Where Death Delights Read Online Free PDF

Professor,’ said Mary Mitchell. ‘I knew your aunt slightly, she sometimes used to come up here to church whist drives.’
    With another smile, she went back to her kitchen, leaving her husband to hand a plate of Crawfords Rich Tea biscuits to his visitor.
    â€˜So do I call you “Doctor” or “Professor”?’ he demanded.
    â€˜â€œDoctor” will do, thanks,’ answered Pryor. ‘I held a university chair for a short time, but that was a long way from here. It always seems daft for men to hang on to their military rank long after they’ve packed it in. I suppose I could equally call myself “Major”, but it would sound silly.’
    After a biscuit and a few sips, they got down to business.
    â€˜I’m going to see Mrs Oldfield after I leave here,’ said Pryor. ‘Anything I should know before I meet her?’
    â€˜Bit of an old snob, is Agnes,’ confided Mitchell. ‘She’s not seventy yet, but seems older, a real hangover from Edwardian days. Speaks her mind, and damn the consequences!’
    â€˜So why does she think these remains are those of her nephew, this Anthony chap?’
    Mitchell grinned again, which lightened his forbidding features. ‘She thinks every set of bones found within fifty miles of here must be his! This is the third time I’ve gone poking into other deaths – but they had cast-iron identities. At least this one is a bit more open to doubt.’
    He drank down his coffee and replaced the cup in its saucer.
    â€˜Anthony had plenty of money, as he and his father ran a factory in Swindon during the war, making some bits for aircraft. His parents died some years ago, but he didn’t need to work again, so he enjoyed himself.’
    â€˜How old was he, then?’ asked Richard, taking another biscuit.
    â€˜Forty-five when last seen three years ago. He used to do a lot of hill walking in the Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons – he was keen on fishing as well. He lived in a private hotel in Cheltenham, but latterly came to stay with his aunt, to be nearer the hills, she said. Apparently, he was also dotty about archaeology, and used to visit ancient places both here and abroad.’
    â€˜And you didn’t find any trace of him from the time he vanished?’
    Mitchell shook his head. ‘He wasn’t classed as a missing person for a long time after that. He used to just push off whenever he felt like it without telling anyone, as he had no other relatives. It was only when she hadn’t heard a word from him for over a year that she began to wonder if he was dead. That’s when she hired me, but what could I do?’
    â€˜So he could be living in Nepal or camping in the Mexican jungle?’ said Richard.
    â€˜It’s possible, but Mrs Oldfield won’t have it! She reckons he’s dead, but until it’s proved or he stays missing for seven years, she can’t collect. He intended leaving everything to her, according to Agnes – and the solicitor confirmed it to me.’
    Richard took another biscuit and opened the file that the lawyer had given him the previous day.
    â€˜According to this, the remains found near the reservoir were those of a man in middle age, of about average height and build. Not very helpful, as that fits about half the male population of Britain! Was there anything about the two missing men that wouldn’t fit that description?’
    The former detective shook his head.
    â€˜Of course, I’ve only been dealing with Anthony Oldfield, the Barnes angle is new to me. But Anthony, from what his aunt says and the photos I’ve seen, was a pretty ordinary-looking bloke, a bit on the lanky side perhaps.’
    â€˜Has the solicitor asked you to look into the Barnes side of things on Mrs Oldfield’s behalf?’ asked the pathologist.
    Trevor Mitchell nodded. ‘Yes, he told me that she wanted me to cooperate with you.