High Marks for Murder (A Bellehaven House Mystery Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

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    Cyril had no time for women. The harridan he'd been stupid enough to marry had cured him of any delusions he might have had about females. Nag, nag, nag from morning 'til night. Enough to drive a man insane.
    His mother had been the same way. Never kept to a word or two when a dozen or more would do. She couldmake a whole story out of one tiny little mistake. Blimey, everything he did as a kid was a mistake in her eyes.
    Thinking about his mother only intensified his frustration. He took it out on the bell rope, sending the harsh clang echoing across the wide lawn.
    It was Tom's job to open the gate to visitors, providing they appeared to have good reason to visit the school. Meredith often had reservations about leaving such an important task in the elderly gardener's hands. He seemed to handle his duties efficiently enough, however, and since the bell could not always be heard from within the school building, it seemed prudent to let the arrangement stand.
    As it was, she had not heard the impatient summons at the gate, and first learned of the constable's presence when he arrived at the door of her office.
    "I expected to see Dr. Mitchell waiting for me," P.C. Shipham announced, rudely ignoring her polite greeting.
    Well accustomed to the constable's open disapproval of Bellehaven and everyone connected to it, Meredith did her best to ignore the slight. "The doctor is waiting by Kath . . . by the body," she said, rising to her feet. "He was concerned that the area might be disturbed if he didn't keep watch over it until you arrived."
    "Quite, quite." Shipham rather belatedly removed his helmet and tucked it under his arm. "Where is he then?"
    "I'll be happy to take you there."
    She began to move out from behind her desk, but he halted her with an imperious wave of his hand. "Just tell me where he is. I don't need no escort."
    "I prefer to be there when you make your examination." Steeling herself against the constable's angry scowl, she brushed past him and marched to the door. "This way, please."
    "I don't like meddling women nosing around when I'm investigating a crime."
    Meredith tugged the door open. "As headmistress of this institution, I am entitled to all the facts regarding this tragic situation. I hardly categorize that as mere prying. If you prefer, I can call in the inspector, and we'll hold off your investigation until he arrives."
    As she expected, the constable immediately changed his tune. "No need to call in the inspector. If you insist, I suppose I shall have to put up with it. Just stay out of my way while I do my duty."
    "With pleasure," Meredith murmured.
    She didn't speak again until they had reached Dr. Mitchell, who still sat on a rock, scribbling in a fat notebook. He jumped up as soon as he caught sight of them, relief flooding his face. "Thank heavens. I was beginning to think I'd be here all afternoon. I have surgery at two o'clock." He pulled a pocket watch from his vest pocket and gave it a harried glance. "Good Lord, is that the time?"
    "All right, all right, keep your hair on," Shipham muttered. "Let me take a look here, then."
    Once more Meredith had to avert her gaze as the constable poked and prodded around the spot where Kathleen lay. She wished heartily that the process was over, so that her dear friend could be laid to rest in the proper manner.
    Concentrating her gaze on the thicket of trees, she found herself watching for a wisp of white cloud among the shadowy foliage. After several moments of seeing nothing but fronds of lacy ferns bowing in the gentle breeze, she felt assured that her momentary delusions had vanished.
    P.C. Shipham invaded her thoughts with his brusque words. "All right, I've seen enough. Looks like she wasclobbered with this branch, all right. Most likely that vagrant what's been hanging around the village lately."
    Meredith swung around to face him. "Vagrant?"
    Cyril ignored her and addressed Dr. Mitchell, instead. "Been into a lot of trouble he has. I