The Canterbury Murders by Maureen Ash Read Free Book Online

given permission, Gianni,” Nicolaa warned, “it will take some days for him to travel to Canterbury. During the intervening time, any telltale traces the murderer may have left could be lost.”
    The boy nodded his understanding. The Templar always carefully examined the place where a murder had been done as quickly after the death as possible, and also carried out a similar inspection of the victim’s body, lest vital clues be inadvertently removed or destroyed by the passage of time.
    â€œIt is imperative that we do not let that happen,” Nicolaa told him. “King John has therefore given me permission to set in motion a preliminary enquiry and has agreed with my suggestion that you undertake it on his behalf.”
    For a moment Gianni was stunned with surprise, but his recovery was quick. After nodding a solemn acceptance of the dictate, his fingers flew to the wax tablet at his belt, the one he used to take dictation before transferring it to parchment, and he raised his eyebrows in question.
    â€œThat is correct,” she told him. “You will take notes of all you see and make a permanent record of your findings for the use of whoever finally investigates the crime, whether the Templar or some other. You are also to make a copy of all of the details and send them to the king for his perusal.”
    Satisfied that the boy now understood the great responsibility that had been placed on him and— by his eager expression—with his willingness to undertake the task, she outlined the initial steps he should take.
    â€œYou have been with de Marins many times during his searches for a murderer. Follow his lead. Go and examine the house where the deed was done. Look in every nook and cranny for some sign that may give a clue to the identity of the killer. You have the king’s authority to question all of the servants—who will be kept under guard at the townhouse pending proof of their innocence or guilt—to determine whether or not any of them can be considered a suspect, or has information that may prove helpful.”
    As she said this she saw consternation cross Gianni’s face and added that she would send Miles de Laxton with him, as she had told the king, and that he was to write down his questions for the knight to ask. “After you have finished at the townhouse, go and examine the corpse. The Earl of Pembroke told me that the body has been taken to the death house in the church of St. Alphege, and I will write a letter for you to give to the priest there explaining that you have royal authority to do whatever you deem necessary.”
    Now true alarm came over Gianni’s countenance, and she smiled reassuringly. “Since the victim was a woman, and it would not be seemly for you to examine the corpse personally, I will direct Clare to accompany you to the church. She is not fainthearted and will, I know, be able to carry out the task under your direction.”

Chapter Six
    After a hasty meal of hot meat pies and fresh bread provided by Dauton, Gianni and Miles set out for the royal townhouse on Stour Street. Gianni was pleased that it was Miles who would accompany him, for the knight had, on a previous occasion, been with the Templar during the apprehension of a murderer and was full of enthusiasm for their task. In his early thirties, he was an even-tempered knight, with an innately cheerful nature, and Gianni had always found him congenial company.
    The cathedral bells were ringing the hour of None when they started out, and the streets were filled with people—goodwives visiting the open-fronted shops that sold various household items, vendors bearing trays of hot pies in baskets slung around their shoulders, clerics from the cathedral and the many other churches in Canterbury hurrying past and, on almost every corner, the ubiquitous beggars that inhabited any town of reasonable size. There were not many