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Category:
Crime
Publisher: Independantly Publsihed
ISBN-10: 520876408
Type: Fiction
Pages: 312
Copyright: Mardh 26 2017
ISBN-13: 9781520876405
Price: $1.99 (eBook)
A Dr Rama Mystery
It is the tyrannical Gawain Belvedere’s birthday. His friends and family gather for the evening at Luscombe Manor. After dinner the sound of smashing glass and shouting is heard from the library. The door is locked and has to be barged open, Lord Belvedere is found murdered, sprawled on the floor, a dagger sticking from his chest.
Can, Dr Rama, India’s premier criminal psychologist solve the mystery?
Excerpt
Gawain Belvedere sat brooding, one leg propped up on a foot stool in the library before the fireplace . There was small table at his side, on which was placed a jug of iced water, a bottle of gin and a glass. From time he would reach over uncomfortably and take a drink or replenish his glass as occasion demanded.
His leg had been fractured in several places after a riding accident a few years previously, and would never recover. He found it difficult to walk and was now incapable of doing many of the activities he previously enjoyed .
He leant over to pour another gin and noticed he had run out of water, “blast”, he then shouted for Penelope. There was no sound. He shouted again, he knew she was there, skulking around somewhere in the house.
He bellowed her name once more,
“Penelope!” Then she appeared.
“What’s the matter?”
“Water.” He held up the empty jug.
She was still a handsome looking female and still retained the figure of a much younger woman. The straight ash blond hair was tied back from the fine boned face by a blue scarf. The smooth skin possessed a golden hue.
“I am trying to get ready for tonight, Gawain,” she looked at him defiantly.
“Well if you hadn’t decided to get rid of the servants perhaps one of them would have done it.” According to Penelope they could no longer afford them, apart from a housekeeper and occasional staff that they employed on a casual basis for dinner parties and functions. He pushed the jug toward her and she took it.
“I hope you’re not going to get too drunk, everyone will be here soon.”
Penelope turned to go and Belvedere shouted after her.
“Make sure you put some ice in the jug.”
God how he hated the world as it was now. It had a complete disregard for the standards he struggled to maintain.
Philip Belvedere and his fiancee were in their room preparing for the evening when they heard Lord Belvedere shouting down below. Julia emerged from the bathroom in a dressing gown, Philip was adjusting his bow tie in the wardrobe mirror.
“What’s all that shouting?”
“Just my father.” Julia went and sat at the dressing table and began brushing her hair.
“Is he normally like that?”
“Most of the time yes, you’ll get used to it.”
“I hope, our, married life isn’t going to be like that?”
“Of course not.”
“Have you spoken to him about the will change yet?”
“Yes, of course but this is my brother we are talking about here, Julia. It‘s a delicate matter.”
“Well it’s clear, Henry is not interested in the estate. Your father still wants to go ahead with it?””
“Yes.”
“So when are you going to complete everything?”
“I will get him to sign the papers tonight. Lets not talk about it anymore.”
“Of course I understand.” She kissed him on the cheek, “come here your ties not straight.”
Penelope took the jug into the kitchen, a large red faced woman was in the midst of rolling pastry on the kitchen table.
“Lord Belvedere needs some more iced water, Mrs Hansford.”
She looked up at Lady Belvedere with a put upon look.
“Well if ee wants his supper on time ee’ll ave to wait maam.”
“If you just tell me where the ice is, Mrs Hansford, I will do it.”
“It’s in the in the cold room.”
“Where’s Mr Hansford by the way?”
“Ee’s round somewhere maam, I think he went out for a smoke before the guests arrive.”
“I’m ere,” Mr Hansford lumbered in through the back door wearing a butler’s suit that looked at least a few sizes too small. Lady Belverdere disappeared into the cold room.
“You’re never round when you’re needed Joe.”
“Wats the to do now, Margaret?”
“Can you check on the bird, I don’t know how I am expected to do everything and his lordship shouting for iced water.”
Lady Belvedere emerged from the cold room while Mr Hansford was opening the oven door.
“Can you take this to Lord Belvedere, Mr Hansford? I have to get ready, the Treganon‘s will be arriving any moment.”
“Right away maam.” Before Lady Belverdere had time to hand the jug over they heard the bell at the front door clanging.
