Fire When Ready (Manor House Mystery) (16 page)

Millie gasped, while Elizabeth gave him a direct look.
"I heard about the argument you had with Mr. McNally in the pub."

Mitchum nodded and handed the letter back to her. "Yes, I thought so."

"He didn't mean nothing by it," Millie said hastily. "It was all a misunderstanding, wasn't it, Jack."

"That's right." Mitchum folded his brawny arms across his chest. "We'd both had a few pints that night. I was fed up because Millie wanted to work in the factory instead of helping me in the shop. I need her here, and I told McNally so. He said that being my wife didn't make Millie my slave and she could do what she liked. I got ticked off about that. I said as how it was none of his business, and no more it weren't."

"I could see Jack's side of it," Millie put in. "He couldn't find anyone to help him in the shop. But I liked working in the factory, and I made good money. Or I would have if someone hadn't burned it down."

Apparently the villagers, at least, no longer thought the fire was an accident, Elizabeth noted. "But you didn't write the letters threatening Mr. McNally?"

Mitchum laughed. "If I'd wanted to have it out with him, I wouldn't have wasted my time with letters. I'd have been up there with a meat chopper."

"Alfie tells me you accused Mr. McNally of taking a personal interest in your wife." Elizabeth watched Millie's face, but the woman merely seemed disgusted.

"I might have done." Mitchum unfolded his arms and grabbed a chicken by the bony neck. "People say things when they're angry. Don't mean they mean anything by it. I'm not saying I liked him, but I didn't wish him any harm." He laid the chicken on the wooden block, picked up
a chopper, and with a swift slash of the blade, neatly separated the bird from its head.

Elizabeth winced and swallowed hard.

"He didn't write those letters, your ladyship," Millie said earnestly. "I'd swear on my mother's grave to that."

"I didn't set no fires, neither," Mitchum said. "In fact, the last time I saw McNally was right here in this shop. We shook hands before he left."

"That's right," Millie chimed in. "I saw them do that. So did the customers who were in here. They'll tell you."

"That won't be necessary," Elizabeth said, tucking the letter back in her handbag. "In any case, there's nothing to suggest as yet that the fire was deliberately set. It's all conjecture, and I really think we should all remember that."

Both Millie and her husband gazed at her without answering, obviously keeping their own counsel on that score. She wasn't sure if she was convinced or not by their air of innocence, but it was quite apparent she wasn't going to learn any more from the Mitchums. She thanked them and left the shop feeling more confused than ever.

Maybe I am overreacting to all this
, she thought, as she mounted her motorcycle once more.
Perhaps Douglas McNally did have a good reason to lock the office door that night. Maybe the fire was simply an unfortunate accident as Dave Meadows proclaimed
. She could accept that, perhaps, if it wasn't for the coincidence of the threatening letters, as well as the niggling feeling in the back of her mind that something didn't fit.

She'd had that feeling before. Many times. Each time she'd been proven right, and her suspicions had been realized. As long as she had that annoying little buzz in her mind, she could not ignore it. Her instincts were strong, and she had no choice but to follow them until she was satisfied.

Dusk was rapidly approaching as she rode her motorcycle down the High Street. It would be dark before she reached the factory, she realized. Apart from the hazards of riding a motorcycle without lights along a country road, she had to assume that there was no power in the building, which would make a search impractical. She would have to wait until the next day.

To her immense joy, Earl was waiting for her in the library when she returned to the manor.

"I've caught up on all the reports," he told her, "and we're grounded for the time being by the weather. So I'm at your disposal. For tonight, anyway."

"Then you must have dinner with me. I'll see if Violet has anything palatable in the pantry."

She started for the kitchen, but he caught her hand. "I've already talked to Violet. I gave her some steaks and a bottle of brandy. She was very happy to see me."

Elizabeth laughed. "You do have a way with you, Major. Though bribing the servants is rather unethical, don't you think?"

He grinned back at her. "Depends what results I get. As long as everyone's happy, a little bribery can sure go a long way."

She shook her head in mock disgust. "You'll be corrupting my household before too long."

