Mrs. Jeffries Weeds the Plot (29 page)

“That would be lovely, sir,” Mrs. Jeffries replied.

He started for the back stairs. Fred left Wiggins and trotted after the inspector. Perhaps he sensed the man needed a bit of comfort.

“Excuse me, sir,” Mrs. Jeffries said. “Was Eddington responsible for the poisoned cream that Miranda ate?”

“He says he wasn’t and he’s no reason to lie. He’s going to hang anyway. Admitting one more attempt on Miss Gentry’s life won’t make any difference in his sentence.” He smiled sadly and continued toward the stairs.

“Thank you, sir. Good night.” Mrs. Jeffries turned to the others. “Well, what a horrifying story this has turned out to be.”

“No, it woulda only been really awful if that varmint had got away with it and went on to kill a bunch more women.” Luty got up. “Let’s get goin’, Hatchet. You’re fallin’ asleep in your chair.”

“I most certainly am not.” He tossed Luty a quick frown and then looked at Mrs. Jeffries. “What about thatw
poisoned cream? If Eddington didn’t do it, who did?”

“One of her relatives, I expect,” Mrs. Jeffries mused.

“What are we going to do, then?” Betsy asked. “They might try again.”

“Not if we tell her,” the housekeeper replied. “She can make it very clear to her family that in the event of her death, there’s to be a full police investigation. I don’t think they’ll have another go at her. Not now. They’ve had the police around once. They’ll probably be too frightened to try it again. But just to be on the safe side, I believe we’ll have her mention that she’s a number of friends who will raise quite a fuss if she disappears or comes to harm.”

“Good,” Mrs. Goodge said stoutly. “That’s what we’ve all got to do. Especially us women who are alone in the world. We’ve got to keep an eye out for one another. That’s the only way any of us will be safe.”

“Amen to that, Mrs. Goodge,” Mrs. Jeffries agreed. “Amen to that.”

For more books by this author
click here

Berkley Prime Crime titles by Emily Brightwell

THE INSPECTOR AND MRS. JEFFRIES

MRS. JEFFRIES DUSTS FOR CLUES

THE GHOST AND MRS. JEFFRIES

MRS. JEFFRIES TAKES STOCK

MRS. JEFFRIES ON THE BALL

MRS. JEFFRIES ON THE TRAIL

MRS. JEFFRIES PLAYS THE COOK

MRS. JEFFRIES AND THE MISSING ALIBI

MRS. JEFFRIES STANDS CORRECTED

MRS. JEFFRIES TAKES THE STAGE

MRS. JEFFRIES QUESTIONS THE ANSWER

MRS. JEFFRIES REVEALS HER ART

MRS. JEFFRIES TAKES THE CAKE

MRS. JEFFRIES ROCKS THE BOAT

MRS. JEFFRIES WEEDS THE PLOT

MRS. JEFFRIES PINCHES THE POST

MRS. JEFFRIES PLEADS HER CASE

MRS. JEFFRIES SWEEPS THE CHIMNEY

MRS. JEFFRIES STALKS THE HUNTER

MRS. JEFFRIES AND THE SILENT KNIGHT

MRS. JEFFRIES APPEALS THE VERDICT

MRS. JEFFRIES AND THE BEST LAID PLANS

MRS. JEFFRIES AND THE FEAST OF ST. STEPHEN

MRS. JEFFRIES HOLDS THE TRUMP

MRS. JEFFRIES IN THE NICK OF TIME

MRS. JEFFRIES AND THE YULETIDE WEDDINGS

MRS. JEFFRIES SPEAKS HER MIND

MRS. JEFFRIES FORGES AHEAD

MRS. JEFFRIES AND THE MISTLETOE MIX-UP

MRS. JEFFRIES DEFENDS HER OWN

Anthologies

MRS. JEFFRIES LEARNS THE TRADE

MRS. JEFFRIES TAKES A SECOND LOOK