The Sans Pareil Mystery (The Detective Lavender Mysteries Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Beside the organ grinder an old woman turned hot chestnuts over in her brazier.
    ‘After years of being buried in the countryside at our estate in Asturias, I finally have a window to the world. I spend hours here every day, Stephen. I have never seen such life, such activity and vitality.’
    As intended, her enthusiasm distracted Lavender from his anger. The edge of his lips flickered with a smile. ‘I had assumed that you spent most of your life in Madrid,’ he said.
    ‘No, no. For the first few years of my marriage, yes – but once Sebastián was born it suited Antonio for me to remain quietly in the country with my child and his parents.’ She raised both her hands in a sharp, frustrated gesture. ‘After Sebastián was sent to school and my father died, I found it was dull and tiresome. But now? Now I see life again. It is – how do you say it? – mesmerising.’
    Magdalena saw one of Lavender’s eyebrows twitch with disbelief, so she gestured to him to sit in one of the two old chairs by the window. Once they were both seated she pointed through the grimy panes to a fat, greying man with huge sideburns who sold vegetables at a stall on the opposite side of the street.
    ‘He reminds me of Constable Woods,’ she said. ‘He has a friendly word for everyone – especially the children of this street. He’s also a shrewd businessman. There is a woman, a customer, who owes him money . . .’
    Lavender leant towards the window, his eyes searching for the woman Magdalena referred to. Magdalena caught the faint scent of his masculinity mixed with soap, as he moved closer to her.
    ‘Oh, she’s not there right now,’ Magdalena said. Lavender fell back, a little disappointed. ‘She shops in the morning and has many, many children whom she struggles to feed. I have seen the tension between her and the stallholder and assumed she owed him money. They have been eyeing each other awkwardly for weeks. She crosses over to the other side of the road, rather than risk being accosted by him for the debt. Then – last week – my suspicions were confirmed. I saw him cross the road to speak to her. At first she was alarmed but then the relief flooded across her face. I think he has written off her debt.’
    ‘Why would he do that?’
    Her lips curled up slowly into a smile. ‘Because I now see him overcharging her. I know his prices and I see what she pays. She can’t keep up with his addition. He overcharges her every time. Not a lot, just a penny here and a half-penny there.’
    ‘It is possible he overcharges all of his customers.’
    She shook her head. ‘No, I have checked. I watch him every day.’
    ‘An honest trader,’ Lavender said, wryly. ‘He must be the only one in London.’
    ‘I think he’s clever. He’s slowly recouping his debt from the woman – and he still has the custom of one of the biggest families on the street.’
    Finally, Lavender smiled. He sat back in the chair and observed Magdalena closely. ‘He’s a smart tradesman, in that case. And you can see and hear all that from here, from this window?’
    ‘I listen and I watch the coins changing hands.’
    ‘You’re very vigilant.’
    ‘Oh, there is more, far, far more.’ Magdalena pointed to a young woman with wispy hair and a pale, thin face beneath a straw bonnet. The girl stood on the corner of the alley opposite. She seemed nervous and clutched her shawl tightly around her shoulders against the bitter night air.
    He frowned. ‘What is she?’ he asked.
    ‘I know what you’re thinking.’ Magdalena smiled. ‘But she’s no woman of the night. She’s in love. Every evening she waits there for her sweetheart to finish work at the tannery and when he arrives her face lights up with joy. They link arms and walk home together for their supper.’
    ‘How do you know she hasn’t already eaten?’
    ‘Because she’s forever glancing at the hot chestnuts in the brazier and occasionally rubs her belly.’
    Lavender was grinning