Corporate Crap and Other Dubious Wisdom

In support of Domestic Violence Awareness, B’Tude has posted her own true story.  This was not an easy decision for her, nor was it an easy story for her to write.  I urge everyone to please go and read her story.  Educate yourselves about a growing problem in our world.  Together we can stop it… but we have to know what it is.

(more Crap…)

This is a continuation of the Corporate Mystery:The Locked Room

“Damn ye Doctor… I think you’ve hit upon the jest of it alright!.  Now if ye’d be so kind as to point out the responsible party, young Robert and me’d be headin off to the pub.”

“Sorry Constable Denning, there are some things I must leave to you to solve.  My men are here now to remove the body to my office.  If you’d be so kind as to allow them in Sir.”

Stepping back from the doorway, and then exiting the room themselves, the Constable and Robert stood for a moment in the hallway pondering their next move while the Doctor and his men prepared to remove the victim’s body.

“I say, Denning,” began Robert.  “What do you make of all this?”

“Twas a cowardly act lad, for sartain.  Stabbin a mon tru a keyhole stead of facin him like a mon!”

Nodding his head Robert stepped aside as the Doctor and his men carried Mr. Doyle past them in the hall.  “I agree, this was certainly not the act of a brave man to do such a thing.  I suppose, though, that  Mr. Doyle must have had several enemies.  It would be natural to suppose that at least a few of them wouldn’t have had the courage to face him directly.”

“I would be surprised, young man, if Mr. Doyle had any enemies at all, and I will thank you not to be talking in this way in his house!” came a woman’s voice from below.

Walking to the landing Constable Denning and Robert looked down to see the housekeeper below with a broom in one hand, the other on her hip, looking up at them sternly.

“Mr. Doyle was a good man, and I can’t imagine why anyone would have done such a thing.”  Shaking her head, she resumed sweeping around the doorway.

Glancing at each other briefly, the two men proceeded down the carpeted stairs to the tile landing below.

“Missus…” gruffly Denning grumbled out just as Robert brushed passed him, knocking over the umbrella stand and scattering its contents over the floor.

“It’s Miss, Constable.  Miss Ryan, Meg Ryan” slightly irritated as she helped Robert pick up the various umbrellas.

Embarassed now, Robert “I’m sorry we’ve had to meet under these circumstances Miss Ryan.  This is Constable Denning and I am Assistant Constable Baker… er… Robert Baker.”

“Aye lad, now thet we’re properly introduced an all, can we be about git’n on wi it?  Miss Ryan then, how well did ye know yer master Doyle.  Seems as how ya might be having more of it then it seems.”

“I’m not certain of your meaning Constable.  Mr. Doyle was a very kind man.  He was always good to me, and to all of his staff.  In the ten years I worked for him I never once saw him angry or cross with anyone.”

“You were close to your employer then Miss Ryan?”  Interjected Robert.

“I hardly think close is proper for our relationship sir.  He was my employer, but I held him in the highest respect.”

Stumbling now (a fact now made worse by the crinkling around the eyes of his partner restraining a smile) Robert continued. “What I meant to say ma’am is that it is obvious that you knew your employer well…er would know about him.  That sort of thing.”

Nearly smiling now at the young man’s discomfort, Miss Ryan “Yes, well as I said Assistant Constable, Mr. Doyle was a good and respectable man.”

“Think now Miss… for it’s important we find the mon who dun this to yer master.  Can ye think of anyone at all who was angry at him… enough to have dun this?”

“I wish you would refrain from calling him my master Constable.  I am, after all, not a slave.  He was my employer, and showed me respect,” cocking her eyebrow slightly in obvious irritation  “Further, I know nothing of his business dealings, but I still cannot imagine anyone being angry enough with him to kill him. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.  I’ll thank you to be careful of your feet, all of you have tracked in quite enough of last night’s storm with you.”

Apparently dismissed, Denning and Robert walked through the door and onto the walk beyond.

Hurrying towards the waiting carriage, Robert heard behind him, “careful lad, looker tho she may be, and single ta boot, still she could have dun fer the mon.  Ye may not be wantin ta be fer buyin flowers fer her jest yet!” Denning chuckled.

(I’ll have Chapter II up in a few days… Enjoy )