The Affair of the Christmas Card Killer (Lord Kit Aston Book 1)

by Jack Murray

  He looked in the mirror. The old tweed suit was showing its age. It was time to invest in a new suit. This would be one of his first priorities when he finally got back to London. He heard a gentle knock at the door.

  ‘Come in.’

  The door opened, and Esther glided in. Bright gave a small sigh of relief. They looked at one another before Esther smiled and said, ‘Is this a professional call, or do you have other reasons for visiting?’

  Bright frowned, ‘Are you always so flirtatious with men you barely know?’

  ‘Yes. I’m afraid you’ll just have to get used to it,’ replied Esther before adding, ‘Alternatively you could find something to cure me.’

  ‘I have something in mind, Esther,’ replied Bright with exaggerated care, ‘Are you sure you want to undergo the treatment? It’s long term with some interesting side effects.’

  ‘Will you attend to it personally?’ asked Esther.

  Bright nodded.

  Esther walked forward towards him smiling, ‘Well Doctor, it looks like I’m in your hands now.’

  -

  Strangerson was having an absolute ball driving the Austin. Once they reached the open roads, he put the car through its paces reaching sixty miles per hour on an empty stretch of road. Devlin was relaxed about Strangerson driving at speed when the road was wide and empty but his instructions to slow down at corners were ignored or greeted with laughter. Strangerson was having too much fun.

  After twenty minutes driving at speed through the Lincolnshire countryside, a thoroughly contented Strangerson and a terrified Devlin returned to the safety of Cavendish Hall.

  Climbing out of the car Strangerson passed judgment on the Austin as being the absolute pip. Devlin had been around Englishmen long enough to able to understand that this represented a high watermark of praise. He was relieved to be back in one piece, and even more relieved to learn Strangerson did not own a car. The man was a maniac behind the wheel and capable of creating carnage in a populous place like London.

  Devlin walked through the kitchen without a word to anyone and made his way upstairs. At the top of the stairs he met Kit. They nodded to one another and Kit put several pound notes into his hand. Devlin returned downstairs, richer but with several years less on his life, he reflected ruefully.

  -

  Just after lunch Inspector Stott arrived with Miller and Constable Coltrane. Kit met them at the door. He immediately led all of them into the library. Under Stott’s arm was an envelope and Kit looked at it, then Stott, with something close to hunger in his eyes. Stott handed him the report.

  Kit read the report in silence. When he had finished he said, ‘Constable, if you and Harry want to go downstairs and have some lunch, we’ll wait here. Harry, can you ask Elsie to send some sandwiches up for Inspector Stott please? I’m sure he’s famished.’ Stott nodded: he had a very agreeable recollection of the food at Cavendish Hall and was already looking forward to what Elsie could provide.

  After Harry and Coltrane had left, Kit updated Stott on what he had learned and what other information he was waiting to receive. A few minutes later Elsie appeared with a tray of sandwiches for the voracious Inspector. Stott listened intently while he ate, even more intently. Kit outlined his plan for the afternoon and what Stott’s role would be.

  The sandwiches were polished off with remarkable alacrity by Stott. On Kit’s instruction the Inspector made some phone calls to the Metropolitan Police in London. Almost as soon as he had made these calls, the phone rang. At the other end of the line was a well-oiled Chubby.

  ‘Chubby,’ exclaimed Kit, ‘What news?’

  Chubby was still at the Savoy, and a long lunch with Spunky was taking its toll. ‘I have to say, old boy,’ said Chubby, ‘I hope you close this case soon, I’m not sure my liver can handle it.’

  ‘Still with Spunky then?’

  Chubby glanced over at the gentleman in question who raised his glass in response. ‘Yes,’ replied Chubby, ‘He sends his regards.’

  ‘Have you anything to report?’ asked Kit

  ‘You were right, Kit. All present and correct.’

  ‘I thought so. I’m with Inspector Stott, he’s the one I mentioned, holding Harry. At my request, he made some calls to the Metropolitan Police, so I imagine they’ll soon be at the scene.’

  ‘Not a problem, I gather Spunky’s team has been and gone, so to speak,’ added Chubby.

