The Case Has Altered by Martha Grimes Read Free Book Online Page B

in his wing chair, stared into the fire, said, finally: “Jenny? Be serious, will you?”
    â€œI am being. Jenny’s a witness.”
    Melrose gave a short bark of laughter. “I should know. I was all over hell’s half-acre looking for—” He could have cut off his tongue, bringing that up again.
    â€œAnd prime suspect.”
    â€œWhat?” Melrose sat forward.
    â€œDCI Bannen seems to think so. At least that was the strong implication.” Jury told him about the murder of Verna Dunn. “The ex-wife, shot with a .22 rifle.”
    Melrose felt a little ashamed of himself. He was more intrigued than disturbed. “What in heaven’s name is gained by killing off the former wife?”
    â€œEspecially in view of the more recent murder. One of the staff. A kitchen helper.”
    Melrose put down his glass. “A second murder?”
    Jury told him what had happened.
    â€œWouldn’t that obliterate any motive for killing the ex-wife, though?”
    Jury shrugged again. “That depends, doesn’t it? We don’t know the motive for either murder. There’s also opportunity. The two of them, Jenny and the Dunn woman, were outside, arguing. This was the last time anyone saw Verna Dunn alive.”
    â€œGood lord . . . well, in view of this kitchen-help getting murdered too—obviously your DCI Bannen thinks it’s the same person.”
    â€œProbably.”
    â€œWell, then.” Melrose studied the fire again. “Jenny isn’t there now, is she?”
    Jury shook his head. “She’s in Stratford again.”
    â€œSo if Bannen thinks it was the same person, that lets her off, anyway.” Melrose picked up his glass again.
    â€œExcept for where she was the night of the fourteenth. It’s only a couple of hours, three at best, from Stratford-upon-Avon to Fengate.”
    â€œGod, but you sound like prosecuting QC.”
    â€œIt’s absurd without a motive. Only . . . I think DCI Bannen knows a lot that he’s not telling me. Still, I find it too difficult to believe . . . ” Jury slid down in the leather chair, eyes on the ceiling again.
    In spite of the unhappiness of the subject, Melrose felt how pleasant it was, sitting here talking with Jury, how much it felt as if the clock had been turned back. Only it hadn’t, and he had to get this off his chest. “Look, Richard. That day at Stonington—”
    â€œWhat about it?”
    â€œYou left in such a hurry. . . . Well, I’ve always felt pretty rotten about that. I mean I thrust myself upon the scene—”
    â€œBut you were there only because I asked you to help find her. That’s all. So how can you say you ‘thrust yourself upon the scene’? A noticeably archaic manner of speaking, I must say.” Jury smiled and drank his whiskey and held up the napkin he’d left on the chair arm. “That’s not the reason you crossed her out, I hope. I’d say the decision here is monumental.”
    â€œWhat decision?”
    â€œI mean, if this were another kind of list. Such as a list of women you might possibly love. Or even marry.”
    â€œWhat? What?” Melrose sputtered. “Marry? Me ? Who in hell would I be marrying, anyway?” Melrose uttered a short bark of laughter.
    Jury waved the napkin. “One of these, presumably.”
    â€œ Don’t be daft!” Melrose fell silent again. “I just didn’t want you to get the idea that I was—” What? he wondered. “Lady Kennington and I aren’t especially . . . compatible.”
    â€œFunny. I’d have thought the opposite.”
    â€œThat’s where you’re wrong. I find her, well, a bit . . . dry. Do you know what I mean?”
    Jury shook his head. “No. Dry like a twig?”
    Exasperated, Melrose answered. “No. Of course not.”
    â€œLike a leaf? Like