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Chapter 45
Earlier in the evening that day, Nathan was driven to Bradburt Manor by Harrison in his Fiat. Harrison left the Chief at the foot of the steps and drove the car around the back.
Nathan had made a habit of being punctual since he was a teenager but he had also made another annoying habit of arriving early which made people uncomfortable. It caught the people on the wrong foot at the wrong time. It was a tactic that he knew worked quite well. He was received by an elegantly dressed Mrs. Shippe. Her dark hair was piled on the top of her head though it seemed like he detected a few fair strands. Her shapely body was encased firmly in a green dress with a wide gold belt emphasizing her narrow waist.
“You are early,” she greeted him with an inviting smile. “We shall have time for a drink. Lord Billington is ensconced in his study. Shall we use the library then?”
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Lancelot's Secret Chapter 46
As he looked at Lancelot who was now staring outside the window and not paying attention to him he reached down for the slim executive case he always carried with him. For the first time he extracted the photographs of that Victor had produced after building up the faces of the two women whose faces were disfigured. These were the faces of the two women in London. Faces he pushed down over the table.“Can you tell me who these two people are?”Lancelot turned them over, stared at the photos. His face turned ashen and his eyes went blank for the time being. For a moment he slumped in his chair and then made an effort and straightened up again. He gazed at Nathan with his almond eyes glazed. He tapped at one photo and then the other.“This is Elizabeth and this is Penelope, two of my missing sisters. When were these pictures taken?”
Lancelot's Secret Chapter 47
“They were both murdered outside their home one day and I have a feeling that it happened just after they had gone from visiting here. They were kidnapped for a day or two we are still figuring that out and tortured to death. Worse still, their faces had been badly mutilated by the killer,” said Nathan and Lord Billington stared at him trying to make sense of what he was saying.“Mutilated?” Billington pointed at the photos which he was putting back in his executive case and said,” There is no sign of mutilation over there.”“The photos have been retouched,” said Nathan as he felt that it was going to be a sheer waste of time describing the genius of Victor who had painstakingly improved the faces of both the women.“Sounds like a serial killer,” said Billington.As he spoke, Billington ben dow
Lancelot's Secret Chapter 48
Both the men ate in silence, which suited Nathan, so he could enjoy a first class excellent dinner. He waited until they were sipping first class claret before he put the question.“I had wondered if Neville Guise might be another guest,” said Nathan gently.“Told me that he was going to race back in London. That the countryside bored him. Typical view of an average Londoner,” replied Lord Billington.“You like him? He seems to have achieved a lot,” said Nathan.“Like so many London businessmen he is nothing more than a crook. But in business you have to deal with all types.”“I know a number of businessmen who are thoroughly trustworthy,” Nathan corrected him.“Then don’t count Neville amongst them, for he doesn’t clearly have
Lancelot's Secret Chapter 49
The body was full length on a table whose green baize was covered with blood. Nathan gently felt the carotid artery and then shook his head. He then felt the face and the shoulder.“No good,” he said to Susan.” He is dead. But the warmth of the body suggests that the murder was committed not long before we arrived. At a quick count, he was stabbed most brutally over a dozen times.”“Look at the right hand index finger. It is pointing at something, the old pile of newspapers over there on the coffee table,” said Susan as her eyes followed the finger to the other side of the room.“You are not suggesting,” Nathan said in disbelief,” that this poor devil, after being stabbed so many times was able to turn his hand then use his finger to point in the direction of any clue or evidence!!”“Were
Lancelot's Secret Chapter 50
Nathan had slipped the contents that Susan had found in a separate compartment of the executive folder that he was carrying. This was important evidence which needed to be checked on later at a great length. Another compartment had the pictures of the two murdered women in London whose identity they had yet to confirm.Still wearing the latex gloves Nathan opened the door slowly and peered everywhere so that they were not noticed leaving from the Primrose Villa. There was no one in sight. Susan had produced a duster in order to rub the brass knocker that they had touched when they had come inside.Leaving the house Nathan was careful to leave the front door slightly open, as they had found it when they had come inside earlier. As they strolled casually down the long flight of stairs, Susan slipped her hand in Nathan’s crook of arms. From far away or at a distance from the neighbouring house it wo
Lancelot's Secret Chapter 51
After Jane had been successfully situated in her room and had been asked to shower and change clothes Susan tapped the agreed tapping on Nathan’s door. That way he would not have to open the door every time with the gun in his hand. Wearing a sports jacket and grey slacks, he ushered her inside with a smile and a wave of his hand. He immediately noticed her worried expression.“Come on in. Make yourself at home,” said Nathan and Susan sat down on in a hard-backed chair, her feet together and she sat very erect and spoke softly.“I have something to tell you. Actually I have a lot to tell you. Amongst them the first is the good news and the rest are all equally bad,” said Susan softly. She was trying to keep herself contained as much as possible.“A cup of steaming black coffee with lots of sugar might help to start the day. I found that you w
Lancelot's Secret Chapter 52
Margaret’s POVI was a bundle of anxiety. I really needed to have a little fun.Everyone in my little town knew who I was and what was going on with my life. Everyone was watching me every time I went into public. I felt like I was suffocating under the spotlight of my infamy, and for just one night I wanted to get away to someplace where I wouldn't be the topic of conversation. And so I did.My destination for the evening was the bar of the local Hilton, by far the nicest hotel in the area. It was a place where locals never went and weren't encouraged to go. It existed apart from the town and liked it that way. Even the clerks, maids and other workers seemed to be from somewhere else.It wasn't a particularly nice hotel. Certainly nothing fancy like the hotels to be found in big cities. That didn't matter to me though. It was the unlikelihood of actually s
Lancelot's Secret Chapter 53
Margaret’s POV Contd.Finally I admitted I wasn't a guest. I was a townie. They seemed surprised. They asked questions about the town and the people, but not "What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?" I am sure that was a question on their minds. They were polite and let the conversation go wherever I wanted it to.I finally answered the question for them. "I'm here because I am tired of the same old crowd." It seemed to be enough.We played another round while chatting about their hometown, a city I recognized but could not place on a map. They talked of visits to far-away places and life beyond my little world. I had talked to plenty of truckers who lived life on the road, but it wasn't the same. These men didn't just drive through these places - they had really experienced them. Living in a small town, you see the same faces w
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