DEATH BEFORE WICKET - Poisoned Pen Press (UK)

1 Kerry Greenwood
perilous enterprise. S-She tipped our captor into the well, and
it is about time we got him out, I s-suppose.’
‘Unless the well has filled up,’ commented Bretherton. ‘In
which case the rescue is immaterial.’
‘But we should find out,’ said Bisset.
‘Always verify your facts,’ said Brazell, leading the way down
the stairs. ‘A good s-scholarly principle.’
The well was occupied by a very thirsty gentleman who
was swearing the air blue. Phryne yelled down to him, ‘That’s
enough! I told you I’d come back by tonight and I’m early. Now
climb up that ladder, and after one of these gentlemen takes your
statement, you can go.’
‘Fair dinkum?’ asked the voice.
‘Fair dinkum. In fact, everything is ryebuck on a straight wire
and there’s a ladder in front of you. Climb out, there’s a good
bloke,’ said Phryne.
A bleared figure climbed slowly out of the well, dictated and
signed a statement which exonerated him and blamed his boss,
and was conducted out of the cellar into the hands of a porter
who was instructed to see him out of the University grounds.
‘Well, there we are,’ said Phryne.
‘Magic,’ said Edmund Brazell. ‘Pity about my funds, though.’
‘I would have got them,’ said Ayers, ‘if I could have found my
papyrus. But there it is,’ he said. He raised his head and looked
Phryne in the eye. ‘And you haven’t solved my little problem,
Miss Fisher.’
‘Oh, yes I have,’ said Phryne. ‘You wouldn’t tell me who was
blackmailing you, and you were so frightened of him that you
began to sweat when you thought of him. Why are you sweating
now, Mr. Ayers?’
‘It’s a hot night,’ he muttered, passing a hand over his high
forehead.
‘No one else is sweating. I think your blackmailer is here. And
since this is a cleansing of all hearts and nothing of this will be
produced before the Senate tomorrow morning, we will ask the
Dean to take a short walk outside. He doesn’t need to hear this.