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

was only telling the inspector the other day that I wouldn't be surprised if someone didn't end up getting hurt. I reckon he was looking for mischief when he came across her." He nodded at the lifeless form under the blanket. "That's what a woman gets for walking around on her own out here at night." He shook his head. "Should've known better, shouldn't she."
    Meredith felt a strong urge to slap that self-satisfied smirk right off his face. "I'd like to know how a vagrant managed to get in here with the gates locked."
    Shipham threw her a scathing glance. "Maybe they weren't locked. Maybe someone forgot to lock them. After all, you've got plenty of addle-headed females here that could easily forget something like that."
    Meredith drew herself up to her full height. "I can assure you, Constable, that none of our young ladies are that irresponsible. In any case, Tom makes the rounds after lights out to assure that the gates are locked."
    "Well, maybe he forgot. Not exactly swift on the uptake, is he."
    Incensed, Meredith turned to the doctor for help. To her dismay he merely lifted his hands in a gesture of defeat.
    "Well, that's that then." The constable snapped his notebook shut and shoved it in his breast pocket. "Reckon I'll be getting along. I take it you can handle that?" He nodded at Kathleen's dead body.
    Compelled to pursue the matter, Meredith stepped closer to the constable. "What do you intend to do about this, then?"
    Shipham shrugged and turned away. "Not much to do, I reckon. That there vagrant will be miles away by now."
    "In other words, you are simply dismissing the whole thing without even investigating the possibility that a killer could still be lurking nearby and could very well present a danger to the young women in this school?"
    His sneer convinced her she was wasting her breath. "There's no evidence to suggest he's still around. She were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, that's all. Happens a lot." Once more he addressed the doctor. "I'll make out a report of wrongful death by a person or persons unknown. That should take care of it. Good day to you, Doctor." With the briefest of nods in Meredith's direction he ambled off toward the gate.
    Her indignation culminated in an explosion of wrath. "Dratted fool. Had it been a man lying there instead of a mere woman, that imbecile would have combed the grounds for evidence."
    "Hush." Ian Mitchell raised a warning finger, his gaze on the retreating back of the constable. "He's barely out of earshot."
    Heedless of his caution, she raged on. "It is men like that who drive women to ravage golf courses and break the windows of the pompous, bourgeois clubs men guard so fervently against female intrusion. Heaven preserve us from all such ignorant bigots."
    The doctor shook his head. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Llewellyn. I understand your frustration. Unfortunately, I don't see that there's much we can do about it."
    "We shall see about that." Meredith sent another scowl after the constable. "If that numskull refuses to investigate the matter, then it falls upon me and my associates to do so. One way or another, we shall unearth the malicious wretchwho did this to Kathleen and we shall see that he receives his just desserts."
    "Mrs. Llewellyn—"
    Still seething with resentment, Meredith turned on him. "Oh, for heaven's sake, Ian. Do call me Meredith. At least when we are out of earshot of the pupils. Surely we have known each other long enough to dispense with such tiresome proprieties?"
    The doctor's cheeks grew warm. "Well, I suppose I could—"
    "Besides." Meredith took one last long look at Kathleen's still figure beneath the blanket. "You're pronouncing it all wrong."
    "I do beg your pardon." Ian's eyebrows rose. "Good Lord, why didn't you say something before?"
    Meredith shrugged. "It really didn't irritate me until now. I'm sorry. I'm not in the best of moods. I'd better find Reggie to help you with Kathleen."
    "I'd appreciate that."
    She nodded and turned