Page 100 of Murder in Highbury
When he moved to pull back her chair, Emma lifted her eyebrows. “You want me to go with you?”
“If you have questions, you’ll be able to ask Sharpe directly.”
“He’ll not be pleased by my presence, I’m sure.”
“Since I trust your judgment considerably more than his, I find myself unmoved by that consideration.”
“George, if you don’t stop being so kind, I will surely burst into tears,” she said as he showed her into the corridor.
“My dear, you will alarm Constable Sharpe if you do so.”
She smothered a laugh.
The constable, waiting in the entrance hall, predictably looked unhappy to see her.
“Mrs. Knightley,” he tersely said. “Mr. Knightley, if I may have a moment of your time.”
“My wife and I will see you in the study,” George calmly replied.
The constable fell in behind them, muttering under his breath.
George ushered them into his office and seated Emma. The constable, however, remained standing.
“This news must be of some import to bring you out so early in the day,” George said.
“Indeed, sir. Mr. Elton came knocking on my door first thing.” The constable paused with great significance.
“And?”
“We’ve finally got him, Mr. Knightley, dead to rights,” Mr. Sharpe triumphantly stated.
Emma sucked in a startled breath. “Him?”
“You have a suspect in custody?” her husband asked.
“I have themurdererin custody. It’s Dick Curtis, a farm laborer.”
Emma opened her eyes wide at George, but he shot her a warning glance. Clearly, he didn’t wish her to reveal that she’d seen the incriminating note.
“Are you sure it was Dick Curtis who killed Mrs. Elton?” she asked.
The constable bristled. “Of course. As I said, we have him dead to rights.”
George held up a restraining hand. “Why would Dick Curtis murder Mrs. Elton? Do you have any evidence?”
“All that I need, Mr. Knightley. As for motive, it was filthy revenge.”
“I would be grateful for afullexplanation, Constable. Not just some cryptic remarks,” George said, growing a trifle exasperated.
Mr. Sharpe tugged on his vest, looking self-satisfied. “Curtis had a grudge against Mr. Elton. Even sent him a threatening note—nasty one, too. I told Mr. Elton he should have shown it to me as soon as he got it, but he said he didn’t want to get Dick in trouble. I said, ‘You’ve got a kind heart, Vicar. Butthisis murder.’ ”
Emma almost rolled her eyes at his theatrics. “The threatening note was made against Mr. Elton, correct?”
He nodded. “I just said so.”
“Then why murderMrs.Elton?”
“As I stated, ma’am, filthy rev—”
