A Gastleigh Curse

by Melanie Atherton Allen

About the Author: Melanie Atherton Allen writes mystery, horror, comedy, and combinations thereof. A story of hers will be appearing in an upcoming issue of Occult Detective Quarterly. She can often be found working on strange projects for her website, www.athertonsmagicvapour.com.

Excerpt

“Crowner!” The baying of Assistant Commissioner Farquhar echoed through the halls of Scotland Yard.

“Sir?”

“There’s a dead baronet in Wessex needs your attention,” said Farquhar.

“Was he stabbed in the back with an ornate or possibly a jeweled dagger?” Crowner asked, studying the ceiling with exaggerated care.

“A jeweled dagger, yes.”

“In the library of his ancestral home?”

“Library, certainly.”

“At midnight?”

“Sloppy, sloppy, Inspector,” chided the Assistant Commissioner. “We don’t know that for a fact. Now, stop showing off and listen to me. The victim was Sir Reginald Gastleigh, of Gastleigh Hall. Lived there with his wife, Lady Prunella Gastleigh, and his nephew, Nigel Gastleigh-Potts. Lady Gastleigh last saw her husband alive at half past eleven. Sir William Brasher—”

“The explorer, sir?”

“The explorer, yes. A great friend of Sir Reginald’s. He found the body at twenty past twelve. So, you see, midnight is—”

“Yes yes yes. Unwarranted assumption. I’ll take Sergeant Mug with me.”

“Do.” Farquhar nodded a dismissal. Crowner was almost out of the room when Farquhar spoke again. “Oh, and Crowner?”

Crowner spun round. “Yes?”

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