“The same thing as I consulted him about last time. Almost. Take a seat.”
“Is it that bad?” Orlando paled.
“No, you idiot. It’s good news. I don’t want you fainting from relief.”
Orlando had fainted before, quite spectacularly on occasions, although in this instance it was less a concern for Orlando’s welfare than Jonty’s aching legs which had prompted the suggestion. He settled himself in a chair, waited for his partner to do the same, then said, “I wanted to ask him whether Denison was involved in espionage. The other Denison, I mean. Paul. It could explain why he was a long-lost cousin, because he’d have been off doing nefarious things. It might also explain why he could speak so confidently about his experiences.”
“Excellent logic. For once. And the answer was?”
“A resounding yes. Dr. P was sparing on details, naturally, although he confirmed that the man had served his country on that front. Interestingly enough, there’d been some sort of a … something or other and he’d stopped doing his spying under something of a cloud. I know,” Jonty raised his hand, “I’m as frustrated as you are at not having the details, but that’s how it is.”
Orlando inclined his head in acknowledgement of the situation. “If true, that would give Paul Denison another reason for agreeing to the switch of identities. Did you perchance ask at any point whether one of Dr. Panesar’s contacts would be able to identify which body is which?”
“I did, when I first spoke to him. The answer appears to be able, yes but willing, no. All too much skulduggery.” Jonty hoped he’d never be called on to act in such a manner. “There was one amusing, touch, though. Dr. P was asked to pass on a piece of information that might be useful in identifying Paul Denison, even if it’s only to our satisfaction. He had a peculiar way of saying the word door. More like doo-er. Doo-erknob. Doo-erstep.”
Orlando leaped out of his chair, took Jonty’s face in his hands and landed him a smacking kiss.
“What did I do to deserve such a reward?” He asked, when he got his breath back.
“Put my mind at rest. I can return to Cambridge with a clear conscience, knowing that we’re correct. It’s up to the police to do the rest of it.”
“How gratifying. I’m still baffled, though.”
“Remember that I told you how Denison grated on the maid’s nerves? She of the young man who was accused of watching the house?”
“Young George, was it? Yes, I remember that.”
“What I didn’t tell you, because it didn’t seem important at the time was that one of the things which unnerved her was his inability to pronounce the word doorstep. He put in too many syllables.”
“That’ll teach you to keep clues from me, no matter how trivial they may seem.” Jonty extended a hand for Orlando to pull him out of his chair. “To Cambridge, to Cambridge, to buy a fat pig. We can roast it to celebrate.”
Orlando, sighing, rolled his eyes.
Everything was back to normal.
Epilogue
The sun beat down, the only clouds in the sky were small, fluffy and seemed to bear no threat of rain, the roads were clear and the larks were ascending over the meadows. No better day to drive home victorious.
“Another triumph for the team of Stewart and Coppersmith, I’d say. Even though we solved neither of the mysteries we were called in to solve, we found a third and put that to rights as best we could. Snatched victory well and truly from the jaws of ignominious defeat.” Jonty had decided that after the adventures in Oxford, where Orlando had insisted on speed rather than matronly safety, he should try driving with a lot more haste than he was usually allowed to employ. Orlando would soon shout if he was unhappy with the situation.
“Much as I hate to vaunt our successes, I feel you’re right on this occasion. A whole series of triumphs, I’d say. From pointing out to Professor Lewis-Duckworth that his garden was being used as a short cut, to persisting with the case when he’d tried to make us give it up.”
“Indeed. I know that you were worried for your reputation when you came here, but he’s the one who has ended up being made to look a bit silly. I’m only sorry that if any of this shines a bad light on Gabriel. For all that I tease you about the place, I do have a sneaking fondness for your old college. It was quite a nice place, for Oxford.” Jonty gave his lover a sidelong glance. “It must have all due credit for making you the adorable old curmudgeon you are.”
“Less of the old and less of the curmudgeon, thank you. And less of the speed,” Orlando added, wagging his finger. “Getting to Denison’s house was an exception, rather than a new rule.”
“See, curmudgeonly.” Jonty eased the speed back, though. A man had to measure when and where to annoy his lover to the best advantage and not being able to scrutinise Orlando’s expression made the whole thing less enjoyable. “We can relish the rest of the long vac in the knowledge we did our duty. In more than one sense, if you get my drift.” The word duty had become their private code for romping in bed and the bedroom at the Randolph has been witness to a magnificent episode.
“Concentrate on driving. If you start thinking smutty thoughts we’ll end up in a ditch.”
“I think I’ll make you drive. In that case we should get back to Cambridge by the time the new term starts.”
“Have I told you you’re the most infuriating man in the universe?”
“Yes, you have. Many times.” Jonty sighed contentedly. “And I love you, too.”
About the author:
Because Charlie Cochrane couldn't be trusted to do any of her jobs of choice—like managing a rugby team—she writes. Her mystery novels include the Edwardian era Cambridge Fellows series, and the contemporary Lindenshaw Mysteries. Multi-published, she has titles with Carina, Riptide, Endeavour and Bold Strokes, among others.
A member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Mystery People and International Thriller Writers Inc, Charlie regularly appears at literary festivals and at reader and author conferences with The Deadly Dames.
Where to find her:
Website: https://charliecochrane.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlie.cochrane.18
Twitter: https://twitter.com/charliecochrane
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2727135.Charlie_Cochrane
Also by the author:
Novels:
Best Corpse for the Job
Jury of One
Two Feet Under
Old Sins
Lessons in Love
Lessons in Desire
Lessons in Discovery
Lessons in Power
Lessons in Temptation
Lessons in Seduction
Lessons in Trust
All Lessons Learned
Lessons for Survivors
Lessons for Idle Tongues
Lessons for Sleeping Dogs
Broke Deep
Count the Shells
Novellas:
Lessons in Loving thy Murderous Neighbour
Lessons in Chasing the Wild Goose
Lessons in Cracking the Deadly Code
Collected novellas:
An Act of Detection
Pack Up Your Troubles
Love in Every Season
Standalone novellas and short stories:
Second Helpings
Awfully Glad
Don’t Kiss the Vicar
Promises Made Under Fire
Anthologies (contributing author)
A Call to Arms
Pride of Poppies
Capital Crimes
Lashings of Sauce
Tea and Crumpet
British Flash
Summer’s Day
Lessons in Playing a Murderous Tune: A Cambridge Fellows Mystery novella (Cambridge Fellows Mysteries) Page 13
