The Valley of the Shadow by Carola Dunn Read Free Book Online Page B

Megan,” Eleanor called after her. “Teazle, come! We’re not going with her.”
    Megan waved and hurried to climb into the ambulance, where Jim was already revving the engine. Slowly and noisily, it backed up the steep drive.
    The inspector turned his gaze on Eleanor. “Well, well, well, I heard you’d taken a spill, Mrs. Trewynn. No serious damage, I trust?”
    “No worse than Megan.”
    Nick broke in. “Yes, Megan was hurt, climbing onto the rocks. Not badly, but she ought to have her skinned knees seen to.”
    “She’s going to the right place, then, isn’t she,” Scumble pointed out, with that exasperating patience that made one feel like an idiot. “Plus she gets an exciting ride in a helicopter.”
    “A helicopter?”
    “That bloke doesn’t like the look of his patient. He’s going to radio for a Coast Guard helicopter to meet them somewhere there’s room to land. I suppose you think I should give your niece a break before she goes back on duty, but she’s the best person I’ve got available to make sense of anything the victim might say.”
    “Victim?” said Nick.
    “Of an accident,” the inspector said blandly. Producing a notebook and biro, he turned to Julia. “And who may this young lady be?”
    “I’m Julia Merridew.”
    “Just where do you come into the picture, Miss Merridew?”
    “I saw Megan—Detective Sergeant Pencarrow—rescue the man. She was wonderful! And then I … um…”
    “Lent the victim a bit of body warmth,” Nick suggested.
    “Exactly,” said Julia with a grateful smile.
    Unimpressed, Scumble asked, “Did you see the victim enter the water?”
    “Gosh no. We were hiking, Chaz and I, up on the cliffs. We saw Megan dive in and we ran down to see if we could help. Chaz gave Nick a hand to pull the victim out.”
    “Chaz?” The inspector eyed the youth, who was hanging back from the group. Eleanor guessed he didn’t want to come within smelling distance.
    “Charles.”
    “Surname, sir?”
    “Avery, if you really have to know.”
    “Thank you, sir. It’s just a matter of routine, for my report.”
    Chaz didn’t appear to be reassured. He muttered something inaudible.
    “I can’t think why a detective inspector should have to write a report about an accident,” Eleanor said crossly, “but if you have any more questions, would you please postpone them. Miss Merridew is cold, as Megan is wearing all her warm clothes—”
    “And not much else,” Nick put in, grinning, as he stripped off his anorak and presented it to Julia with a bow.
    “—And I’m rather tired. You can come to Port Mabyn and ask me anything you please tomorrow. Not that I know anything. Right now I have to drive Julia and Chaz to Boscastle, one at a time because my car is full of stuff, then come back to pick up Nick—”
    “You needn’t worry about fitting people into your car, Mrs. Trewynn,” Scumble interrupted. “Mrs. Stearns is waiting for you up there on the road. I’m sure she’ll consider it her duty to ferry your Good Samaritans to Boscastle, being as how she’s a vicar’s wife.”
    Realising her mouth had fallen open, Eleanor closed it far enough to exclaim, “Jocelyn! What on earth is she doing here?”
    “She said the vicar passed on a garbled message, from someone whose name he’d forgotten, saying that you were in difficulties in Rocky Valley.”
    That sounded like Timothy all right. Eleanor sighed. She had forgotten asking Mr. Wharton to warn Joce not to expect her for supper.
    “I’ll go up,” Nick offered, “and tell her what’s going on. Inspector, now that the ambulance has gone, I assume I’m allowed to drive down to save Mrs. Trewynn the slog up the hill?”
    “Be my guest.”
    “Oh, Nick, do you think the Incorruptible will make it back up this slope?”
    “Good point. I’ll ask Mrs. Stearns to come and get you.”
    “Thank you, Nick. Here are the keys…” She felt in her pocket. “Oh dear, I must have left them in the car. But