The Deadly Curse by Tony Evans Read Free Book Online Page A

years.’
    Mina raised her eyebrows at my minor deception as I continued. ‘We are anxious to find out what we can about any out of the ordinary events in the weeks and days before the crime. For instance, did Mr Flinzer have any unusual visitors? Did he appear worried, or out of spirits? Do take your time, my dear.’
    Edith frowned as she collected her thoughts. ‘Well, let’s see. I’ve been with the family since October 1896 – just over a year. That was only a few months after the master got married. ’Course I knew nothing different, but the other servants told me that they’d had it a lot easier when Mr Flinzer was a bachelor. It takes a woman to run a house, I always say, and the new Mrs Flinzer likes to have everything just so.’
    At that point the tea tray arrived: Van Helsing dismissed his servant and filled the cups himself. Some chocolate cake had also been brought, and Edith seized the largest slice with alacrity. After a necessary interval of enthusiastic munching, she continued.
    ‘Prime cake sir. Fit for the Queen, God bless her. Now what was I saying?’
    ‘You were telling us about Mrs Flinzer,’ I said.
    ‘Oh yes sir. Well, like I say, she liked everything clean and tidy, but that’s only to be expected. Strange thing was no one knows anything about her. All we’ve found out is that she was called Cynthia Pettigrew before her marriage, and that’s only because Lily – the parlourmaid – had gone with mistress to the shops, and a man at the draper’s called her “Miss Pettigrew.” Mrs Flinzer put him right straight away, but it weren’t his fault he didn’t know she was married, was it? As for where she’s come from, it’s a mystery. They say master met her in the Criterion Bar.
    ‘Well, Mr Flinzer was well off, but he weren’t what you’d call rich . The last few months him and his wife were forever arguing about money – not really rowing, but he’d be talking very loud and then Mrs Flinzer would burst into tears, then they’d make up. You could tell he’d do anything for her – used to look at her sometimes like a grateful puppy what’s been rescued. But I mustn’t talk out of turn.’
    ‘Not at all,’ Mina said. ‘Do go on. This is most helpful. Do you know what these money problems were?’
    ‘Yes miss, it was all to do with Mrs Flinzer’s brother, Mr Algernon Manton. He’s a gambler so they say, forever in debt, and forced poor Mrs Flinzer to pay off his creditors with money she got from master. He’s a wine merchant of sorts – Mr Manton, I mean – and was forever round the house trying to get Mr Flinzer to buy cases of claret and such like.’
    ‘Is Manton older or younger than his sister?’ Mina asked.
    ‘Oh, much the same age, miss. He’s a pleasant enough young man, but then a lot of those wastrels are, aren’t they?’
    Sarah Wilton refilled Edith’s teacup, offering our visitor another slice of cake. After it had been devoured Sarah leaned forward.
    ‘Tell me, Miss Hawthorne, have you noticed any large parcels or packages being removed from the house during the last few weeks?’
    Edith’s eyes widened. ‘Yes Miss! However did you know that? It was a Tuesday, ’bout three weeks ago. I’m sure of the day because it was my ma’s birthday and I’d had the morning off to visit her. That afternoon – it would have been about three o’clock – I’d taken a turn in the garden, to get some fresh air. Master and mistress rarely walked in the grounds, so it was quite safe for us servants to stroll there when we wished. Now, there’s a door at the back of the house that leads to the entrance above the old cellar, what Mr Flinzer has turned into a strongroom to keep the paintings and such like he dealt in. That entrance isn’t often used, but I’d just turned the corner past the shrubbery when Mr Flinzer stepped out. I jumped back out of sight and saw all that happened. Four other men came out carrying something like a big box, covered in