Superfluous Women Read Online Free PDF Page B

landing. To his right, flimsily railed wooden stairs ran steeply down against the wall. The middle section of the railing was broken. He went down a few steps and directed the beam at the floor below the break.
    On the pale grey floor lay a corpse, just one, not a horde of rats. It wore a tweed costume, a silk blouse, pearls, and one shoe.
    The cellar was airtight enough to keep out blowflies, apparently. But nothing could prevent the ravages of decomposition. Having seen what he needed to see, Alec hastily stepped back into the passage and slammed the door.

 
    FOUR
    Daisy, feeling rather green, sat at the kitchen table with Willie and Vera. Isabel had gone back to stirring her gravy. The savoury smell helped banish the sweet, sickly stink of death from Daisy’s nostrils.
    â€œCould a badger have burrowed in?” Daisy asked. “Or a fox, perhaps?”
    â€œDon’t think so,” said Isabel. “I only had a glimpse when the agent and Mrs. Gray showed me round the house, but I’m pretty sure the walls are bricked and the floor is stone.”
    â€œBesides,” Vera pointed out, “if an animal could get in, it could get out by the same hole.”
    Willie, her face as green as Daisy’s felt, shuddered. “Thank goodness we invited your Alec, Daisy. He’ll know what to do.”
    â€œI suppose no one’s going to feel like sitting down to roast beef,” Isabel said regretfully. “Oh well, it can be eaten cold, and the gravy will reheat. I can rescue the potatoes, too, and the carrots, but the Yorkshire pudding’ll be a dead loss. Tea, everyone?” She filled and plugged in an electric kettle.
    â€œSo, let’s face it,” said Vera, her eyes filled with horror, “it’s a person. But who on earth—?”
    Alec came in, opening the door as little as possible to squeeze through and closing it sharply behind him. In spite of these precautions, a nauseating whiff accompanied him. His clothes were probably permeated, Daisy thought in dismay.
    â€œI’ve opened the side and front doors and all the downstairs windows to air the place out. I checked that all the doors upstairs are shut. I suggest you stay in here for the moment, all together. Are you on the telephone?”
    â€œNo, we’re waiting for them to connect it,” Isabel told him. “There’s a phone box just round the corner in Station Road, outside the post office. Three minutes’ walk.”
    â€œWhere’s the police station?”
    â€œI think it’s in the Old Town.”
    â€œYes,” Vera confirmed. “Wycombe End, practically next door to your hotel.”
    â€œI’ll ring, then, unless I meet your beat bobby on the way. Not rats, as you’ll have guessed.”
    â€œWould you like one of us to go and phone?” Willie asked reluctantly.
    â€œNo, thanks, I’d better. There’s nothing to be done until the local force takes over. I haven’t attempted to relock the cellar door. I assume none of you is likely to open it.”
    â€œNo fear!” they chorussed.
    â€œDarling, are you going to tell them you’re from Scotland Yard?”
    Alec grimaced. “I’d rather not. They won’t like it. But on the other hand, they’re pretty well bound to find out and then they’ll be offended. Best policy is to reveal all up front.” He looked round the table. “And that goes for you ladies, equally. They’re going to be asking you a lot of questions. For pity’s sake, don’t hold anything back. I’m off.”
    â€œTurn right at the gate,” Isabel directed him, “then left on Station Road and it’s on your right.”
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œThank you ! And thank goodness you’re here.”
    With a wave, he departed, once again letting in the horrible stench of death.
    â€œDamn and blast!” said Daisy. Only Vera appeared slightly