He tucked her hand under his arm. "You're the only one I want to corrupt. Let's go down to the conservatory, so I can get started."

"Shame on you, Major. You would jeopardize the reputation of the lady of the manor?"

"Only if she's willing." His wink was pure lechery.

"You promised to keep your distance," she reminded him demurely, as they made their way to the conservatory.

Earl sighed. "So I did. That was pretty stupid of me."

"But ethical."

"Ah, there's that word again. How I'm beginning to hate that word."

Knowing he was teasing, she smiled up at him. Happiness might be elusive, she thought, but right this minute she was happier than anyone had a right to be. If only this feeling could last for the rest of her life, she'd never ask for anything more.

CHAPTER

11

"I thought you said that Ray would be waiting for you," Sadie said, raising her voice above the din in the pub.

"He'll be down in a minute." Polly peered at the clock across the room. "We're early. I said half past seven and it's only a quarter past."

"Well, I hope he hurries up. I'm dying to meet him." Sadie worked her way through a group of GIs at the bar, ignoring their ribald comments. Polly squeezed through behind her and refused to look at any of the airmen. After what happened with Sam she'd made up her mind she was never going to look at another Yank.

Sadie had reached the bar and was talking to Alfie, who was busily filling tankards with foaming ale from the
pumps. "So is it all right if we pin up the poster?" she said, her voice raised to be heard.

An American standing next to her leered at her. "You got a pinup poster? Betty Grable, I bet."

Sadie gave him a dirty look. "No, it's not a pinup, so take that smarmy look off your face."

The Yank laughed, and wound his arm around her waist. "Come on, honey. Don't be like that. How about a cuddle with a lonely GI far from home?"

Sadie wriggled free and shoved the American's chest with both hands. "Sod off and leave me alone. I've already got a boyfriend, and he's a lot better-looking than you."

The Yank laughed again, then he turned to Polly. "All right, then, how about you, sweetheart? Ready for a good ol' roll in the hay?"

Polly opened her mouth to deliver a scathing reply, but from out of nowhere Ray's voice came harshly: "Leave her alone."

Relieved, she started toward him, but the Yank had other ideas. He grabbed hold of her arm and dragged her close to him. "Who's going to make me?"

"Oh, blimey, here it comes," Sadie muttered.

Alfie left the pumps and moved to the middle of the counter. "All right, lads," he shouted. "Let's all calm down now, nice and quiet."

Polly struggled to get free, then everything happened at once. Ray's fist shot out and caught the Yank squarely on the nose. He let out a howl and let go of Polly's arm. Ray dragged her out of the crowd with Sadie right behind, but before he got too far, the GIs were on him.

A group of British soldiers had just entered the pub, and they flung themselves joyfully into the fray. Polly shoved
her way out of the flying fists and looked around for Sadie. She was over by the door, pinning up a poster on the wall next to it.

Polly reached her as she pushed in the last pin, and together they went out the door.

"Where'd you get the poster?" she demanded.

"Ray had it. I snatched it from him when he punched that bugger in the nose."

Polly looked back at the door. "I should go back and see if he's all right."

"He'll be all right." Sadie buttoned up her coat. "He looks as if he can take care of himself."

"Sam did that for me once," Polly said. "He got in a fight over me in the pub. I left him fighting in there and I never did feel right about it. I'm going back in there."

Sadie sighed. "All right, I'll come, too."

"You don't have to." Polly winced as something inside the pub fell with a crash.

Sadie tucked her hand in Polly's arm. "We're mates, aren't we? We stick together."

Mates. Polly liked that. She grinned up at her friend. "All right. Let's go sort out them bloody Yanks."

"They will probably be bloody and all by the time this is over." Sadie pushed open the door, and the noise of the battle blasted their ears. "We'll need a suit of armor to get in there!"

Polly didn't answer. She was watching in amazement as her new boyfriend flattened a GI with a solid punch in the stomach. If she hadn't seen it with her own two eyes, she would never have imagined the quiet-spoken, polite young man could be so good with his fists. She was finding out all sorts of surprising things about Ray Muggins.

