by Lee Strauss
“Yes, madam,” Nellie said.
Then as quick as a whistle, she pivoted and blew. The dart whizzed across the room towards Robert, who’d been quietly making his escape.
He didn’t quite make it.
Ginger groaned. The dart hit Mr. Armstrong firmly in his right buttock.
Mr. Armstrong dropped to the floor, groaning.
Oh mercy!
“Mr. Armstrong?” Keeping one eye on Nellie, Ginger ran to the fallen man’s side.
He pulled the dart out of his backside. “I hope that fool of a woman didn’t poison me.”
Ginger had the same concern, but Robert Armstrong looked more embarrassed than poisoned. She held up two fingers.
“How many fingers do you see, Mr. Armstrong?”
“Two.”
Nellie Booth flopped onto the only upright chair and sighed. “I ran out of froggie poison.” Her eyes glistened as if falling into a memory. “They’re such pretty little things. Shiny blood red and deep blue.”
Ginger gently guided the pipe out of Nellie’s hand. “You must’ve been very quick to get this from your flat after leaving hospital.”
“I’m an athlete, madam. Running isn’t hard for me.”
Ginger righted the neighbouring chair and sat, her gun clasped in one hand, but resting in her lap, just in case. “Tell me more about the froggie poison, Nellie.”
“Oh, it’s spectacular stuff. My uncle knows all about the Brazilian tribes and how they use the poison from these little tree frogs to hunt larger game. He let me try it out, though, sadly, I wasn’t very good. I just had to sneak a bit back to England with me.”
Her head relaxed against the back of the chair as she continued, “Everyone is so relaxed over there. We spent every evening smoking weed. That’s slang for cannabis, if you weren’t aware.” Her eyes darted to Ginger. “Now don’t be shocked! I know it’s not a very ladylike thing to do, especially for us English ladies, but in the Brazilian jungle, there wasn’t anyone about to tell one what one could and could not do.”
In the background, Ginger heard sirens. Moments later, the sound of quick and heavy steps on the stairs were followed by Basil, springing into the room. His gaze dropped to the pistol in Ginger’s hand.
“Ginger!”
“I’m all right, Basil. But we need an ambulance for Mr. Armstrong.” She nodded towards the man sitting up against the wall, wincing in his discomfort. “Miss Booth shot him in the, er, behind. And she’ll need a lift back to the hospital. She’s definitely unwell.”
27
Two weeks later, a judge declared Nellie Booth unfit for trial and sent her to Broadmoor, the hospital for the criminally insane. Ginger did feel sorry for the tennis player because her trip to Brazil, which was meant to be an adventure with only memories and souvenirs brought home, had turned into something so dark and deadly. A new blood test had confirmed the presence of a sativa cannabis strain from South America known to cause paranoia in some of its users. That explained the sweet, smoky smell Ginger had detected in Miss Booth’s presence, and her unhinged behaviour. That, and the fact that Ginger had seen her sneaking alcohol at the fashion show, would point to an abuse of other substances.
However, Nellie Booth’s state of mind couldn’t excuse what must’ve been a premeditated plan cooked up weeks before. Miss Booth’s resentment towards Irene Cummings had run deep. Coco Chanel arriving at the fashion show with her bamboo parasol created an opportunity of passion for Nellie, who at the time had been inebriated and not thinking clearly. One might conclude that this new parasol could be dismantled much like any other. And if her performance with Mr. Armstrong was anything to go by, Nellie’s talent for tennis didn’t extend to darts. Millie and Felicia became collateral damage as she aimed at Miss Cummings, her true target.
Ginger could only hope that the tragedy would shake the rogue Mr. Armstrong into a state of sober responsibility and that in the future, he’d be far more careful when engaging with the fairer sex.
Coco Chanel had paid Ginger for her work, having had her name cleared and, inadvertently, sales of her now-infamous parasol boosted. All the designers were relieved to be released. Coco had promised to contact Ginger when she returned from Paris, inviting her to tea.
Perhaps the two would become genuine friends one day, after all.
Ginger was pleased to have her family life and her work routines return to normal. Madame Roux ran Feathers & Flair like a well-oiled machine, and Felicia—now happily reunited with Charles and all misunderstandings swept away—worked on her latest mystery manuscript from the offices of Lady Gold Investigations. No new clients had ventured in or rung, and Ginger was satisfied with the lull, preferring to keep her feet up as she read a book in the sitting room and having more time to lounge about with Basil when he was home.
Boss, who kept her company if Scout was engaged with his tutor, had become adept at telling the time. The clock on the mantel struck the hour, and he rose from his doggy bed, shook himself awake, and walked out. Scout’s lessons had ended.
Ginger smiled. She roused herself as well, remembering a letter in her study from her American half-sister, Louisa, that needed answering.