  Kit breathed a sigh of relief, ‘I’m glad to hear it, last thing we need is for them to meet up, if you know what I mean. Pass on my thanks to Spunky. I owe him.’

  ‘Will do old boy. Case closed, then?’

  ‘Almost. I’ll let you know what happens. Take it easy on the gin. Spunky isn’t always the best influence in these matters.’

  ‘This is true but suffer I shall for such a noble cause. Pass on my thoughts to Esther and Mary.’

  ‘I shall, bye Chubby and thanks again.’ Kit hung up. The Inspector looked at Kit shrewdly.

  ‘I suspect I don’t need to know all the details of your call.’

  Kit laughed and regarded the stout Policemen with a smile. ‘I think not.’ Then getting up from the desk, he walked towards the door and said, ‘I think it’s time we got everyone together.’

  Chapter 33

  Kit walked into the corridor just as Bright and Esther were leaving the drawing room. They were holding hands. Both were as startled when they saw Kit. A broad grin broke out on Kit’s face and he said, ‘I hope this means what I think it means.’

  Esther looked up at Bright and smiled, ‘It might do.’

  Kit walked over to Bright and shook his hand, ‘Congratulations, Richard.’

  ‘Thank you, I can’t quite believe it myself,’ replied Bright.

  Laughing Kit said, ‘You’re certainly a fast worker.’

  ‘I’m the fast worker,’ corrected Esther with a smile, ‘You must excuse us though, we need to tell Mary.’

  ‘Of course,’ responded Kit, ‘But can you all join us in the library when she’s heard the good news?’

  Bright looked at Kit and said, ‘Have there been some developments?’

  ‘Yes, but I’ll wait until everyone is together, if you don’t mind. Anyway, please don’t let me slow you down.’

  The couple took their leave and went up the stairs. Kit watched them go and he felt immense relief as well as happiness. Esther was one of the most beautiful women he had ever met and yet he had realized soon she was not the one for him. Unquestionably he had been dazzled both by her beauty as well as a grace that disguised her playfulness, a delight in the ridiculous which surfaced most when she was with her sister.

  And then there was Mary. She had seemed to be trying to push them together. Even Lord Cavendish often looked at him when he was standing with Esther. Something in his manner suggested the old boy had a romantic streak in him.

  It was the arrival of Richard Bright which crystalized where his feelings lay. Until then he had been caught in a quandary, not just in choosing between the two sisters but also a feeling of insecurity that either would be interested in a cripple like him. This uncertainty extended to the seeming inseparability of the sisters. Thankfully this problem was going to be resolved. But would the events of the last few days forever throw a shadow between himself and Mary?

  He had found his discomposure difficult to overcome since the arrest of Harry. It stemmed not just from his fears for Harry but also in Mary’s role in bringing it about. Now he hoped this uneasiness would end. Seeing Polly come out of the dining room, Kit asked her to have Curtis assemble the staff, for the second time this morning and bring them to the library. He went upstairs to ask the guests to join him also.

  -

  Half an hour elapsed before all of the staff and guests were gathered together. Kit stood by the desk alongside Stott. All of the ladies sat at the front with Miller, Constable Coltrane standing at the back beside Bright and Strangerson. The staff also stood at the back along with Henry who was with Jane. The
change in Henry, in such a short space of time, had astonished all. Unquestionably he and Jane, thought Kit, would make a beautiful couple, however unmatched they were in social rank.

  The final person to arrive was Reverend Simmons and he made his way to stand with the other male guests. Kit nodded a greeting to him and then began to speak.

  ‘I want to talk to you about the recent events: the sad loss of Lord Cavendish and the arrest of my manservant Harry Miller. You’ll no doubt have seen that Harry is back with us along with Inspector Stott and Constable Coltrane.’

  Stott looked on at Kit but remained silent.

  Kit continued, ‘A few days ago, following Lord Cavendish’s passing, I asked you to assemble. I alerted you to the probability of a Police investigation. For a number of reasons, I was not at liberty to explain why, beyond acknowledging the unexpected nature of his death would be grounds for some kind of inquiry. With Inspector Stott’s permission I can now tell you the reason we interviewed you. Over the last few years Lord Cavendish received Christmas cards threatening his life. This meant we could not rule out the possibility of foul play being a cause of death.’

