Free Manor House 04 - Dig Deep for Murder by Kate Kingsbury

again."
    "Likewise, dear lady." The retired sea captain waved his pipe at her.
    Elizabeth had never seen Wally without his pipe. As a member of the town council, he had contributed a great deal to the welfare of Sitting Marsh and its inhabitants. His experience and shrewd assessments had proved invaluable during her early days as administrator, and she would always be grateful to him. There were times, however, when she fervently wished that he'd leave his pipe at home.
    "I'm so glad to have bumped into you, Captain." She tilted her head so that the brim of her blue straw hat shaded her eyes. "I was calling on Fred, but he doesn't seem to be at home. You don't happen to know where he might be, I suppose?"
    Wally poked his pipe into his mouth and took a couple of puffs. "Now that I come to think about it, I haven't seen Freddie in about a week. Must have been that long. Last time I saw him was in the Tudor Arms. Saturday night, it was. Having a grand old time, too, I can tell you. He was playing darts with Reggie Stewart. They were both drinking and smoking and carrying on, like they were the best of pals. Surprised me to see them. I always thought that Reggie bloke was a bit of a loner, if you know what I mean."
    His expression changed. "Strewth, Freddie was with Reggie. Must have been about the same time he disappeared. I haven't seen either of them since that night. Freddie might have been the last blinking bloke to see Reggie alive. Makes you think, dunnit?"
    "It certainly does," Elizabeth said gravely.
    "Bad business, that. Any news on who might have bumped the poor blighter off?"
    The news, it seemed, had spread quickly on the grapevine, as usual. "None, I'm afraid. I wonder, Captain, did Fred say anything to you about going to Ireland to live with his brother?"
    Wally looked puzzled. "Ireland? Freddie? Never mentioned anything like that to me. I didn't even know he had a brother."
    "Well, thank you, Captain. I really should be running along."
    "Right you are, your ladyship. See you at the next council meeting?"
    "Yes, of course. We'll have the proceeds of the annualgarden fete by then, so we shall have plenty of business to discuss."
    "Right. Will you be going to the fete?"
    "I expect so. I hope to see you there."
    "Wouldn't miss it, your ladyship."
    "Thank you, Captain." Leaving him with a smile, Elizabeth hurried back down the path to where she had left her motorcycle. Now she had more than one reason to find out where Fred had gone. If he had, indeed, been the last person to see Reggie alive, he might very well be able to shed some light on the mystery.
    It was time she spoke to the constables. With their resources they'd have a much better chance of finding Fred than she would, and now she had a legitimate excuse.
    Since she had to pass the police station on her way back to the manor, it seemed a good idea to stop in on her way back. As she rode down the High Street, she had a clear view of the building. Though she was still some distance away, she recognized the woman who hurried down the steps of the police station. She paused for a moment, looking up and down the street, then disappeared through the doors of the bank that stood next to it.
    There could be only one reason Betty Stewart would visit the police station. There had to be developments in the case of her husband's murder. In which case, Elizabeth decided, it was up to her to find out exactly what those developments might be.

CHAPTER
    6
    It took Elizabeth a few minutes to reach the police station and park her motorcycle next to the bicycle rack. Peering through the glass-fronted door, she could see no sign of George or his befuddled partner, Sid, at the front desk.
    A bell jangled loudly as she pushed the door open, and a voice from a room in the back roared, "Who is it?"
    "It's Lady Elizabeth." She let the door swing to and crossed the room to the desk. "I'd like to have a word with you, George."
    "Just a mo', m'm. I'll be right there."
    She heard a