Mason said, his face pale. “We’d best tell Dennison what’s happened. He can keep his eye on the guests, too.”
    “Nick as well, if you don’t mind, sir. He can be quite useful from time to time.”
    “Very well. Send Anna for them both, if you like. No need to tell her what’s happened yet. It’ll be all over the village by morning anyway.”
    Soon Dennison, père et fils , joined them in the kitchen.
    Keeping his voice low, Drew gave them the news.
    “David Lincoln!” Nick said. “Of course, it stands to reason that someone would eventually—”
    Madeline took a quavering little breath and hugged her arms around herself.
    “Quiet, you brute,” Drew growled. “Why don’t you just make a general announcement?”
    “Sorry.”
    “Give me that.” Drew began to pull off Nick’s dinner jacket, intending to put it around Madeline, but Dennison interrupted.
    “No need of that, sir. I have just the thing. I’m certain Mrs. Devon won’t object.”
    The housekeeper had an old flannel wrapper she liked to warm at the kitchen hearth before she retired in the evening. Dennison handed it to Drew, who quickly swaddled Madeline in its capacious warmth.
    “Good work, Denny.” He knelt again at Madeline’s side. “Better now?”
    She managed a slight nod and a trembling smile.
    “Good girl. Sorry you had to see that. And sorry this cretin has upset you.”
    He glared at Nick.
    “Now, see here, Drew,” Nick protested, “I know this is no game anymore. A man’s been killed, and the guilty party is most likely in the next room drinking Bucks Fizz. I think we should start questioning everyone.”
    “We?” Drew felt a tingle of intrigue in spite of himself. “You mean—”
    “Please, boys.” Mason glanced at his niece. “I’ve sent for Mrs. Devon to look after Madeline until the police have had a chance to speak to her. We can let them see to things from here on in.”
    “But, sir,” Drew began, but he stopped when he saw the look on his stepfather’s face. “As you say, sir.”
    Nick heaved a sigh of disappointment. “I suppose we shallhave to miss our opportunity to play Holmes and Watson, then, if the police are to see to things.”
    Drew grinned a little. “All for the best, my man, all for the best. Our Miss Parker wouldn’t love us anymore if I took up smoking a foul-smelling pipe and you had a Jezail bullet in your shoulder or your leg. The stories