A Bespoke Murder Read Online Free PDF

outrage now?’
    ‘We have two of the culprits in custody,’ said Marmion, ‘and there’ll be other arrests before too long. First of all, of course, we need to establish if it is your brother in there. Given the circumstances, that may not be easy.’
    ‘I’d recognise Jacob in any condition,’ asserted Stone. ‘Even if he’s been badly burnt, I’ll know if it’s him.’
    ‘We’re very grateful for your assistance, sir. You say that your niece was here earlier this evening?’
    ‘Yes – she joined her father after the shop was closed.’
    ‘Then she may well have been on the premises when the window was smashed and the fire started. We’ll need to interview her. She should be able to give us valuable information.’
    ‘Ruth has been acting very strangely since she got back.’
    ‘That’s not surprising,’ said Keedy. ‘She’d still be in shock. It would have been a gruesome experience for anyone.’
    ‘Needless to say,’ added Marmion, ‘we’ll exercise discretion. If her father is dead, she’ll need time to adjust to the tragedy. We won’t bother her until she’s ready to help us.’ He glanced up at the shop.‘I understand that there was a safe in that room. Do you happen to know what your brother kept in it, Mr Stone?’
    ‘Of course,’ said the other. ‘The safe contained documents relevant to the business – invoices, receipts, designs, account books, details of current orders and so on.’
    ‘What about money?’
    ‘He always kept a substantial amount in there, Inspector. Apart from anything else, there was the wages bill at the end of each week. He employed a full-time staff of four and one part-timer.’ His chest swelled with pride. ‘As a gentleman’s outfitter, my brother was a match for anyone.’
    ‘I see that you’re wearing a Jacob Stein suit, sir,’ noted Keedy.
    ‘I’m not just doing so out of family loyalty, Sergeant. I like the best and that’s what he always provided.’ His irritation sharpened. ‘How much longer do they have to wait until they can go in there?’
    ‘Only the fire brigade can tell you that, sir.’
    ‘Then I’ll see if I can hurry them up.’
    Turning on his heel, Stone went off to accost the senior officer, leaving the detectives on their own. Keedy watched him go.
    ‘I didn’t see much sign of grief,’ he commented. ‘If it was my brother up there in that room, I’d be heartbroken.’
    ‘His anger is masking his grief,’ said Marmion. ‘Underneath that bluster, I’m sure that he’s already in mourning. What we’re seeing is a natural fury that the shop has gone up in smoke simply because it had a German name over it.’
    ‘Why didn’t you tell him the full story, Inspector?’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘His brother was stabbed to death,’ Keedy reminded him.
    ‘First, we’re not absolutely sure that it is Jacob Stein. Second, even ifit is, we need to establish the exact cause and likely time of death before we give those details to any relatives. Police work is sometimes about holding back information, Joe.’
    ‘Supposing one of the firemen tells him?’
    ‘I made it clear that they were to say nothing. There are a couple of reporters hanging about. If they get a sniff of murder, it will be all over the newspapers tomorrow. I want to conduct this investigation at our pace and not that of the British press.’
    ‘Fair enough – what do we do now?’
    ‘Nothing much is going to happen here for a while,’ decided Marmion, ‘so I’ll slip off and interview the two people in custody.’
    ‘Do you want me to come with you?’
    ‘No thanks, Joe. You stay here. And if any reporters try to pester you, don’t give anything away.’ Marmion was about to leave when he remembered something. ‘By the way, that was very clever of you. How did you know that Mr Stone had a Jacob Stein suit?’
    ‘That was easy,’ explained Keedy. ‘I can pick out the work of all the best outfitters in London. Their styles are so