Manor House 04 - Dig Deep for Murder Read Online Free PDF Page B

I'd get, knowing you were careening around the countryside in the dark on that darn motorbike?"
    Warmed by his concern, she had to remind herself that he was merely being polite. "I'll be just as quick as I can. I simply can't let George handle this by himself. He hasn't the slightest inkling of how to handle these situations. Most men don't."
    "Uh-huh. And I guess that ravenous curiosity of yours has nothing whatsoever to do with it, right?"
    She smiled. "Of course not."
    "Yeah, and my father's the president of the United States."
    She gaped at him. "Your father? What happened to Mr. Roosevelt?"
    Earl sighed. "He's still president. It's just a figure of speech."
    "I see." Elizabeth shook her head. "You Americans have an odd sense of humor."
    They reached the courtyard, where the dark shapes of three jeeps sat side by side. Earl opened the door of the first one in line. "Hop in."
    She scrambled in, tugging at her skirt to keep it from riding up. "We'd better wait for George," she said as the sound of the jeep's engine splintered the silence.
    "I'll pick him up on the way, if I can find my way down without lights. This blackout stuff is a pain in the neck."
    Elizabeth glanced up at the sky. "The moon will give us some light."
    She was right. The pale glow of moonlight revealed George's burly figure standing at the edge of the lawn, waving frantically at them as they drew close.
    "He probably thinks I'm going down to Mrs. Stewart's house without him," Elizabeth commented.
    Earl chuckled. "Don't tell me you're not considering it."
    "I might, if George weren't carrying the coat and scarf. Without those, we can't be sure that it is Reggie Stewart."
    "Maybe it isn't."
    "Well, we'll soon find out. The body must have beenthere for a while. Which means that if it is Mr. Stewart, he's been missing for the last few days."
    "Good point. But then why hasn't his wife reported him missing?"
    Elizabeth folded her hands in her lap. "That's exactly what I'd like to know." She jerked forward as the jeep came to an abrupt halt in front of George.
    He climbed into the backseat, muttering something under his breath that Elizabeth couldn't quite catch. Wisely, she decided not to ask him to repeat it. She waited until they were speeding down the hill before asking him, "Did Dr. Sheridan say how long he thought the body had been buried?"
    "About a week, he reckoned," George said, apparently forgetting he wasn't supposed to be discussing police business. "All them maggots must have had a few days to make that much mess of his face."
    Elizabeth's stomach started churning again. "Yes," she said hastily, "I suppose so. Although it seemed to me that his face had been severely beaten before he was buried."
    "The doc reckons someone took something like a hammer to his face." George leaned forward and tapped Earl on the shoulder. " 'Ere, mate, we drive on the left side of the road in this country."
    "Sorry." Earl swerved to the other side of the road. "Keep forgetting."
    "Bloody amazing we don't have a really bad accident on these roads at night," George muttered. "Yanks driving on the wrong side without lights. Bloody miracle, that's what I call it." As if recalling with whom he was traveling, he added quickly, "Begging your pardon, your ladyship."
    "That's all right, George" she said cheerfully. "I've often wondered myself how they miss each other."
    "Sometimes we don't." Earl braked sharply, sending them all jerking forward. "You didn't tell me where this lady lives."
    "Just down here at the end of this lane," Elizabeth said."The Stewarts haven't lived here very long. I don't know them too well."
    "Hell of a way to get acquainted." Earl pulled up in front of the peaceful-looking cottage. "Guess this is it. Want me to come in?"
    Elizabeth looked hopefully at George, who shrugged. "Why not? The more the merrier. Let 'em all come in, that's what I say." He heaved an exaggerated sigh. "Police business isn't what it used to be, that I do know."
    "All things