Murder in the Library

Murder in the Library and Other Stories

Mystery … Romance … Anne Boleyn … Humour … Ghost … Warning

Murder in the Library

The tea shop was fairly busy.

“Is anyone sitting here?” the tall attractive woman asked the man at a corner table by the window.

“No,” he replied with a smile. She sat down, putting her handbag on her lap, and studied the menu.

“A pot of tea please and chocolate cake,” she said when the waitress came up to take her order. She looked out of the window at the people strolling leisurely about in the warm May sunshine. The village clock was striking four.

She glanced at the man sitting at her table. He was about her age, late-thirties, dark-haired and had a permanent tan of the well-to-do.

Slipping off the jacket of her pale blue linen suit she draped it over the back of her chair and tucked her crisp white blouse into the skirt. She patted her short blondе hair into place. There was a steady murmur of polite conversation and the tinkling of teacups, and, what bliss, no piped music. The waitress placed her tea and cake on the table. The man pushed the bowl of sugar over to her.

“No thank you,” she said. “I don’t take sugar, but I love chocolate cake.”

They both laughed.

“I’m Clive Hamilton.”

“Susan Williams.”

“I don’t think I’ve seen you before,” said Clive, draining his cup. “Do you come from around here?”

Susan shook her head. “No. I’ve come down from London, just for the afternoon.”

“And what brings you to our fair village?”

“Actually I came down to see if Ducketts had any second hand books I wanted to buy.”

“Oh, do you collect them?” asked Clive.

Susan poured the tea. “No, I mean yes. It’s my job. I work for a bookshop in London, Hibberts in Charing Cross Road.” She took a sip. “Mm, lovely and hot. I go around the country seeing what I can buy.”

“And did you?”

“Did I what?”

“Did you buy anything from Ducketts?” His large brown eyes twinkled.

“Oh, no, they didn’t have anything we еspecially wanted. Do you work around here?”

Clive told her he worked from his house just outside the village, selling this and that. All he really needed was a telephone and fax machine. He lived alone expect for a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, who ‘did’ for him. Thursday was their day off and Mrs. Palmer always left him something cold for lunch and supper. He made it a habit of coming into the teashop on Thursdays.

As he chattered on Susan looked at his handsome face. He talked with confidence, smiling easily. His open necked sports shirt had an expensive cut about it and on his wrist gleamed a gold watch. Susan looked at him admiringly.

“And is Mr. Williams in the same business?” Clive was asking, his attention drawn to the wedding ring she kept twisting.

“No, we’re divorced.” Susan picked up a fork and toyed with the cake. Clive sat back and looked at her.

“You’re a very good looking lady, if I may say so.”

Susan smiled modestly. “Thank you.”

“Talking of books,” said Clive, “I have a library full of books at home. Came with the territory.”

Susan jerked her head up. “Have you?”

“Yes, I believe some are first editions. Ducketts often tell me I could be sitting on a gold mine. They want to come up to the house. Probably want a bargain for their shop.”

Clive studied her for a minute. “I say, why don’t you come and have a look? I’d be interested to know what they’re worth.”

Susan shook her head. “ I couldn’t possibly, but thank you very much.”

“Do come.” Clive’s voice was coaxing.

Susan hesitated. “Well, I’m catching the 6.22 back to London, perhaps another time.”

“You’ll have plenty of time to catch your train.” Clive pointed out of the window to a gleaming white Rolls Royce parked at the kerb. “My car’s outside and I’ll run you back to the station in good time.”

“I’m impressed.” Susan laughed nervously. “All right. Thank you. I’d love to. If you’re sure it’s no trouble.”

“No trouble at all.”

Clive insisted on paying her bill and they were soon gliding out of the village and purring along country roads.

“Don’t look so worried,” Clive chided, “you’re in safe hands.”

Susan tried to smile. She got him a sideways glance. “I’m sure I am,” she said, playing with the clasp of her bag.

After ten minutes they turned off at a sign marked ‘Private Property’, swept up the drive, pebbles crunching beneath the tyres, and pulled up outside a Georgian-style house.

Clive opened the front door and showed her into the large, spacious hall with its gleaming chandelier, plush red carpet and sweeping staircase. He lead her into the library. Susan’s first impression was the smell of leather. The walls were lined with leather bound books. Leather chairs and a leather settee were arranged round the marble fireplace. The handsome writing desk was inlaid with leather. Above the fireplace was a 19^th-century painting of a groom holding a horse by its bridle. They both sported a disapproving look.

Susan made her way to the French windows at which hung long brocade curtains woven in gold and silver thread. Beyond the windows was a terrace leading on to well laid out grounds.

The room faced west and the setting sun of the early evening cast long shadows over the lawn. Some late spring daffodils had already dozed off and the birds were having final day’s squawk.