“They’re here already!” Lady Belverdere looked around in panic.
“Is there anything I can do?” A tall man with a military bearing had entered the kitchen from the back door.
“Ronald! Thank goodness.”
“Answer the door Hansford and show them into the drawing room. I’ll take the water to Gawain, go and get ready Penelope.”
“As you wish, Sir.” Mr Hansford handed the jug to Ronald , while Lady Belverdere rushed off. Ronald then strode off after her.
“It will be a blessed miracle if this meal goes off OK, missus.” Hansford grumbled as he went to answer the door.
Penelope could hear the murmur of voices as she mounted the stairs. She hadn’t seen her daughter all day and decided to look in on her. Annabelle had gotten out of bed and decided to run a bath to clear her head, when her mother entered she was sitting on its edge with her head in her hands.
“Have you been in bed all day, Annabelle?”
“Don’t go on mummy I’ve got a splitting headache.”
“Have you had something to eat?”
“No. I don’t feel hungry.”
“What was daddy shouting about?”
“He had run out of water for his gin. Did you enjoy the dance?”
“No it was bloody awful.”
“How was Bertie?”
“He was a dreadful bore.”
The young farmers dance the night before had been a dreary affair. The ancient trio providing the music, were about as far behind the modern scene, as most of the guests. They had been responsible for her heavy drinking, as much as her escort, Bertie Prendergast.
“I always thought he was such a nice young man. He managed to get you home safe and sound anyway.”
“That’s the trouble, he is too damned nice.”
Her mother sighed. She wished Annabelle would settle down with someone but there was no point in giving her advice, she wouldn’t take it from her anyway.
“Well I hope you’re going to come down for the dinner party. The Treganon’s are already here.”
“Oh, god I had forgotten about that.”
“I wish you wouldn’t use that kind of language, Annabelle, your father is bad enough.”
“Sorry.” Annabelle looked blearily at her mother. “Do I really have to come down?”
“It’s your father’s birthday and I think Jack will be here.”
“He might liven things up a little.”
“And Lisa is home from London.”
Suddenly Annabelle perked up.
“Is she coming?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Perhaps she’ll bring the baby as well.” Annabelle relished the prospect.
“Annabelle!” her mother was shocked “You really must stop it.”
“But everyone’s talking about it.” It was the scandal of the village that Lisa had got herself pregnant and the fellow responsible had abandoned her.
“It doesn’t matter. I hope you’re going to be in a fit state for this evening.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, I’m running a bath now, I’ll be fine.”
Penelope entered her bedroom, it seemed like an island of calm amidst the chaos. Why did everything have to be such a struggle? She sat at her dressing table scrutinising her face in the mirror. Then began applying some make up. Absorbed in her preparations she didn’t notice Ronald enter the room, only catching sight of him as he got directly behind her and laid his hands on her shoulders.
“Ronald, you shouldn’t creep up on me like that,” he kissed her at the base of the neck.
“Sorry, my love,” she turned to face him, “you do look beautiful.”
“Thank you,” they kissed passionately this time on the lips. ”Gawain has been thoroughly horrid to me all day.”
“We should get away from here.”
“You know we can’t do that.”
“Why not? What‘s stopping us?”
“What would we live on, Ronnie?”
“I have my army pension, we could survive, as long as we have each other.”
“We have to wait, darling. Gawain won’t be here forever and then we can do as we please.”
“He could live for another twenty years!”
“Just be patient.” She picked up a necklace and started to fix it round her neck.
“Let me.” Ronald delicately fastened it, kissing her once more on the nape of the neck when he had finished.
“We should go down.”
After Ronald had left them, the Treganon’s sat in the living room. Auberon was pre-occupied in his thoughts and did not say anything.
He had retired early, to live off his income, which at the time should have been sufficient to cater for his needs. But by a combination of bad luck, and his own weakness for financial speculation, he had gradually dwindled away the substantial capital which he had acquired, from the sale of his wine business. He took a sip of his scotch. He had a scheme that he hoped would solve his problems. It involved approaching his old friend Gawain Belvedere, not the easiest of tasks, but this seemed as good an opportunity as any, he might not get the chance again to catch him alone this evening.
“I think I’ll go and say hello to Gawain.” He got up leaving wife and son sitting awkwardly in the living room.
