A Spider on the Stairs Read Online Free PDF

said.
    Mittlesdon’s Bookshop was housed in several old buildings that had all been knocked together, little bit by little bit throughout the shop’s history, giving it a quaint, cozy air. The storefront was standard enough, if a little wider than most of those on the street, with two display windows on either side of the door and a small counter and cash register at the back of the front room. There was a small Christmas tree on the counter and tinsel was draped along the top shelves in the front room, but beyond that there was not much in the way of holiday decorations.
    Immediately beyond the front room was a small area with a skylight, its two solid walls lined with shelves, and two leather armchairs set in the center.
    In one of the chairs sat a round-faced, balding man, very neatly dressed, but clearly in distress, his silver-rimmed spectacles discarded in his lap while he dabbed at his face with a white handkerchief. Beside him sat Constable Redfern, looking sympathetic.
    The constable looked toward the door as it opened to admit Brumby and Gibbons and then leaned forward to pat the other man’s shoulder, saying, “I told you it wouldn’t be long. Here’s Scotland Yard to sort it all out.”
    The middle-aged man blinked and fumbled for his glasses while Redfern rose and came to meet them.
    â€œHello again, Dave,” said Gibbons. “This is Detective Superintendent Brumby.”
    Redfern and Brumby shook hands and Redfern indicated the man behind him.
    â€œThis is Mr. Mittlesdon,” he said. “He owns the shop and found the body when he came in this morning.”
    Brumby nodded, glancing around. “I thought the superintendent said he’d leave the body in situ?”
    â€œOh, he has,” Redfern assured him. “The doctor wouldn’t be here yet, anyway—he’s dealing with a double murder down by the river.”
    Brumby was frowning. “But then where is the victim?” he asked.
    â€œUpstairs in the office,” replied Redfern, pointing to a narrow staircase opposite the counter. “It’s kept locked, but I have the key.”
    â€œIn the
office
?” repeated Brumby incredulously. “But Ashdon’s entire MO is to leave the bodies on display.”
    â€œPerhaps,” suggested Gibbons, “he was interrupted? If he killed her in the office—” he broke off. “But,” he finished, “Ashdon doesn’t kill them on site.”
    â€œHe doesn’t strike this frequently, either,” muttered Brumby. He was still frowning. “Let’s get upstairs then and see for ourselves.”
    He glanced over at their witness, who was leaning back in his chair, clearly trying to regain his composure.
    â€œWe’ll speak to him once we’ve seen the body,” decided Brumby. “You’d better have the uniform in to keep him company while we’re upstairs.”
    â€œYes, sir,” said Redfern.
    The policeman having been summoned from outside, Redfern led them up an uneven flight of stairs. At the top was a small room with a banister blocking it off from the stairway and a short landing. To their right, the stairs continued, while ahead was a closed door with a quite modern lock on it and a sign saying STAFF ONLY .
    â€œThis is apparently always kept locked,” said Redfern, fitting a key on a fine silver chain into it, “and Mittlesdon confirms it was locked when he arrived this morning.”
    The door opened on a larger room with a row of windows along the opposite wall. It was filled with four wooden desks and boxes and stacks of books all over. There were two doors at each end of the room, all of them closed. Redfern threaded his way through the maze toward the windows, stopping just past the edge of the last desk.
    â€œHere we are, sir,” he said.
    Gibbons, following in Brumby’s wake, felt his heart sink as he took in the scene. Unlike the outré setting of