"What's new in the village?" Earl asked, after he'd settled Elizabeth on a chair at the long dining room table. "How's the investigation going?"

"It's not going anywhere." Elizabeth shivered. "It's awfully cold in here." She glanced across the dining room at the glowing coals in the fireplace. "If I'd known you were going to join me for dinner tonight, I'd have asked Desmond to light the fire this afternoon. It takes so long for the room to heat up, by the time it's comfortable it's time to go to bed."

Earl dragged a chair closer to her and sat down. "I can think of ways to keep us warm."

She flicked him a glance from beneath her lashes. "Behave yourself. Martin will be in with the dishes any minute. If he heard you talking like that he'd have a heart attack."

Earl sighed. "You're spoiling all my fun."

"You promised."

"I know. I didn't think it would be this tough."

She smiled. "We've waited this long. We can wait a few more months."

The expression in his eyes worried her. "I hate to waste this time," he said quietly. "Things are so unpredictable in wartime."

She tried to still the uneasy jump of her heart. "Is there something you're not telling me?"

He seemed to shake off whatever was bothering him and gave her his usual grin. "Nope. Just impatient, I guess. So tell me about the investigation."

Not totally reassured, Elizabeth told him everything she'd learned so far. Which wasn't very much, she had to admit. "I imagine everyone in the village is aware by now that I'm investigating the fire," she said, watching Earl pour her a
glass of sherry. "From what I've heard, several people believe it was deliberately set."

Earl raised his eyebrows. "What about the police? Have they changed their minds about that?"

"Not as far as I know." Elizabeth raised her glass and clinked it against Earl's. "To the end of the war."

"A quick end to the war." He took a sip and put down his glass.

Elizabeth knew he wasn't overly fond of sherry, and she considered it very thoughtful of him to share a glass with her when he much preferred a good Scotch. "The thing is," she said, "I'm not entirely sure the locked door has any real bearing on the case at the moment. Which is why I'd really like to search Mr. McNally's office, or what's left of it, to see if I can find the key."

Earl frowned. "Didn't the police do a search of the area?"

"Not as far as I know. The firemen investigated the cause of the fire, and were satisfied it started in the bucket of rags. They would have no need to search the office, I suppose. Once George had the report that the fire was accidental, he had no reason to search it either. Dr. Sheridan found no keys on the body of Mr. McNally, so I would think, since the door was locked, the key would have to be in the office somewhere. In his desk, I would assume."

"And if it's not there—"

"It could well mean that someone locked the door from the outside and took the key with him. Which might be enough to convince George to conduct a proper investigation. That and the threatening letters, that is."

"The office must be quite a mess after the firemen got through with it."

"Well, Mr. Meadows did say the fire had taken hold. I'm
hoping I can still search the desk, at least. That would be the most logical place to keep keys, wouldn't it?"

She rather liked the way Earl was looking at her. "You'll need someone to help you with that," he said.

"Exactly what I was thinking." She took a sip of her sherry and set down her glass. "You did say you were grounded."

"I did, didn't I?" He looked amused. "It looks as if I have myself a date."

"Really?" She beamed at him. "You'll go with me?"

"Of course I'll go. You don't think I'm gonna let you go charging around a wrecked building without me, do you? You could get yourself in some serious trouble."

She laughed. "It wouldn't be the first time."

"Exactly what I'm talking about. I—" He broke off as the door opened.

Both he and Elizabeth stared expectantly at the open doorway, but no one appeared. After a long pause, Elizabeth said tentatively, "Martin?"

The butler's muffled voice sounded from outside the door. "Yes, madam."

Elizabeth exchanged baffled glances with Earl. "Do you need some help, Martin?" she called out.

"No, madam. I was simply wondering how to knock on the door with my hands full. Sadie opened the door for me, but the dratted girl rushed off without knocking."

Earl's lips twitched and Elizabeth shook her head at him. "There's no need to knock, Martin. We know you're there. You may come in."

"Thank you, madam." The butler shuffled in bearing a large tray.

Earl pushed his chair back and rose to his feet. "Let me take that," he said, holding out his hands.