Free Fire When Ready (Manor House Mystery) by Kate Kingsbury Page B

rudely butted in. "Sid has some important business to take care of, don't you, Sid?"
    Sid sent him a vacant look. "I do?"
    "Yes, you do." George pointed a finger at the door. "In the back room. All those files have to be put away."
    "Bloody office boy, that's all I am," Sid grumbled. "Join the police force, they said. Enjoy a life of adventure. Nobody said nothing about spending most of your time doing boring paperwork. All that filing and making out reports makes you crossed-eyed, I swear."
    "Sid!"
    George's roar made even Elizabeth jump.
    "All right, I'm going." Sid nodded at Elizabeth. 'Ta ta, your ladyship."
    George rolled his eyes but Elizabeth nodded graciously. "Good morning, Sid."
    "I'm sorry, your ladyship," George muttered, when Sid had disappeared. "He means well, but he's a little short on the old pistons, if you know what I mean."
    "I heard that!" Sid called out from the back office.
    "Anyway," George said hurriedly. "I wanted to tell you the good news. That quack in North Horsham what operated on the Adelaide girl . . . what was her name? Barbara?"
    Elizabeth sat up. "Barbara, yes, that's it. You found him?"
    George nodded with satisfaction. "That fiend will never operate on anyone else, I can promise you that."
    "Thank God." The year before, Elizabeth had promised a bereaved mother that she would find the monster who had caused her daughter's death. Ever since then she had hounded George to track down the brute. She could still see Annie Adelaide's face when she was describing how her youngest daughter had an abortion and bled to death as a result of the botched efforts of a fake doctor. She nodded with satisfaction. "I hope the news will bring the Adelaides some peace."
    "My sentiments exactly, m'm. They seemed pleased when I told them." George peered meaningfully at the clock on the wall. "Now, if you'll excuse me . . ."
    "The report, George?" Determined not to be distracted from her purpose, Elizabeth pointed at the papers on his desk. "May I see it?"
    George tightened his lips. "I'm afraid not, your ladyship. This is police business, and as such, shall remain private. The case is closed as far as we are concerned, and I sincerely hope you will let the matter rest."
    Elizabeth got to her feet and pulled on her gloves. "I can't do that, George. Two people died in that fire, locked inside an office. Having seen the office myself, I know it has one of those locks that operates on both sides of the door. I'm not going to let anything rest until I know why Mr. McNally locked that door. And if he didn't lock it himself, that means someone else must have locked it from the outside. Which would mean, if I am right, that we have a particularly heinous murderer in our midst."

CHAPTER
    6
    One of the reasons she missed Earl so much, Elizabeth reflected as she coasted cautiously up the icy hill to the mansion, was that she had no one to talk things over with at the end of the day. So often she could sort things out in her mind after having spent an evening over cocktails in the refectory with Earl.
    This was one of those times when she wished desperately he were there to share her concerns. Admittedly, she had only her own instincts to go on, but she couldn't ignore the feeling that everyone was missing something. Something important.
    Maybe McNally did have a good reason to lock the door that night. After all, it was a munitions factory, making arms and ammunition to help destroy an enemy. Some of theinformation he had stored in his files had to be sensitive material and not for everyone's eyes. Especially a charlady, who might be inclined to spread the news of anything she might find out about such an important and controversial business.
    But then, if the woman was already in his office, and he with her, why would he need to lock the door? According to Wally, they were the only two people in the building besides himself. It just didn't make sense.
    She absolutely refused to believe that Douglas McNally was