“Why do we have to go through this every year, mother?”
“He’s your fathers friend, Henry.”
“That does not mean we have to kow tow to him constantly.”
“Gawain is lord of the manor, Jack. Its expected.”
Before Jack could reply Penelope and Ronald Belverdere came into the room.
Gawain Belvedere had not moved from his position and did not notice or acknowledge Treganon’s presence.
“Happy birthday, Gawain.”
“Eh” Lord Belvedere turned awkwardly to look at Treganon fiercely, “What’s happy about it?”
“Well you’re still here at least.”
Lord Belverdere laughed sarcastically, “I know you all wish I wasn’t.”
“That’s not true.”
“Well as you‘re here you can do something useful and pour me another drink.”
Treganon could tell this may not be the best time to approach Gawain but his circumstances required that he could not delay.
“I was hoping to discuss something with you, Gawain.”
“What are you after Treganon?”
“As you know I have certain investments which have taken an unexpected drop in value. I am sure this is only temporary but it leaves me embarrassingly short of money.”
“Get to the point.”
“Well I was hoping you could loan me some money in the short term. I have some other capital but it is tied up at the moment it will take me some time to realise it.”
“So you want me to give you some money.”
“It’s a loan, Gawain.”
“So you expect me to bail you out, is that it?”
“In effect yes.”
“Well the answer is no, you shouldn’t be such a damn fool in the first place.”
“I assure you, Gawain the money will be repaid to you in a few months.”
“I am not lending you any money, Treganon.”
“In that case I hoped I wouldn’t have to bring this up but you haven’t forgotten the favour I did you.”
“Are you trying to blackmail me?”
“I am just suggesting you reconsider, you know how embarrassing it would be if that past indiscretion was exposed.”
“I see,” Belvedere looked at Treganon steadily, the man was obviously desperate, “Let me consider it.”
“As you wish.” Treganon left then.
Did Treganon realise who he was dealing with? He was still the feudal lord of this manor, which he considered his divine right. Every mortal thing under his dominion must conform to his rule or suffer the consequences. He still possessed all on this land by right of blood. How dare Treganon try and tell him what to do.
By the time Treganon had returned Philip Belvedere and Julia had also joined the waiting group in the drawing room.
The front door bell rang out again, soon after a young man with an exaggerated hook nose entered the room.
“Bertie. How nice to see you.” Penelope greeted him, “I think you know everyone apart from Jack.”
“Oh, yes Lisa’s brother. Annabelle has told me about you.” He shook Jack’s hand enthusiastically.
“That was kind of her.” Jack was amazed that Penelope would let such an insipid creature anywhere near Annabelle.
She had not yet come down, had in fact dozed off in the bath, and at this moment was frantically dressing. Habitually nothing was going right. She couldn‘t decide what to wear. By the time she had decided, her room was a jumble of discarded clothes. Luckily she didn’t have to put on much make up, otherwise she would have been out of circulation all night. She blasted in to the drawing room like a hurricane.
“Sorry everyone, last minute rush. Be a darling Bertie and pour me a drink.”
Prendergast sloped obediently over to the sideboard.
“Jack, how lovely to see you?” She sank onto the sofa beside him.” I didn’t realise you were back.”
“Lovely to see you Annabelle.”
“He’s been very solitary so far,” Caroline Treganon leant round, “Exploring the countryside.”
“Do you still ride?”
“Not much opportunity recently.”
“You should come out riding one afternoon. Hurry up Bertie, I‘m as dry as a bone.”
“Coming right up, old girl.” Prendergast replied cheerfully.
“God knows why he puts up with her“, Philip whispered to Julia. “One man’s meat. Must be dreadfully fond of her, otherwise he would tell her where to get off.”
Julia observed Prendergast languidly as Philip continued.
“Mind you nice young fellow, well set up into the bargain, filthy rich I understand, so he wouldn’t exactly be an encumbrance to the family, if my minx of a sister should ever decide to marry him. In fact it would be ideal. He doesn’t seem to be the kind of person, who would be too worried about her gadding about, probably too stupid to realise, I should think.”
“Yes you’re probably right darling,” Julia put a finger to her lips and mused.
