Free The Tewkesbury Tomb by Kerry Tombs

respective homes, to travel to Tewkesbury and to meet a group of strangers outside the abbey at such a late hour,’ said a bewildered Ravenscroft.
    ‘Told you, we should have kept it to ourselves,’ snapped Anstruther. ‘I knew the man would never believe us.’
    ‘Did this gentleman give any reason why you were all to journey to Tewkesbury?’
    A long pause followed Ravenscroft’s question, during which Ganniford moved uneasily in his chair, and Miss Eames played nervously with the handkerchief in her lap, as the three remaining members either stared out of the window or down at the floor. Crabb coughed before letting out a deep sigh.
    ‘I will repeat my question – what was the reason for your journey to Tewkesbury?’ asked Ravenscroft, becoming frustrated by the apparant abrupt end to his new line of enquiry.
    ‘Our instructions were to meet together outside the abbey at twelve o’clock,’ replied a reluctant Ganniford.
    ‘For what purpose?’
    ‘To meet with our host, and to seek out the last resting place of our ancestor, Sir Roger de la Pole. That is all,’ added Hollinger emphatically.
    ‘I see,’ said Ravenscroft turning away, deep in thought.
    ‘So you see, there was nothing sinister in our meeting. None of us was to know that the fellow was already dead inside that tomb,’ said Ganniford.
    ‘Now you know the reason for our meeting together, Ravenscroft, perhaps you will allow us all to leave and go our own separate ways,’ said Anstruther rising from his seat.
    ‘I too have an urgent need to return to London,’ added Hollinger.
    ‘You must see, Inspector that none of us was in any way involved with the poor man’s demise,’ implored Miss Eames.‘None of us would have had any reason to see him dead.’
    ‘I am sorry that we cannot be of any further assistance to you, Inspector,’ said Jenkins, rising to his feet.
    ‘I’m afraid I cannot let any of you leave,’ announced Ravenscroft.
    ‘Oh, for goodness sake, man! We’ve told you why we all came here, and how we found the man,’ protested Anstruther pacing up and down the room.
    ‘I can see how you came to the town yesterday and why you were asked to meet together outside the abbey – it would have been easier for you all, and for our investigation, if you had all told us the truth when first questioned.’
    ‘I am sorry for that, Inspector Ravenscroft,’ said Miss Eames.
    ‘I know it looks bad, but to tell you the truth we were all a bit put out finding that fellow like that in that tomb; then your constable came on us unexpected, and we all thought it would be better if we tried to make it look like an accident, us all meeting like that,’ said Ganniford. ‘Sorry for all the mix up. No hard feelings like.’
    Ravenscroft turned away and looked out of the window. What had looked like an encouraging line of new enquiry seemed to be disappearing rapidly.
    ‘Well, if you will excuse us,’ said Hollinger, after a few moments of silence had elapsed.
    ‘Tell you something, Ravenscroft, there was that fellow Ross. You might do better having a word with him,’ said Ganniford, easing himself from out of his chair.
    ‘Ross? I do not understand,’ said a bewildered Ravenscroft turning round once more to face the group.
    ‘Yes, of course, Mr Ross,’ said Miss Eames.
    ‘I had almost forgotten him,’ interjected Hollinger. ‘You see, Inspector, there were six of us there that night.’
    ‘Do please go on,’ asked Ravenscroft his curiosity aroused.
    ‘When we all met up at the abbey, we were debating whether we should enter the building or not, when the man called Ross suddenly arrived,’ began Ganniford.
    ‘We assumed that he was another of our group,’ added Jenkins.
    ‘Did this man Ross go into the abbey with you?’ enquired Ravenscroft.
    ‘Yes, he was the first to enter the building, now I come to remember,’ said Ganniford. ‘We naturally followed him inside hoping that our host Stanhope would be there waiting to