DEATH BEFORE WICKET - Poisoned Pen Press (UK)
DEATH BEFORE WICKET - Poisoned Pen Press (UK)
DEATH BEFORE WICKET - Poisoned Pen Press (UK)
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1 Kerry Greenwood<br />
ginger. Then I took the cover off my typewriter, opened the<br />
letters, sorted them, and then while I was doing that Mr. Sykes<br />
came in. Poor Mr. Sykes. Saturday’s a half holiday and he always<br />
wants to get to his garden club. Lovely flowers he grows. Then<br />
the Dean started on him, like he always does, about the books.<br />
Mr. Sykes got flustered and dropped the ledgers. Then he got<br />
more flustered and dropped the Book of Hours of Juana, and<br />
Professor Bisset was upset. Then the Scottish professor had an<br />
argument with Mr. Bisset about being annoyed with Mr. Sykes.<br />
It wasn’t a nice day and everyone was cross. Finally Mr. Sykes<br />
and Adam Harcourt shovelled everything into the safe, I closed<br />
up, and we went out.’<br />
‘And you didn’t come back to the university until Monday?’<br />
‘Why should I do that?’ demanded Dora. ‘I spend enough<br />
time here as it is. On Monday I got in as usual, laid out the<br />
biscuits and made the tea, when I heard shouting. I thought it<br />
was just the Dean ear-bashing Mr. Sykes, but when I came back<br />
the money was gone and all the other things, jewellery and that.<br />
Terrible. Can I go now, Miss? The shops shut soon.’<br />
‘Who do you think did it? I promise not to breathe a word,’<br />
said Phryne.<br />
Dora’s blue eyes flashed. ‘It can’t be any of our professors,’ she<br />
said firmly. ‘Mr. Kirkpatrick’s real religious. Professor Bretherton<br />
wouldn’t steal anything but a kiss. Mr. Sykes wouldn’t dare. Mr.<br />
Brazell’s a nicely spoken chap. Mr. Ayers never says boo to a<br />
goose. But the Dean’s a beast, I really hate him. It’d be bonzer<br />
if you could make it him,’ said Dora.<br />
She drew the cover over the typewriter, grabbed a straw hat,<br />
preceded Phryne out of the office, locked the door and dived<br />
down the stairs.<br />
Never stand between a lioness and her prey, a bear and her cubs,<br />
or a woman and a bargain, reflected Phryne. I believe that I may<br />
have a talent for aphorism. What a thoroughly unhelpful young<br />
woman! Dora had told Phryne everything she already knew.<br />
Now to see whether she was investigating a murder, to find<br />
out if Joss Hart was alive or dead.
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