Free Vices of My Blood by Maureen Jennings Page B

not too far from here. And it is highly likely that they would know that he had office hours on Tuesdays.”
    Murdoch got to his feet. “Thank you, reverend. And you, ma’am. There’s just one more thing. I wonder if I could ask your maid to accompany me to the church. I assume she would be the one who would dust the office and I’d like to know if anything else has been taken.”
    “Is it absolutely necessary? There is so much to do here at the moment.”
    “I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t, ma’am. I shan’t keep her for long.” He knew Mrs. Howard was bereft, but he was finding her rather irritating. There was something sour and self-pitying in her manner.
    “Very well, but I warn you, Doris is a rather empty-headed girl, Mr. Murdoch. She might not notice if somebody had walked off with his chair.”
    Murdoch took his leave and Mrs. Howard returned to gazing out of the window. Reverend Swanzey perched himself beside her on the couch. He was clearly not comfortable in his role as chief comforter. He should have been a Catholic. According to Inspector Brackenreid, we have a certain facility with women, thought Murdoch.

    The poor maid was initially afraid to go with him to the office after Murdoch warned her she would have to see the blood stains. But when he explained the importance of knowing if anything was missing, she braced herself and agreed to accompany him. They entered the office, which still had the curtains drawn although the fire had long died out and the room was cold. Doris shuddered once when she saw the blood on the carpet and on the desk, but on Murdoch’s instruction she walked slowly around the room, taking note of everything. Far from being empty-headed, she seemed to be a servant who took pride in her work and knew exactly what belonged where.
    “He had a very fine letter opener that always sat on his desk. I don’t see it.”
    “You are right, Doris. It is in the possession of the police.”
    She blinked as she comprehended what that meant, but she didn’t say anything.
    She picked up a silver snuff box that was on the lamp table next to the armchair. “Usually this is on the mantelpiece. He loved his snuff, but the mistress didn’t like him to use it so he only did when he was in here. But he was trying to break himself of the habit and so sometimes he’d put the box where it was less convenient to reach.” She replaced the box. “I can’t see what harm it did.”
    “Is the chair usually across from the armchair?”
    “No, sir. It lines up with the other ones for when he has his meetings.”
    They took the next half an hour going over the room carefully, but Doris was adamant everything was in place except for the letter opener.
    Murdoch thanked her and commended both her courage and her awareness. He was gratified to see the shy blush of pleasure on her face.
    “Reverend Howard’s boots were removed and as they are nowhere to be found, I assume his attacker took them. Were you responsible for cleaning them, Doris?”
    “Yes, sir. I did the boots every night before I went to bed so as they’d be ready.”
    “Can you describe them for me?”
    She looked a little puzzled. “They was just ordinary boots, sir. Black of course. Not new though. He didn’t like waste and rather than buy new when another would, he’d mend and make do. Those boots were mended sole and heel at least two times.” Murdoch made a note. It was something distinguishing at least. Suddenly Doris tapped her fingers to her forehead. “I’m sorry, sir, but the shock has fair blown my idea pot in two. I was almost about to forget his laces. In the morning, he broke one of his laces. We didn’t have any spare and he said he didn’t have time to buy some more so he took one from his other pair of boots.” She looked at Murdoch expectantly. “Oh dear, what I mean is that the second pair of boots is brown. So he had one pair of black laces and one brown. Mrs. Howard would have had a conniption if she’d