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

Roy was not so sure.
    “Didn’t Mrs. Budd substantiate your story?” he said.
    So Miriam had to explain why she had not told the police about Rose and what they planned to do next. “But I have a feeling it won’t make much difference,” she said. “They’ll think it’s a practical joke. I reckon Rose will get the same dusty answer as me.”
    “So what would you like us to do?” Roy said. He had a soft spot for Miriam Blake, suspecting that, for all her faults, her heart was in the right place. What is more, he believed her.
    “I would like you to find out who that hand belonged to and who killed him or her. I’m sure it was a human hand,” Miriam answered.
    “And are you sure it wasn’t one of those plastic thingsfrom a joke shop?” Ivy said, still sceptical. “It wasn’t a severed hand, was it?”
    Roy smothered a smile, and asked seriously if they had tried to uncover an arm attached.
    “Look here!” said Miriam crossly. “I have come here with a genuine job for you to do. I’m prepared to pay good money for an investigation, so if you don’t want to take it on, just say so, and I’ll get back to what me and Rose have to do.”
    “Of course we’ll take it on,” said Roy hastily. “It is just part of our professional approach to make sure we shall not be taking your money with no chance of success. Now, if you are agreeable, we’ll get our full team together, and perhaps you will by then be able to tell us what further steps are being taken by the police.”
    Mollified, Miriam said she would be in touch, and left Springfields with a lighter step. Everyone said Miss Beasley’s bark was worse than her bite, and Miriam knew that the team had had some real success in the past. She had no confidence in the police taking it further, even with Rose’s call, and Ivy’s question about a joke hand had convinced her that this was probably what the cops had thought.
    By the time she reached the Budds’ house, she had begun to have doubts herself. There
was
a gang of youths in the village who found it hilarious to frighten old people living alone. But she was not old! And anyway, the ringleader had been warned by the police, and there had been no recent incidents. Besides which, why would the kids half bury a joke hand in a place where it was most unlikely to be found?
    ROSE DIALLED 999 and waited for the answer. “Police, please,” she said, and nodded to Miriam. “She sounded really nice,” she whispered.
    After that, Miriam said nothing while Rose told her story. She had obviously taken trouble to give a clear and truthful account, probably rehearsing it with David, and Miriam’s heart sank. It sounded exactly like a rehearsed speech, and when questions were asked, Rose stuttered and hesitated and said she was sorry, but she had fainted and could remember no more.
    She did not want to upset Rose again and so said she thought that had been fine and no doubt the police would want to take the matter further. What had they said before she finished the call?
    “Nothing much,” Rose said. “They thanked me for calling and said they would look into it. That was it.”
    “I thought as much,” said Miriam, and told Rose about her meeting with Ivy and Roy. “If we don’t hear anything more from the police,” she said, “at least we’ll be doing something on our own account. Don’t think you have to be part of this, Rose, if you’d rather not,” she added. “I’m quite capable of handling it myself. And I’ve always got Gus next door.”

Eleven

    DEIRDRE SWORE. WHEN the telephone rang, she had been struggling with her head stuck in the slinky evening dress she planned to wear at this evening’s grand occasion at the Hall. She was to act as Theo Roussel’s hostess, and the great and good of the area had bought expensive tickets, comforted by the thought that profits were to go to the local branch of the RSPCA. As many of the guests were members of the Barrington Hunt, and since hunting