Free The Mermaid in the Basement by Gilbert Morris Page A

for your trouble.”
    “Thank you, Sergeant.”

    The two detectives had been searching the room for over thirty minutes. They were experienced and overlooked nothing.
    “Doesn’t seem to be anything here that would tie young Newton to the killing,” Grant said, and he shook his head. “He’s guilty, though.
    I’d stake my life on that!” Grant gave Winters a direct stare, then continued, “You know what they say about the death of Lady Trent’s husband?”
    “Of course.”Winters shrugged. “I am familiar with that case.”
    “Some say he was murdered by his wife.”
    Winters shook his head, and regret tinged his tone as he said, “I’m one of those who believe that—but there wasn’t enough evidence.”
    “What convinced you that she killed her husband, sir?”
    “It was more of a feeling, Grant, and you know as well as I that in a murder trial, the prosecutor needs more than that.”
    Grant’s lips drew together into a tight line, and he said, “I think Clive is guilty.”
    “Good! Then let’s find some hard evidence.”
    The two continued to search, and finally Grant, who had pulled the drawer out of an armoire, spoke sharply. “Superintendent, look at this.”
    Winters came over and asked, “What is it, Grant?”
    “Behind this drawer there’s a cavity. And look, there’s a bag here.”
    Grant pulled the bag out. It was leather, with a drawstring, and when he opened it and poured the contents into his hand, jewels glittered.
    “That’s bad news for Newton,” Superintendent Winters said, shaking his head. “This looks like some of the jewellery on the list of what was missing from the victim’s room.”
    “I’ve got the list, sir.”
    “Come over here and lay them out on this desk.”
    Grant emptied the bag, and the two men checked the contents against the list.
    “There’s no doubt about it,” Grant said grimly. “They’re the jewels that were taken from Kate Fairfield’s room.” He put the jewellery back, and had started to leave when suddenly Superintendent Winters stopped and said, “What’s that?”
    “What’s what, sir?”
    “There—stuffed behind that chest.”
    Winters went over, and Grant followed him. Winters reached down and tried to squeeze his hand behind it. “Some cloth back here.”
    “What would it be doing back there? Here, let me move this chest out.” Grant gave a tug, and the heavy chest shifted enough for Superintendent Winters to pull out a garment. “It’s a handkerchief,” he said.
    Grant leaned forward and took a short breath. “It’s got blood all over it, sir. He wasn’t very careful, was he?”
    “We don’t know that it’s his.”
    “Why, of course we do, Superintendent. It’s in his room. I just don’t know why a man would be so careless as to leave a bloodstained handkerchief to be found.”
    Winters stood there holding the handkerchief. “It seems we have little choice.”
    “Well, we have more than feelings here, don’t we, Superintendent?”
    Winters nodded slowly. “I believe we do, Grant. I’m sorry for the family.”
    Grant shrugged. “There’s always a family who gets hurt. Every criminal has some family who has to suffer.”
    “I suppose you’re right.” He gave the room a regretful look, then sighed deeply. “Well, Grant, let’s go give the family the bad news.” He stood still for a moment, then gave Grant a strange look. “I hate this part of our job.”
    “It’s never easy, sir.” The two went downstairs, and as soon as they entered the room, Clive stood to his feet. “Is this yours, sir?”Grant asked, holding up the bloodstained handkerchief.
    “I—I never saw that handkerchief!”
    “It has blood all over it,” Superintendent Winters said quietly. “How do you account for that?”
    Clive shook his head. “I don’t know. I—I think I had a nosebleed.”
    “Well, why did you hide it behind the chest in your room?”
    “I don’t know. I was drunk when I got in. I didn’t know what I was