“I’m afraid I can’t offer you more tea,” said Clive opening the cocktail cabinet. “Would you like a drink?”

Clive came up to her. Just then a door slammed somewhere in the house. “That’s funny, that was the front door.” Clive frowned and strode out of the room.

Before long he was back. “That was the Palmers. They were on their way to the pictures, but she forgot her specs so they had to come back. They’ll be off again when she finds them.”

“Perhaps I will have that drink after all,” said Susan. She wandered over to one of the book shelves and examined a first edition.

“Come and sit here,” said Clive patting the settee. He had set two glasses down on a table. Susan settled herself beside him and took a gulp of whisky.

“Why don’t you take off your jacket,” suggested Clive as he gently eased her out of it.

Susan took another gulp. She was feeling hot and her crisp white blouse had long since wilted. Putting the glass down, she drew herself to her feet and walked back to the book shelves. She was still gripping her handbag. She looked at the books without seeing them and wondered if she shouldn’t have come, if it wasn’t all a mistake.

Susan cleared her throat. “Do they have a car?”

“Who?”

“The Palmers?”

“Heavens yes. I’d never get anyone to stay unless I provided transport.”

“Perhaps they could give me a lift to the…”

Just then the front door slammed again. The Palmers were off to be entertained.

Susan felt frantic. Her feet were like lead. She was breathing heavily. She couldn’t speak and couldn’t move. In a haze she saw Clive coming towards her. He was speaking but she couldn’t hear what he was saying.

The shrill ring of the telephone made her jump.

Clive snatched up the receiver. “Yes. How much did you get? Clever boy. I’ll be in touch. Bye.” He hung up and turned and faced Susan. “Business is booming, I’m glad to say.”

Suddenly Susan calmed down. “What business did you say you were in?”

Clive stared at her. “I thought I told you. This and that.”

“I know what business you are in. You’re a peddler in human misery and suffering.”

“What on earth are you talking about, my dear?”

Slowly Susan opened her handbag and drew out a gun. She leveled it at Clive.

At a stroke his confidence had gone. His face was ashen, his shoulders sagging.

“I’m going to kill you,” said Susan. “You killed my daughter and now I’m going to kill you.” She fought back the tears. “Victoria was eighteen, for God’s sake only eighteen. She died from an overdose of heroin.” Susan jerked the gun at Clive. “Heroin she bought from you!”

Clive stared at her, frowning. Susan could see he was puzzling it out, their meeting like that.

“You see I’ve been down to the village before,” she said “gossiping with the locals, learning your habits. I went to the tea shop last Thursday. I asked someone to point you out.”

“You’re mad, quite mad.” Clive’s lips were dry. Susan could smell the fear. “Now be a good girl and give me that..”

She pulled the trigger once, twice and he slumped to the floor, dying instantly. Susan dropped her arm and looked at his motionless body.

Through a blur of tears she could see Victoria. Victoria when she was learning to walk, staggering all over the carpet like a drunk. ‘Vicky, come to Mummy, darling,’ she had encouraged with her arms open wide. Now she could see Victoria blowing out the candles of her birthday cake and in her first school uniform – the blazer far too big, the sleeves hanging down over her hands. Look, there she is, in the school play and there she is coming last in a race on sports day. Now here she is going out on her first date – she’s so excited – and off to her first job, how thrilled she is to be earning her own money; the first week’s gone on clothes and make-up.

Just the three of them, John, Victoria and her. They had called her Victoria because John had proposed on Victoria Station. He used to joke that it was a good job he hadn’t proposed on St. Pancras Station. John would be home from work now, would have read her note.

Perhaps it was their fault Victoria took drugs. Perhaps they hadn’t loved her enough or had loved her too much. Why should Victoria have needed drugs anyway? She was such a happy girl, her whole life ahead of her. Now she was gone, gone for good and nothing would ever be the same again.

Susan raised her arm, turned the gun towards herself and pulled the trigger.

( Sandra Golding is identified as the author of this Work)

Assignments:

Ex. I. Answer the questions.

1.Where did Susan Williams meet Clive Hamilton ?

2. What was Susan William’s job ?

3 What did Clive Hamilton deal with ?

4. What time was she going back to London ?

5. Why did Susan Williams take a gulp of whisky ?

6. Why did Susan level her gun at Clive ?

7. What would you have done if you were in her place ?

8. Do you know anybody who uses drugs ?

9. What should be done to help young people to stop to use drugs ?

10.Describe the last thoughts of Susan.