  This announcement caused a stir amongst the staff.

  ‘After the death of Lord Cavendish these Christmas cards went missing from the library and were subsequently found in the coat of Harry Miller.’

  There was further stir from the staff and even Reverend Simmons glanced at Harry with surprise.

  ‘I have reason to believe the Christmas cards were planted there by another person and that Harry is innocent of having sent them. I will return to this in a moment, but I will ask Inspector Stott to update you on the results of the coroner’s report.’

  Kit stood back and let Stott take centre stage. In his hand, he held the envelope containing the report.

  ‘Thank you, Lord Aston,’ said Stott before looking directly at the Cavendish sisters and Lady Emily, who were sitting beside one another.

  ‘I’m sorry to have to discuss so distressing a subject in this public forum, but Lord Aston and I agreed it was entirely necessary.’

  The three ladies nodded, and Esther took Mary’s hand as they waited for Stott to continue.

  ‘I can confirm coroner, Doctor Farrell, is firm of the belief that Lord Cavendish died of natural causes.’

  Stott paused to let this news to permeate. Mary and Esther hugged one another, and both fought to control their tears. Kit looked down at Mary. She turned around and held his gaze.

  ‘Further confirmation of this view comes from Lord Cavendish’s physician in Harley Street. We understand Lord Cavendish had recently made several visits to him and that he was under medication for a weak heart. This was clearly not a murder, and therefore Harry Miller has no charge to answer. I’ll hand back to Lord Aston because this is not quite the end of the matter.’

  Stott stepped back allowing everyone to see Kit, who had perched himself on Lord Cavendish’s desk. He was holding the photograph of the army battalion in his hand.

  ‘The key to this affair has been sitting in the library all along. It’s why we’re all here today. The murderer tried to frame Harry because, due to an extraordinary coincidence.’

  Bright spoke up at this point, ‘Murderer, Kit? I thought the Inspector had just confirmed no murder took place.’

  Kit looked directly at Bright, ‘Oh there was a murder all right, Richard. In fact, had Lord Cavendish not passed away when he did, it might’ve been two.’

  From where he was stood, Kit could see the confusion on most of the faces in the room.

  ‘With Harry’s permission I will explain why the murderer framed him.’ Kit held up the photograph of the battalion and pointed to Miller’s brother.

  ‘Clearly not everyone will be able see this but the soldier I am pointing to is Harry’s brother, Daniel. He fought in the same regiment as Robert Cavendish. Sadly, he died for reasons that remain unclear, but I will say it was a military execution. Robert and Lord Cavendish each had a role in the execution. Robert headed up the firing squad that executed Daniel and Lord Cavendish headed the tribunal which turned down his request for clemency. This would, in theory, have constituted a clear motive for Harry to murder Lord Cavendish or, at the very least, threaten to do so. But Harry did not.’

  Bright put a hand on Harry’s shoulder as he listened to Kit talk about the death of his brother. The tension in the room was palpable.

  Kit continued, ‘Harry’s not the only person in this room who had a brother in this battalion, a brother who was executed.’ Kit paused and waited for someone to speak.

  Finally, a voice said, ‘Very clever Aston, but none of this proves anything.’

  All heads turned around to the speaker. It was Eric Strangerson.

  ‘I think you should hear the rest of my story, Strangerson.’

  ‘Dragging it out a bit old boy, aren’t you? You detective-types really are frustrated actors, you love being the centre of attention.’

  Gone was the buffoon. Instead Strangerson’s tone was of the cold killer that had dispatched so many German soldiers in No Man’s Land.

  ‘Proof? Oh, I think you should stick around for the rest,’ returned Kit, drawling sarcastically, ‘Old boy.’

  ‘Well I can tell you that I fully intend catching the five o’clock train to London, so if you don’t mind, I’ll be going,” responded Strangerson.

  Stott nodded his head and Coltrane put a hand on the shoulder of Strangerson. ‘If you don’t mind Mr Strangerson, I think you should wait for Lord Aston to finish,” said the young Constable. Stott raised his eyebrows. Perhaps there was hope for the young pup yet.

