The Celtic Dagger Read Online Free PDF Page A

open in front of him.  ‘Now, what’s the problem?’ he asked.
    ‘The artefacts we borrowed were found missing the morning of Alex’s death, and the events following that discovery have led to them becoming part of the murder investigation.’
    Edward frowned.  ‘How?’
    ‘This morning I found the dagger laid out on my desk in a manner that can only be described as ritualistic.  Catherine found the ring in Alex’s study at home.’  A look of disbelief crossed Edward Sommersby’s face as James recounted the last twenty-four hours.
    ‘And you believe this Detective Chief Inspector Fitzjohn sees you as a suspect?’
    ‘Yes, I do.  You see, I have no alibi.  No one can substantiate my whereabouts after I left the dinner.  If the dagger turns out to be the weapon that killed Alex…’ As his uneasiness grew, James got to his feet and walked over to the window where he stood for a moment before turning back to face Edward.  ‘I’ve got to do something.’
    Edward sat back in his chair.  ‘I can understand your distress, James, but I don’t see there’s much you can do.  Surely the police will see you’ve been set up.’
    ‘And what if they don’t?  Once they start asking around about my relationship with Alex, I’m sure you’d agree it’ll only get worse.’
    ‘Mmm.  Well, it won’t help.  I saw you two at it the other night before the dinner started.  What was that all about?’
    ‘Cragleigh.  Alex arranged to have a valuer go out there.  He also lined up a real estate firm to handle the sale.’
    ‘Even though you hadn’t agreed to sell?’
    ‘Yes.’  James ran his hand through his hair.  ‘You know, it’s strange.  Alex loved Cragleigh.  More than me, I think.  I couldn’t believe it when he became so adamant that we sell.  And why take the artefacts without clearing it with Miles?  It’s so out of character for him.’
    ‘You don’t know that he did.’
    ‘How else would the ring get into his study?’
    Edward nodded.  ‘True.’
    James shook his head.  ‘If the newspapers get wind of it, I don’t think my father could cope if they started to drag Alex’s reputation through the mud.’
    ‘I know it’s a problem, but you can’t afford to worry about that now.’
     
     
     
    Minutes later, James left Edward Sommersby’s office only to see Fitzjohn entering the museum.  Their eyes met across the foyer, annoyance evident on the Chief Inspector’s face.

 
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 5
     
    In the fading afternoon light, James emerged from Waverton station and made his way home along Crows Nest Road, his spirits sagging after the day's events.  The grandfather clock chimed the half hour as he opened the front door, its familiar sound inducing some sense of normality to return.  He threw the mail on the hall table and made his way into the living room where he poured himself a drink.  Taking a gulp, and feeling the whisky's warmth slide down his throat, he sat down heavily into an armchair.  As he did so, the usual emptiness returned as he looked around the room, filled as it was with memories of Louise.  His eyes caught the photograph of Louise with her friend Edwina Parker on the desk.  It had been taken outside the pair's joint venture 'The Gallery', and his mind drifted back to Louise's disappointment when he told her he would not be there for the official opening.  James looked away.  Claudio was right.  He had to move on.
    He put his glass down, left the room and made his way upstairs.  When he reached the landing, he took the stairs that led to the attic and Louise’s studio.
    The steps creaked under his weight and cobwebs stuck to his face as he climbed to the top and walked into the room, its air musty and close.  James moved to the dormer window, pushed it open and felt a gust of cold night air rush in and with it, the sound of the wind.  The temperature in the room dropped and particles of dust flew as the sheet that covered Louise's easel