The Wild Wood Enquiry by Ann Purser Read Free Book Online Page A

it in my room, thanks. I am safe from eavesdroppers up there.” She got to her feet and made her measured way up to her room. “Hello? Who’s that? Speak up, do!”
    “Good morning, Miss Beasley,” said Miriam. “I wonder if I could come to see you on a possible job for Enquire Within. It is quite urgent, so if you could see me this afternoon it would be really helpful.”
    Ivy had known Miriam for some while and was familiar with her overactive imagination and love of drama. “Better come straightaway, if it’s that urgent,” she said. “And I hope you won’t be wasting my time, Miss Blake,” she added. She contacted reception and told them to show Miss Blake up to her room when she arrived and also would they please ask Mr. Goodman if he could come up at once.
    “You’d think we had nothing more important to do than run around after her!” Mrs. Spurling said to her assistant. “Go and tell poor Mr. Goodman he’s wanted upstairs, please, Miss Pinkney.”
    Miss Pinkney obeyed, wondering why Mrs. Spurling had not yet realised that Roy Goodman would happily do Ivy’s bidding, whenever and whatever it proved to be.
    MIRIAM SET OFF from her cottage, calling in to tell Rose not to ring the police until she was back from Springfields.“Shouldn’t be late,” she said. “Miss Beasley isn’t a great one for idle conversation.”
    She passed the shop and then stopped and turned back. Juicy Jellies might be a good idea to sweeten up the old thing. James was in the shop, stacking supplies and listening to news of the engagement on the radio. He turned it off and greeted Miriam. “Not your morning here, is it?” he said, smiling. Miriam was a good shop assistant, and he relied on her completely.
    “No, I’m a customer today. Juicy Jellies for Miss Beasley,” she said. “Most of the old ladies like these.”
    “That’s why Miss Beasley loathes them. I recommend these Devon clotted cream toffees.”
    “Hope her teeth are good, then,” she said.
    As she turned to go, James said, “No trouble down Hangman’s Lane, I hope. I heard there were police cars down there yesterday.”
    “
One
police car,” said Miriam. “I can’t tell you more at present. Tomorrow, if you don’t mind, I’ll know more then. I’m sworn to secrecy at the moment.”
    James, too, was familiar with Miriam’s love of a drama, and he laughed. “Fine with me,” he said. “Just as long as everybody’s still alive and kicking. So I’ll see you as usual tomorrow. Give my regards to Miss Beasley. I don’t suppose the secret had anything to do with Enquire Within?”
    Miriam shrugged and left quickly, before James could break down her defences.
    When she arrived at Springfields and was shown up to Ivy’s room, she was surprised to see Mr. Goodman there, too. Miss Beasley explained that he was part of the team, and it was always useful to have a second pair of ears to pick up anything she failed to hear.
    “Not that I am hard of hearing, goodness me, no. Butyou are a real mutterer, Miss Blake, so we would appreciate it if you could speak clearly and not into your boots.”
    Not a good start, thought Miriam, but asked if Miss Beasley was aware that Gus’s ex-wife had been staying with her. Ivy replied that of course she knew, and what had that to do with anything.
    “Nothing, I hope,” said Miriam, and explained as clearly and loudly as she could, looking Ivy straight in the eyes, that she and Rose Budd had been collecting plants and things in the woods and had seen a hand under the bracken. At this, Ivy chuckled. “The hand of the Baskervilles, I suppose,” she said, and Roy smiled at her witty riposte.
    Miriam frowned. “It is not a joke, Miss Beasley,” she said. “I naturally told the police and took them to the place where we’d found it. But, to my horror, it had disappeared. Needless to say, the police were not impressed and went away, as good as saying I had imagined it.”
    “Not surprising,” commented Ivy, but