Ex II. Mark the sentences True ( T) or False ( F)

1. She sat down at a table in the middle of the tea shop.

2. It was evening when Susan Williams entered a fairy busy tea shop.

3. The tea shop was full of people and music was very loud.

4. Clive Hamilton never saw Susan Williams before.

5. Clive Hamilton’s was working in a bookshop.

6. Clive Hamilton’s shirt had an expensive cut.

7. Susan Williams came to that village to buy books.

8. Clive Hamilton’s voice wasn’t coaxing, it was very rude.

9. The furniture in his spacious hall was rather old.

10. Susan Williams was gripping her handbag ready to kill Clive.

Ex.III. Fill in pronouns.

1.Jonathan Wild was a thief-taker. ____promised to find ____stolen goods for____if____paid____ a reward, of course. 2. People came to ___ from all over London.

3. “ Can____ get back ____ stolen property?’____ asked. 4. “____’ll leave messages in certain places,”_____ said. 5. “ The thieves will leave____ stolen goods where____ can find____” 6.____ will leave _____ a reward. Everybody’s happy.”

7. “____are wonderful, Mr. Wild.”

8. “ ____ know,’ ______ said.

9. The truth was that Jonathan Wild had organized the robbery in the first place! No wander____ knew how to get the stolen property back.

10. In time every thief in London was working for Wild and every victim in London came to____ for help.

(from “ The Gorgeous Georgians” by Terry Deary )

Ex.IV. Fill in prepositions.

1. No thief dared to upset Wild because Wild would simply betray the thief____the law.2. He had 75 criminals convicted and 60____ those were hanged.

3. Wild grew rich and fat.____ 1724 he was ____ complete control____ London crime. 4. But____ the end Wild’s wickedness was uncovered and he was hanged. 5. Thousands Gathered to pelt him____ mud and stones as he was taken____ the gallows. Yet Wild still had some friends left and they did a curious thing. 6.They smuggled his dead body away and buried it____ a secret place____ the dead____ night. 7. The Secret grave was found, now the skeleton____ Wild can still be seen___ the Hunterian Museum____ the Royal College ____ Surgeons.

(from “ The Gorgeous Georgians” by Terry Deary )

Ex. V. Complete the text with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

1. Edward Henson____( cry) and the tears spilled into his ale.2. “You____ (be) pathetic,” the landlord____( say).3. ” You____ (drink).”

4. “ I____(be) not, Edward____( argue) but his voice____(slur) and his eyes____

( roll) in his leather – skinned face.

5. “ I____(see) a lot of drunks in my time and I____(tell) you , sailor, you____

(drink).6. You____(do not) even____(know) that you____(cry) into your beer, the landlord____(sneer),____(wipe) a greasy hand on his stained apron.7. The air of the quayside tavern____(be) smoky with the cheap candles and shadows____(hid) the filth on the floor. 8. “ I____(be) sad,” Edward____(moan).

9. “You____(get) no more ale in this tavern,” the landlord____(say) firmly.

10.“ No! Listen. I____(have) a friend.11. The best friend a man ever____(have). 12. His name____(be) Geordie. Poor Geordie.”

13. Edward____(take) a deep drink of the clouded drink and____ (wipe) his mouth on the back of his sleeve, then he____(wipe) his nose, then he____( wipe) his eyes. 14. “ He ____dead ( be).”

(from “ The Gorgeous Georgians” by Terry Deary )

Ex.VI. Choose the right answer out of four options.

1. She looked out of the window at the people _____ leisurely about in the warm May sunshine.

a) walking b) working c) strolling d) running

2. She_____ at the man sitting at her table.

a) checked b) glanced c) studied d) examined

3. There was a steady _____ of polite conversation and the tinkling of teacups, and, what bliss, no piped music.

a) whisper b) speak c) meeting d) murmur

4. “I don’t think I’ve seen you before”, said Clive, _____ his cup.

a) draining b) putting c) removing d) milking

5. She took a _____. “ Mm, lovely and hot. I go round the country seeing what I can buy.”

a) drop b) taste c) sip d) sipped

6. His large brown eyes _____.

a) flashed b) twinkled c) shined d) closed

7. He made it a _____ of coming into the teashop on Thursdays.

a) manner b) practice c) rule d) habit

8. As he chattered on Susan looked at his _____.

a) attractive b) fine c) handsome d) beautiful

9. He talked with _____ , smiling easily.

a) belief b) courage c) doubt d) confidence

10.His open necked sports shirt had an expensive cut about it and on his wrist _____

a gold watch.

a) gleam b) sparkle c) glance d) gleamed

Ex. VII. Speak on: 1. The problems the youth face in today’s life and the ways

to overcome them.

2. The vital role of drug addiction and alcohol consumption in the

growing crime rate in general and in juvenile delinquency in particular.

Ex. VIII. Self-study work: Make a project what the Government or

other Bodies should do to fight with the problem of drugs?

Date: 2015-02-16; view: 1482