  ‘Thank you, Constable,’ said Kit. ‘To continue, as you may have gathered, our friend Strangerson also had a brother in the battalion.’

  Out of the corner of his eye, Kit could see the sisters look at one another. He asked them where they thought Eric Strangerson was sitting.

  ‘Front row, far right,’ replied Esther.

  ‘Correct. But did you notice the man with the cocked hat at all, sitting at the opposite end of the row? You correctly identified him as Harry’s brother. However, you failed to look at the very last man in the row. His head is turned slightly away.’ Kit handed Esther the picture.

  “Oh, my goodness,’ said Esther, showing it to Mary.

  “Indeed. At first, I thought Strangerson had pulled the old trick of running around the back to the other side so that he could appear twice in the same photograph. But I checked just in case. It turns out this man was, in fact, Joseph Strangerson. Sadly, he too, was executed by a British firing squad on the same day as Harry’s brother.’

  Strangerson broke in, ‘Thank you for bringing up my poor brother’s death. I don’t see how this is relevant. You’ve just confirmed Lord Cavendish died of natural causes.’

  ‘True,’ acknowledged Kit. ‘However, you’ll at least concede that it provides a motive for sending the threatening Christmas cards.’

  Strangerson shrugged. ‘Maybe, but you’ve no proof I sent them never mind planting them in Miller’s coat.’

  ‘But Kit,’ interjected Bright, ‘Why do you keep referring to a murderer?’

  ‘Because a murder did take place, let me explain.’

  -

  ‘We have to go back to Cambrai in France, just before Christmas 1917. I was returning from a mission which had taken me behind enemy lines. When I say returning, I mean I was crossing over No Man’s land in the middle of the night, from the German side, hoping to God no one would see me. I nearly succeeded but not quite. Not sure if it was a mine or a bomb, but before I knew it I was lying in a crater and pretty badly injured. I couldn’t move, my arm was trapped on barbed wire and I kept losing consciousness.’

  The audience was rapt. Mary seemed to be fighting back tears. Kit continued, ‘I would’ve been done for had it not been for an extraordinary man.’

  Everyone turned to look at Harry who smiled and held out his hands to indicate it was all in a day’s work.
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br />   ‘Harry was a sentry on this particular night. He spotted me almost by accident. He was asked by the commanding officer if he would go out and get me. Incredibly and luckily for me, he agreed. This meant crawling out into No Man’s Land. Let me add, he could’ve been shot at any point on his journey. Anyway, before I knew it I was being dragged and carried back to our front line. I owe this man my life. It seems the very least I can do is make sure he is not falsely accused of something that it’s certainly not in his character to do.’

  Mary turned around to Miller and looked at him in gratitude. From this, Miller understood life could soon change for Kit and him. He smiled and shrugged to her, the attention was getting too much, and he hoped Kit would move on. The tension was unbearable.

  ‘The commanding officer that night was,’ Kit’s voice faltered for the first time, he looked down at Lady Emily, ‘Robert Cavendish.’ She looked back at him. Tears were brimming in her eyes as she realized what Kit would say next.

  ‘As Harry carried me, a bomb landed near us and we fell just short of the trench. Robert was the first man out of the trench to drag me in. I have no words to describe his bravery, Emily. As he climbed out from the trench,’ Kit paused for a moment to compose himself, ‘he was shot.’

  Kit also felt tears sting his eyes, ‘I’m sorry Emily, Henry, I was partly the cause of Robert’s death.’ Mary put her arm around Lady Emily who could no longer hide the fact that she was crying. Moments later Henry had joined them; he knelt down and held his mother tightly.

  ‘For the last two years the assumption was a German sniper killed Robert. It wasn’t.’

  Looking directly at Strangerson, Kit pointed to him and said, ‘It was you, Strangerson. You murdered Robert Cavendish.’

  Chapter 34

  ‘How dare you!’ roared Strangerson. ‘I’ve had enough of this slander, Aston.’ Strangerson shrugged off Coltrane and made to go for Kit. However, a combination of Miller, Bright and Simmons restrained him as Kit looked on coolly.