Murder in the Dark - A Libby Sarjeant Murder Mystery (Libby Sarjeant Murder Mystery Series) Read Online Free

in from the Keeper’s Cob end, it’s slightly easier.’ The woman held out her hand. ‘I’m Adelaide Watson.’
    Libby took the proffered hand and looked properly at her hostess. Adelaide Watson was small and unremarkable-looking, except for her obviously expensive clothes and haircut.
    ‘I’m sorry you’ve had all this trouble,’ she said. ‘I shouldn’t have asked you here.’
    ‘That’s fine,’ said Libby. ‘I don’t think I’d like to be out here on my own, either. Is your husband going to come home?’
    Adelaide frowned as she turned to go into the house. ‘He hasn’t said so, but I think the police want him to.’
    ‘To see if he knows the woman?’ said Libby. ‘Unlikely, if you don’t.’
    ‘Oh, no. You see, there were over two thousand employees where he worked at Felling. It could be someone from there.’
    She led Libby into a low-ceilinged, wood-panelled room which had a log fire burning in one of the largest inglenook fireplaces Libby had ever seen.
    ‘Please sit down. I’ve made coffee as I didn’t think you’d want a drink.’
    Libby sank into a huge squashy sofa and accepted coffee.
    ‘So what have the police told you so far?’ she asked.
    ‘Only that Johnny found the – the body yesterday afternoon, and the – er – your son and … and –’
    ‘Adam and Mog, the landscapers,’ Libby said.
    ‘Yes, that they were here too. None of them know who she is. Was.’
    ‘No, and you didn’t either?’
    ‘No.’ Adelaide shuddered. ‘They showed me pictures.’
    ‘And did they ask who knew you wouldn’t be in residence?’
    ‘Well, yes, they did, but I don’t really know many people locally. We used to see people when Roland worked in this country, and we know a few people from across the county, but not here. Most of my friends are in London.’
    My friends, noted Libby. Not our friends.
    ‘So the only people who knew you weren’t here were my son and his boss, Johnny and your cleaner?’
    ‘Marilyn, yes. She’s not exactly my cleaner, though. She just keeps an eye on the place and opens up now and then. She could have told any number of people, of course. She lives in Keeper’s Cob and comes here in her son’s Land Rover. He farms over there.’
    ‘Do you use any of the local shops? Order anything from farm shops?’
    Adelaide shook her head. ‘I go to Waitrose in Canterbury.’
    You would, thought Libby.
    The newest model smartphone that lay beside Adelaide began to warble. She picked it up.
    ‘Carl? What?’ She shot a scared look at Libby, and switched to speakerphone.
    ‘Ramani? No, I haven’t … I’ve only just got here. And I’ve got someone with me.’
    ‘Of course, you haven’t met her, have you?’ A man’s voice floated out. ‘It’s just that I’ve got home and she’s not here.’ The voice sounded scared. ‘And I don’t know where she is.’

Chapter Four
     
    ‘Police,’ mouthed Libby.
    Adelaide stopped looking horrified and obviously tried to pull herself together.
    ‘Have you told the police, Carl?’
    ‘N-no. I don’t know how long she’s been gone, you see. She might have only popped out.’
    ‘Have you been away?’ asked Adelaide at another mouthed prompt from Libby.
    ‘Yes, I went away on Sunday. Two-day conference in Hertfordshire. So you see, she could have just gone out for the evening.’
    ‘Why did you ring here?’ asked Adelaide, off her own bat, this time.
    ‘I don’t really know,’ said the unknown Carl. ‘She doesn’t know many people, and I thought she might have … well, you see, I can’t think where she’d have gone. You know she doesn’t go out much.’
    ‘I think you should tell the police,’ said Adelaide firmly. ‘Let me know what happens.’ She rang off.
    ‘Who is he and why did he ring here?’ asked Libby, sitting forward.
    ‘He’s our local doctor. We’ve met him socially a few times, but never his wife. She’s Asian – and you heard him say I’ve never met her. I can