Ginger heard voices coming from the drawing room on the opposite side as she stepped into the hall. One of the double wooden doors had been left ajar.
“Really, Ambrosia, you are impossible.”
Ginger ducked her chin in shock. The voice was elderly and female and most certainly sounded like the Duchess of Worthington. She stepped quietly to the doorway to confirm her suspicions.
“I’m not sure what it is that you want from me, Deborah,” Ambrosia returned. “You betrayed the sisterhood.”
“Betrayal is a very strong word. How about a measure of understanding? If anyone should understand, it’s you.”
Ginger stared through the opening to see the two ladies sitting in matching green-velvet pincushion chairs, hugging the fireplace. A baby grand piano sat in the corner behind them.
“I’m sorry that your marriage to the Duke isn’t to your satisfaction, but I’m afraid that doesn’t change anything,” Ambrosia said coolly.
The Duchess shot to her feet. “Well, if that’s the way you feel, I’ll find my way out.”
Ginger darted away from the doors, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping. It was unbecoming behaviour, but Ginger blamed the war and her spy training for making her so curious and careful about everything.
She made it to the staircase before the Duchess stormed out, and she pretended to be on the first step on her way up. She feigned surprise. “Your Grace!”
The Duchess’ surprise wasn’t put on. “Oh, Mrs. Reed. Do forgive me. I’ve been to visit the Dowager Lady Gold. I’m just taking my leave.”
Ginger stepped in beside the Duchess. “How delightful. Where is Ambrosia now?”
“She’s, er, fatigued, so I offered to show myself out.”
“Well, I insist on walking you to your driver. I assume he’s waiting outside?”
“Of course.”
Ginger struggled to find a way to bring up the rift between the Duchess and Ambrosia without it being obvious that she’d just overheard their disagreement. As she opened the front doors, she said, “How nice it is that the two of you could renew your friendship after so many years.”
“Yes, well . . .” The Duchess left her thought unfinished.
They reached the Duchess’ motorcar, and the driver jumped out to open the back door for her.
The Duchess glanced at Ginger with regret flashing behind tired eyes. “Good day, Mrs. Reed.”
“Good day, Your Grace.”
Had Ginger known that would be the last conversation she would have with the Duchess, she would’ve asked more questions, especially about this mysterious “sisterhood”.
What would it take to get Ambrosia to open up? Though the dowager enjoyed a bit of gossip now and again, she could be tighter than a clam when it came to her own secrets.
And as for se
crets, Ginger had plenty of her own. She stepped back inside, just as Ambrosia neared the top of the stairs. The dowager looked rather older than she had that morning. Whatever her past with the Duchess, it wasn’t something to be ignored.
“Grandmother,” Ginger called out. “Is everything all right? I just walked the Duchess of Worthington to her motorcar, and she seemed unsettled.”
“I’m fine and she’s fine and it’s none of anyone’s business.” Ambrosia picked up her skirt and banged her walking stick rather loudly down the corridor to her room. Though prickly by nature, Ambrosia’s abrupt statement was rude, even for her.
Ginger sighed. Her natural inquisitiveness was a tremendous trait when it came to her investigative work, but when it came to Ambrosia, her curiosity would have to wait.
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Don’t miss the next Ginger Gold mystery~
MURDER AT ROYAL ALBERT HALL
Murder makes a scene!
Nothing ruins a night of Shakespeare faster than a duchess falling to her death. Mrs. Ginger Reed, also known by some as Lady Gold, is at the Royal Albert Hall with her husband, Basil Reed, a chief inspector at Scotland Yard, and the two of them are immediately at the scene. Was the duchess of Worthington’s fall accidental? Where was the duke?
And what does Ginger’s grandmother, Ambrosia, the dowager Lady Gold have to do with the sordid affair?
Something went terribly wrong with the dowager’s "sisterhood" of friends back in the 1860s, and it's all coming home to roost.
Buy on AMAZON or read Free with Kindle Unlimited!
Have you discovered Rosa Reed?
Check out this new, fun 1950s cozy mystery series!
MURDER AT HIGH TIDE
a Rosa Reed Mystery #1
Murder's all wet!
It's 1956 and WPC (Woman Police Constable) Rosa Reed has left her groom at the altar in London. Time spent with her American cousins in Santa Bonita, California is exactly what she needs to get back on her feet, though the last thing she expected was to get entangled in another murder case!
If you love early rock & roll, poodle skirts, clever who-dun-its, a charming cat and an even more charming detective, you're going to love this new series!
Buy on AMAZON or read Free with Kindle Unlimited!
Ginger Gold’s Journal
Sign up for Lee’s readers list and gain access to Ginger Gold’s private Journal. Find out about Ginger’s Life before the SS Rosa and how she became the woman she has. This is a fluid document that will cover her romance with her late husband Daniel, her time serving in the British secret service during World War One, and beyond. Includes a recipe for Dark Dutch Chocolate Cake!
