Study of Murder, The (Five Star Mystery Series) Read Online Free PDF

strangely, then rushed away from us back to the kitchens. Her husband, standing nearby, shook his head.
    “She’s taking it badly,” he said.
    “What?”
    “Our daughter’s gone. Run off, I’m thinking.”
    “Surely not,” I said, thinking of the winsome girl who had served us two days ago.
    “Well, she’s not here. She’s been gone since yesterday. And we’ve no idea where she might be.”
    “Have they searched?”
    “I called the authorities, and they’ve put the word out. And searched, aye. We’ve all been searching. But no sign of her.” He sighed. “She’s a good girl. It’s not like her.”
    “Could she have run off with someone? A man?” I felt a chill cross my heart.
    “I’m not knowing who. I keep a sharp eye on her, for all that she serves in the tavern.”
    I thought about seeing her with Phillip Woode. Donald remembered too, for he blurted out, “I saw her here speaking with that Phillip. From Balliol. The student. That first night we stayed here. She sat next to him a moment, but he seemed insistent.”
    “Aye,” said Master Jakeson thoughtfully. “He comes here and did often speak with her.”
    “But we have just seen Phillip,” I pointed out, “at the school. And Jonetta was certainly not there.”
    “But then we saw her in the market yesterday,” Donald offered. “After we left this place.”
    “I did not see her,” I added quickly. “When I looked, she had disappeared.”
    “Still, I will tell the town constable,” Master Jakeson said. “And the undersheriff, Grymbaud. Perhaps that Phillip has hidden her away someplace. I am sorry to say this, young sir, but students are often licentious, that is no secret.”
    “They are young, and many are on their own, away from family constraints,” I put in mildly.
    “No, no, it can be very bad, sir. Very bad. There were riots here some twenty years ago, I remember them well. My wife and I were but newly married. There was fighting in the streets for three days; the students took refuge in Saint Mary’s of the Virgin and the townsfolk in another church. Many folk were killed. Many students. The mayor still must make penance to the university every St. Scholastica’s Day for the town’s part in it all. But it never would have come to pass if that student had not attacked the poor tavern keeper. He did not like the wine he was served. Such a brawl for naught, and folk dead as well. God rest their poor souls. I pray my poor girl be safe, and not lying in an alley someplace, unshriven.”
    I shivered as though someone had stepped on my grave. “Surely they will find her.”
    “They’ve not found her yet,” Master Jakeson replied darkly, and he went to attend to some other customers.
    “Muirteach,” said Donald, “you could look into it.” The lad was sounding a lot like his father, too much for my liking. My jaw began to tense as I listened to him. “I know you have solved many mysteries for my father.”
    “I am thinking the officials have it well under control.”
    “I am thinking not, for they haven’t found Jonetta yet.” Donald drained his glass. “And we were some of the last folk to see her.”
    “You saw her, I did not.”
    “Still, we must tell the authorities what we saw. And perhaps we can be of help.”
    A shaft of light shot through the dimly lit tavern as the front door opened and in walked a man, heavy-set, of middle years, wearing a hauberk. He strode over to Master Jakeson and spoke seriously to him for a moment. I suspected this must be the undersheriff, and my suspicions increased when Master Jakeson motioned toward us and walked toward our table with the stranger.
    “This be a young lord from the north, here to study, with his man.” I bristled at the introduction, but it was true. “Sirs, this be Walter Grymbaud, our undersheriff. The High Sheriff is often away in London and Walter is in charge in his absence. These men were saying they saw my Jonetta in the market yesterday.”
    Donald