Story Starts Challenge - Day 4

Death Knell

DAY 4: A Tale of Two Churches

Walsh pondered on yesterday’s events. There was indeed a body in the shed, but in reporting the shot, Lady Hargreaves had made no mention of it. Why? Perhaps she didn't know - after all he had found it difficult enough to look though the window and the dirt he had cleared from the glass pane had lain there undisturbed for some time. She clearly knew there had been a body without having to see it for herself. How?

He could assume that the body and the reported shot were connected. Why was there a large art frame lying across it? If whoever it was had entered the shed with the intention of shooting himself, who had locked the doors from the outside after he had entered? Was there another way to enter the building which did not involve using the doors? None was immediately apparent.

It made a lot more sense to believe that the man in the shed had been murdered. The murderer had entered the building with the victim, shot him and had left by the door, locking it after him... or her.

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Sergeant Morris had an uneasy feeling that the D I Walsh had not quite believed his reasons for being out on the lane the night before the body was discovered. The next morning he got to the estate by first light, and hid opposite the cottages. Eventually a dim light appeared in the bedroom of number 11, and he knew he had not been mistaken that last time he had passed in the darkness.

A man appeared from the cottage carrying three large picture frames. The sergeant followed him as he climbed up through the woods, and dumped the frames behind an area of long grass. He wondered if this was the man who had been selling His Lordship's paintings at the Victoria Hotel.

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The Sergeant and Detective Inspector Walsh had agreed to meet at the Sheds to bring each other up to speed with their investigations.

SM: Morning sir... How did you get on talking with her Ladyship?
DIW: I’m not entirely sure, Morris – I need to think about it a bit more. So, tell me what you’ve been up to.

Sergeant Morris recounted his meetings from yesterday with both the Vicar and the Groom from the stables. He pointed out that Lord and Lady Hargreaves were responsible for maintaining the Church and also told D I Walsh about what he had just seen up in the woods.

DIW... Well, that is very interesting Morris... brilliant job, I have trained you well!
SM: Oh but that’s not all Sir. I called in at the Victoria Hotel last night and then I stopped in at The White Lion for a quick half on my way home...
DIW: Get on with it Sergeant.
SM: Well Sir, as I was talking to one of the salesmen down there, he tells me that his Lordship had been browsing through the art work prior to the sale when he suddenly became very angry!
DIW: Why was his Lordship angry?
SM: Well, it appears, Sir, that some of his Lordship's own paintings were there being sold in the sale, without his knowledge!
DIW: Interesting!
SM: Oh there’s more, Sir. I met Bob Evans in the Pub...
DIW: Who on earth is Bob Evans, Sergeant?
SM: Bob Evans, of Evans and Sons, - the builders, Sir. Anyway, I asked him how business was doing and he told me he had just quoted for a job for the Vicar - £875,000 for the repair of the two churches – St Jude’s on the Hargreaves Estate and St Matthew’s right there in the Village. He thought he stood a good chance of getting the work.
DIW: Now that is interesting, Morris. It looks like the Vicar may have been trying to pull a fast one and get Lord Hargreaves to pay for the repairs of both Churches.

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Having entered the Sheds, forensics had found a body; a well nourished, white male whom they suspect is Lord Hargreaves. They discover that he has been killed by a single shot to the head, though they are unsure of the calibre of the bullet as yet. Everything in the shed is examined in minute detail and photographs and fingerprints have been taken and evidence carefully bagged up. They are unable to determine at the moment from where the victim has been shot, although they have found traces of gunpowder on the victim’s right hand. A revolver was found lying at the side of the body. The size of the bullet and markings on the casing will tell them, in due course, whether this gun is the one that fired the fatal shot.

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DIW: Right Morris, I want you to go back and confront the Vicar with what you’ve just told me. While you’re there, try and find out if he owns a gun and if so what type. Also, find out if he has been to the Art Sale at the Hotel. I’m off to ask Lady Hargreaves and her staff some more questions.

SM: Yes Sir, I'll do that straight away. And I’ll get young Lamb to go and retrieve those picture frames from the Woods, Sir.