It begins: July 31, 1912
How fabulous that I found this Journal today, hidden in the bottom of my wardrobe. Good old Pippins, our English butler in London, gave it to me as a parting gift when Father whisked me away on our American adventure so he could marry Sally. Pips said it was for me to record my new adventures. I’m ashamed I never even penned one word before today. I think I was just too sad.
This old leather-bound journal takes me back to that emotional time. I had shed enough tears to fill the ocean and I remember telling Father dramatically that I was certain to cause flooding to match God’s. At eight years old I was well-trained in my biblical studies, though, in retro-spect, I would say that I had probably bordered on heresy with my little tantrum.
The first week of my “adventure” was spent with a tummy ache and a number of embarrassing sessions that involved a bucket and Father holding back my long hair so I wouldn’t soil it with vomit.
I certainly felt that I was being punished for some reason. Hartigan House—though large and sometimes lonely—was my home and Pips was my good friend. He often helped me to pass the time with games of I Spy and Xs and Os.
“Very good, Little Miss,” he’d say with a twinkle in his blue eyes when I won, which I did often. I suspect now that our good butler wasn’t beyond letting me win even when unmerited.
Father had got it into his silly head that I needed a mother, but I think the truth was he wanted a wife. Sally, a woman half my father’s age, turned out to be a sufficient wife in the end, but I could never claim her as a mother.
Well, Pips, I’m sure you’d be happy to know that things turned out all right here in America.
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About the Author
Lee Strauss is a USA TODAY bestselling author of The Ginger Gold Mysteries series, The Higgins & Hawke Mystery series, The Rosa Reed Mystery series (cozy historical mysteries), A Nursery Rhyme Mystery series (mystery suspense), The Perception series (young adult dystopian), The Light & Love series (sweet romance), The Clockwise Collection (YA time travel romance), and young adult historical fiction with over a million books read. She has titles published in German, Spanish and Korean, and a growing audio library.
When Lee’s not writing or reading she likes to cycle, hike, and stare at the ocean. She loves to drink caffè lattes and red wines in exotic places, and eat dark chocolate anywhere.
For more info on books by Lee Strauss and her social media links, visit leestraussbooks.com. To make sure you don’t miss the next new release, be sure to sign up for her readers’ list!
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More from Lee Strauss
On AMAZON
GINGER GOLD MYSTERY SERIES (cozy 1920s historical)
Cozy. Charming. Filled with Bright Young Things. This Jazz Age murder mystery will entertain and delight you with its 1920s flair and pizzazz!
Murder on the SS Rosa
Murder at Hartigan House
Murder at Bray Manor
Murder at Feathers & Flair
Murder at the Mortuary
Murder at Kensington Gardens
Murder at St. George’s Church
The Wedding of Ginger & Basil
Murder Aboard the Flying Scotsman
Murder at the Boat Club
Murder on Eaton Square
Murder by Plum Pudding
Murder on Fleet Street
Murder at Brighton Beach
Murder in Hyde Park
Murder at the Royal Albert Hall
Murder in Belgravia
LADY GOLD INVESTIGATES (Ginger Gold companion short stories)
Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Volume 4
HIGGINS & HAWKE MYSTERY SERIES (cozy 1930s historical)
The 1930s meets Rizzoli & Isles in this friendship depression era cozy mystery series.
Death at the Tavern
Death on the Tower
Death on Hanover
THE ROSA REED MYSTERIES
(1950s cozy historical)
Murder at High Tide
Murder on the Boardwalk
Murder at the Bomb Shelter
Murder on Location
Murder and Rock ’n Roll
Murder at the Races
Murder at the Dude Ranch
A NURSERY RHYME MYSTERY SERIES(mystery/sci fi)
Marlow finds himself teamed
up with intelligent and savvy Sage Farrell, a girl so far out of his league he feels blinded in her presence - literally - damned glasses! Together they work to find the identity of @gingerbreadman. Can they stop the killer before he strikes again?
Gingerbread Man
Life Is but a Dream
Hickory Dickory Dock
Twinkle Little Star
THE PERCEPTION TRILOGY (YA dystopian mystery)
Zoe Vanderveen is a GAP—a genetically altered person. She lives in the security of a walled city on prime water-front property along side other equally beautiful people with extended life spans. Her brother Liam is missing. Noah Brody, a boy on the outside, is the only one who can help ~ but can she trust him?
Perception
Volition
Contrition
LIGHT & LOVE (sweet romance)
Set in the dazzling charm of Europe, follow Katja, Gabriella, Eva, Anna and Belle as they find strength, hope and love.
Sing me a Love Song
Your Love is Sweet
In Light of Us
Lying in Starlight
