Cherringham--A Lesson in Murder Read Online Free

together. “Of course.” He reached over to his gigantic dark wood desk and picked up an envelope. “I hope you’ll find this appropriate.”
    He handed Sarah the envelope.
    No need to open it, she thought.
    Considering this plush environment, no doubt it was more than adequate.
    “Right then,” said Jack. “Perhaps you can give us the details?”
    Sarah watched Gavin leaned forward, as if having a conspiratorial chat.
    “At first, they seemed like pranks. A fire alarm set off, one whole house evacuated in the middle of the night, even had the local fire brigade turn up. That’s the kind of thing some of the more spirited — um — antic girls would do.”
    “Sure. Sounds like it,” Jack said.
    Despite what was sitting in the envelope, Sarah was beginning to wonder if there was anything here for them to investigate at all.
    “Then, there was the food incident …”
    “Food?” Sarah asked.
    Gavin nodded. “One dinner, and everyone who had the potato dauphinoise fell ill. Really … ill. And trust me, our kitchen is pristine, absolute highest marks for cleanliness, food preparation.”
    “You think someone slipped something into the dauphinoise?”
    Gavin raised his hands. “How else?” He took a deep breath as if stealing himself. “Then there were the cars …”
    “Hmm?”
    “Three of the staff’s cars were vandalised. Tyres slashed. Some of our best people! We kept that quiet, of course. But now I was getting rather worried.”
    “You could have called the police on that one,” Jack said.
    “When we didn’t know who or why? With all the support our parents have for this institution? I mean, what if it had been one of the girls?”
    “A Cherringham Hall girl?”
    Gavin leaned back. “Over the years, we have had our more difficult students. We’re not immune to the vagaries of our society today. Usually they are dealt with … one way, or the other.”
    Kicked out, Sarah guessed, no matter how much money Mum and Dad had.
    “But this most recent incident, from yesterday. I think — when you hear — you’ll understand why we called you. Frightening, really.”
    Sarah sensed that the headmaster was reluctant to even tell them what had happened.
    “It happened in the pool …” he began.
    *
    When Gavin stopped, Sarah saw Jack look over.
    Probably making sure my head isn’t spinning after that grisly tale.
    “Wow,” Jack said. “The other things — guess they are all serious enough. But that, those girls, the floating rats. Yikes …”
    “ Exactly . I have had to speak personally to each and every one of the girls’ parents, to reassure them that we would spare no expense in finding out how such a thing could have happened.”
    No expense.
    Yes, Sarah guessed, whatever cheque sat in the envelope it would be for a significant sum.
    But when Gavin Ward stopped, he looked from Sarah, then to Jack.
    “I’m sure now you’ll understand why I called you. So tell me, what do the two of you make of this? Does any of it make any sense?”
    And Jack nodded, reached out for his cup of coffee. He took a slow sip.
    The man likes his thinking time.
    Then he slowly put the cup down.
    “Tell me, Gavin … does anyone have a grudge against the school?”
    Too quickly — Sarah thought — Gavin shook his head.
    “Impossible. I mean, we provide the very finest education, and the absolute best guidance onto and into University. We’re such a … friendly school. I can’t imagine anyone having what you call a ‘grudge’.”
    Another nod from Jack. “Because it seems to me, with all the events you have told us about … well, there is escalation there. Each one, a bit worse. And despite what you said, it sounds a lot like someone sending Cherringham Hall a message.”
    Gavin leaned close again.
    “A message? What kind of message, for God’s sake?”
    It felt like that to Sarah as well.
    Someone wasn’t happy. And all the incidents were exactly what would happen if someone had it in for the