“And how is Lisa, I hear she is home as well?” Annabelle brazenly asked, Auberon Treganon looked at her with a stony expression. Fortunately at that moment Hansford had come into the room and Penelope took this as her cue.
“Come on everybody, let’s go into dinner. I bet you’re all famished, I know I am.”
“Shall I inform Gawain,”
“Thank you, Ronald, that would be lovely”
They took their places in the dining room.
A little later Ronald held open the door and Gawain Belvedere hobbled in propped up by his walking stick. He was a large man, the slightly unkempt hair and beard gave him the appearance of a biblical prophet. Although showing the ravages of his injury, he seemed to fill the room with his presence. A hush fell over the assembled company as he proceeded to the head of the table. Penelope went to help him take his seat but he brushed her aside.
“Don’t fuss about me.” He paused before sitting, eyeing everyone at the table like a predator marking his prey. “So are we all having fun.” Nobody dared reply.
“And who is this, I don’t think I have seen you before.” Gawain had picked out Julia.
“This is Julia, father, we are engaged.” Philip answered.
“Pleased to meet you, Lord Belvedere.”
“The pleasure is all mine my dear,” Gawain bent to kiss her hand. “Gawain, please, at least one of my sons has some taste. What’s the matter with everyone, isn’t this supposed to be a party?” He then sat in his chair.
Suddenly Lord Belvedere’s temper seemed to lighten and the atmosphere around the table became more convivial.
They were halfway through the main course when the doorbell rang again. A few moments later a tall slightly dishevelled man, with an air of casual self confidence belying his appearance, entered the dining room.
“Evening everyone.”
“Henry!” Lady Belvedere rose excitedly to greet her son. “I didn’t think you were coming.”
“I just decided to drive down at the last moment.”
“Well its lovely to see you.”
He greeted everyone in the room but his father remained silent at the end of the table.
“Make up an extra place, Hansford.”
“Yes, make room for the waster.” Lord Belvedere drunkenly sneered.
“Gawain, please.”
“It’s fine mother. I’ll eat in the kitchen.”
“No, you won’t.”
“Let him go in the kitchen, that’s where he belongs.”
“Lets not spoil the evening, Gawain,” Ronald intervened.
“It’s my house and I’ll decide who eats at my table.”
“As you wish.” Henry began moving toward the door.
“You will eat with us Henry. Continue to lay a place, Hansford.”
“Are you defying me, Penelope?”
“You’re being thoroughly rotten, Gawain and I won’t stand for it any longer.”
“Stop being so beastly to everyone, daddy.” Annabelle looked at him sternly.
“Hear, hear” Ronald raised his voice in support. Gawain looked around the table although no one else countermanded him he could feel their rebellion against his will but he didn’t want to give them victory without some sort of gesture.
“In that case, I will leave.” Gawain rose stiffly and moved to the fireplace where he unzipped his fly and began to relieve himself. His guests looked on horrified, the only noise was the trickle of his urine as he passed water on the hearth. Gawain then turned triumphantly back towards them.
“Was that necessary, Gawain?” Penelope looked at him in disgust.
“I thinks so, I am the master of this house and I’ll do as I please in it, whether you like it or not. Enjoy the rest of my birthday.”
He then hobbled from the room.
“I’m sorry everyone.” Penelope tried to smile but then burst into tears.
The rest of the meal although subdued continued without incident and the guests retired to the drawing room for coffee then dispersed to various parts of the house. It was a little after eleven o’clock when a loud cry was heard from the library followed by the noise of glass shattering.
Lady Belvedere immediately rushed to the door and found it locked.
“Gawain, are you OK?” There was no reply, ”Please answer the door, Gawain.”
“Can you hear anything, Penelope?” Mrs Treganon asked concerned.
“No”
Mr and Mrs Hansford then appeared on the scene.
“Do you have another key Hansford?”
“I’m sorry, maam, the only key is in the lock on the inside.”
“I’ll get Ronald, perhaps he can break the door in” Lady Belvedere rushed off only to bump into Ronald in the main hallway with Philip not far behind.
“Whatever is the matter, Penelope?” Ronald asked.
“It’s Gawain he’s locked himself in the library, I think something's happened to him.” Penelope answered panic stricken.
Ronald and Philip arrived at the door.
“Is there another key?”
