The Wages of Desire Read Online Free PDF Page B

interjected.
    â€œChief inspector, madam. And no, I’m afraid he’s busy at the moment.”
    â€œWell, I wonder if you’ll give him a message from me. I’m afraid we’ve a crime spree going on here in the village and have had for some time now.”
    Vera saw Lilly roll her eyes.
    â€œA crime spree?” Vera asked.
    â€œYes, very much so. I’ve long said that the police should have been involved, but no one else in the village seems to care about the problem outside of me.” She leaned a little closer to Vera and whirled her finger around her ear, just as Lilly had done. “Some in the village will tell you that I’m crazy, my dear, but I don’t care. Those people have their heads in the sand. They don’t want to hear the truth because the truth so often hurts. I’m speaking of the case of the nuthatch hereabout. The poor creatures are rare enough as it is, but with people stealing their eggs the poor things will never survive the war. They’re cavity nesters you see, but they can’t compete with the blasted starlings, which are so much more aggressive; I’ve built nesting boxes for them all around the village. But people steal their eggs from the boxes—and for food no less. And the worst of the offenders is our own chairman of the village parish council, Lawrence Tigue.”
    Julia touched Miss Wheatley’s shoulder. “Now, you shouldn’t say such things, Flora. You’ve no proof of that.”
    â€œOf course I have proof! He’s in the egg-selling business isn’t he? Besides, I’ve seen him.”
    Vera didn’t quite know what to say. She didn’t think she minded people taking birds eggs for food under the present circumstances.
    â€œWe must be vigilant,” Miss Wheatley said. “But no one wants to hear it, least of all our very own local officials. They’re all in it together, the lot of them.”
    Vera stole a glance at Julia, who raised her eyebrows slightly.
    â€œWell I’m sure everyone is doing what they can,” Vera said.
    â€œDon’t you believe it, my dear! Either way, I beg of you to inform your captain. He may call on me anytime he wishes.” She nodded toward the wood beyond the cemetery. “I live just the other side of that wood. You can’t miss my cottage; it’s just off the trail.”
    â€œI promise that I’ll mention it to him,” Vera said. “He’s my father, actually.” She immediately wondered why she had felt the need to mention that. Was it from guilt that her father had obtained her position for her?
    â€œAll the better, then!” Miss Wheatley said. She looked at the sky, then back at Vera. “Well, it’s getting on to midday, and I’ve duties to attend to.”
    Vera didn’t want to say anything that might encourage Miss Wheatley to linger. To her relief, Miss Wheatley bade them goodbye and set off down the High Street in the direction of the village.
    When Miss Wheatley was out of earshot, Julia said, “You must forgive her, Miss Lamb. She’s harmless, really.”
    â€œNo, she’s not,” Lilly said. “She’s a windbag and a terrible gossip. And she’s loony.”
    â€œThat’s no way to speak in front of someone we’ve only just met,” Julia scolded Lilly. “And it’s not fair to Flora.”
    â€œBut she is , Mother.”
    â€œNonetheless.” Julia shot Lilly a stern look. “Apologize to Miss Lamb, please.”
    â€œSorry,” Lilly said. She shrugged slightly.
    â€œIt’s all right,” Vera said. Miss Wheatley clearly was a windbag, she thought.
    â€œWell, I’m afraid that we also must be going,” Julia said. “It was wonderful meeting you, Miss Lamb. It’s terrible, what’s happened here—this sudden killing—and I think it’s shocked us all a bit more than we are quite yet willing to