“No.”
“Come on Hanford, we’ll have to barge it open.” After a few hefty shoulder barges from the two men, the door burst open with a crack. They fell in through the doorway. Lord Belvedere was lying sprawled on the floor, a dagger lodged in his chest, already his shirt was blood red and an ever enlarging pool of crimson was spreading around his body. His face was fixed toward the ceiling with a look of terror clearly etched on its lifeless features.
“My God!” Ronald’s initial reaction was to protect Penelope from such an awful sight. ”Keep them back Hansford.” Hansford was standing transfixed and did not move.
“Whatever’s the matter, didn’t you hear me?”
“The Bridport dagger.” He pointed at the inert body of Lord Belvedere.
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s the Bridport dagger, sir.”
“Pull yourself together man, keep the others back.” Hansford turned mechanically.
After a few moments Ronald emerged from the room.
“We must call the police.”
“What’s happened to Gawain?” Penelope asked pensively.
“Lord Belvedere has been murdered.”
Inspector Ludgate had responded to Dr Rama’s request for an English meal in a traditional English country pub by taking him to the, The White Swan, in Luscombe, you couldn’t get much more English than that. Sam Burton the landlord had not disappointed. They had finished the main course of roast beef and were discussing Dr Rama’s most recent case, the Bombay Silk Scarf murders when Ludgate received an urgent call.
“There’s been some trouble up at the manor, Dr Rama, I’m sorry we will have to cut the evening short.”
“My dear, Ludgate, do not concern yourself, I have had a most delightful evening. May I ask the nature of the incident.”
“Sounds like murder I’m afraid, Dr Rama.”
“By jove, Ludgate, what an evening, first you treat me to a wonderful meal and now a murder.”
“Not planned, I assure you, Dr Rama.”
“I didn’t mean to sound so enthusiastic, Ludgate but would it be impolite if I were to accompany you, in a purely observational capacity of course.”
“Why not I would appreciate your coming, Dr Rama. A car is on its way to pick us up.”
“Spendid. Abu my coat if you please.” Abu, Dr Rama’s Indian manservant immediately responded to his masters call emerging noiselessly from the shadows of the pub .
When they arrived at the manor, several constables were already on the scene and the evening’s guests were gathered in the drawing room.
A large constable was on duty outside the library.
“Has anyone entered the murder scene, Baines?”
“No sir, apart from the deceased’s brother, when the body was discovered.”
“Good. Let us see what we can see then, Dr Rama.”
“A most excellent idea, Ludgate, after you.”
Lord Belvedere’s side table and chair were overturned and his glass had been broken on the stone fireplace. After a few moments Ludgate turned to Dr Rama.
“Looks like an intruder.” Dr Rama was scanning the room.
“Yes, but how did he gain entry my dear, Ludgate?”
“Well from the state of the door, I would say it was locked from the inside.”
“The window then.” They both moved toward it.
“From the flaking of the paint on the frame and a slight scuff mark, looks as though it’s recently been opened.” Ludgate observed.
“Quite correct, Ludgate but why would an intruder choose to enter a room already occupied. In addition how could he know the window would not be locked.”
Dr Rama put his head outside.
“There are no discernable marks on the outside. I do not think this is the work of a burglar, Ludgate. There is some other motive at work here.”
“I agree.”
Dr Rama approached the body.
“There is something not quite right about this, Ludgate.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t you find it strange that although the table has fallen away from the fireplace, his glass has gone in the opposite direction.”
“He may have thrown it.”
“Yes that is true but from the pattern of the glass, it suggests to me the trajectory was downwards.”
“I see.”
“Also the murder weapon, it has come from this room. Look?”
There was a space on the wall where the dagger had once been mounted.
“Yes, it seems odd.”
“If the intruder had come to murder Lord Belvedere surely they would have already been armed, Ludgate, unless they knew that a weapon would be readily at hand.”
“So you think the murderer was someone present here tonight?”
“They entered the library by the door, then locked it, and left by the window. “
“It would seem logical.“
Dr Rama began pacing slowly around the room his hands clasped and supporting his chin, deep in contemplation. He then halted and looked towards, Ludgate.
“If we discount the possibility that the murderer was able to gain access to the house and leave unnoticed then our assassin is still amongst us.”
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