Deadly Investment (A Fitzjohn Mystery Book 5) (18 page)

CHAPTER 24

Invited to join Esme and Mildred for lunch at The Green Door Cafe, Fitzjohn stepped inside to see the two ladies waving to him from their table in front of the window.

‘Hello, ladies,’ he said as he approached. ‘Thank you for inviting me.’

‘We’re glad you could make it, Alistair,’ replied Esme. ‘We wanted to thank you properly for solving the mystery of Beatrice’s death. If it weren’t for you, the true nature would never have been uncovered.’

‘It was your suspicions that started it all, Esme.’ Fitzjohn pulled out a chair and hesitated. ‘Is this Beatrice’s chair?’

‘Yes, and we know that if anyone is to sit in it, Beatrice would want it to be you,’ replied Mildred.

‘I’m honoured.’ Fitzjohn settled himself. ‘There’s only one solved mystery left to be told,’ he said.

‘Oh? And what’s that?’ asked Esme and Mildred in unison.

‘The mystery of Beatrice’s missing ring.’

‘You know what happened to it?’

‘I do, but I’m going to let Charles Stratton tell you. Isn’t that him coming through the door?’ asked Fitzjohn.

Esme turned in her chair. ‘Yes. I asked him to join us too and he said he would on his way to the airport. I hope you don’t mind, Alistair.’

‘Not at all,’ replied Fitzjohn as Charles approached.

‘Ladies, Chief Inspector,’ said Charles, taking Alistair’s outstretched hand. ‘Thank you for inviting me, Esme. I wanted to see you all before I leave.’ Charles pulled out a chair and sat down.

‘I’ve just come from a meeting with the agency staff.’

‘Oh,’ said Esme with a grimace ‘It’s never an easy task when you have to let people go.’

Charles smiled. ‘It wasn’t difficult at all, Esme because I won’t be letting anyone go. You see, I came up with a plan to enable the Maybrick Literary Agency to carry on. Not in the same building. That’ll have to be sold, but the funds gained from the sale will enable the business to continue in offices in North Sydney’s hub. The staff seems happy with that idea and I think it would please Beatrice too.’

‘I’m sure it would, wouldn’t it, Mildred?’ said Esme.

‘Oh, yes. It’s a wonderful outcome to a difficult situation. How do you find the staff, Charles?’ continued Mildred, her inquisitive side taking hold.

‘Very interesting. Like a box of chocolates with different centres.’ Charles smiled. ‘Alison’s a bit prickly, but I think she’ll eventually come around. She’s eager to make a success of the business and I’d say that that’s half the battle. Olive Glossop’s eccentric but, according to Alison, a hard worker.’

‘And Max Ziegler?’ asked Fitzjohn. ‘How is he fairing?’

‘Mmm. He’s been through a lot has Max. According to the ladies, his marriage fell apart some time before he was suspended on suspicion of embezzlement so things haven’t be good for him, but he’s back in the office. I spoke to him about his role in the organisation and asked if he will continue as the accountant. I think it’s important not only for him, but for his colleagues. It’ll help them all put the past behind them.’

‘Will Fiona Worth be staying on too?’ asked Esme.

‘Yes. In fact, the two of us have just spent the morning together looking at office space. I’ll leave the choice to Fiona, however. I have every confidence that she’ll choose wisely.’

‘She’s a marvellous girl is Fiona,’ said Esme. ‘You’re very lucky to have her on your staff.’

‘I’m well aware of that, Esme. That’s why I’m so confident in leaving the running of the agency in her hands. We plan to meet at regular intervals so that I can keep abreast of how everything is going. She’s even suggested a few things that I can implement in my veterinary practice.’ Charles smiled at the three faces looking at him across the table. ‘I hope we can all meet again when I’m next in Sydney.’

‘We look forward to it, don’t we Esme?’ replied Mildred.

‘We do.’ Esme paused. ‘There’s just one thing...’

‘What’s that?’ asked Charles.

‘Beatrice had a ring that went missing. Mildred thought she saw Olive wearing it.’

‘Ah, yes.’ Charles felt in his pocket and brought out a blue velvet box and opened it. ‘Is this the ring?’ he asked.

‘Yes. That’s it. Did Olive give it to you?’ asked Esme.

‘No. Beatrice enclosed it in that package that you mailed to me. The ring you saw Olive wearing was as she said, a replica because she had so admired Beatrice’s.’

‘Well, there he goes,’ said Mildred as Charles left the cafe. ‘So tall and handsome. He and Fiona will make a lovely couple.’

‘That may not be the outcome, Mildred,’ replied Esme.

‘Well, we can work toward that end.’

****

CAST OF CHARACTERS – Deadly Investment

Detective Chief Inspector Alistair Fitzjohn

Detective Sergeant Martin Betts

Chief Superintendent Grieg

Detective Constable Carruthers

Detective Senior Constable Williams

Charles Conroy-
Pathologist

Esme Timmons

Mildred Banks

Charles Stratton

Preston Alexander-
Investor in the Maybrick Literary Agency

Beatrice Maybrick-
Playwright & owner of the Maybrick Literary Agency

Alison Maybrick-
Agent & Beatrice’s step-daughter

Giles Enfield-
Agent

Max Ziegler-
Agent

Olive Glossop-
Agent’s Assistant

Fiona Worth-
Office Manager

Portland Moore-
Preston’s nephew

Sophie-
Fitzjohn’s niece

Meg-
Fitzjohn’s sister

Rhonda Butler-
Fitzjohn’s neighbour

Blossom-
Rhonda’s sister

Geoffrey Cousins
-Preston’s solicitor

Douglas Cameron
-Preston’s accountant

Deirdre Richardson, Public Trustee-
Beatrice’s Executor

Acknowledgements

I would like to acknowledge Renee Barratt for her talent and expertise in designing not only the cover for Deadly Investment, but the covers of all the books in the Fitzjohn Mystery Series.

Thank you also to my editor and proof reader, Greg Bastian, for his much valued expertise.

Last but by no means least, thank you to Melissa McMaugh for her encouragement and support throughout the writing process.

About the Author

Jill Paterson was born in Yorkshire, UK, and grew up in Adelaide, South Australia before spending 11 years in Ontario, Canada.  On returning to Australia, she settled in Canberra.

After doing an Arts Degree at the Australian National University, she worked at the Australian National University’s School of Law before spending the next 10 years with the Business Council of Australia and the University of New South Wales (ADFA Campus) in the School of Electrical Engineering.

Jill is the author of five published novels, The Celtic Dagger, Murder At The Rocks, Once Upon A Lie, Lane’s End, and Deadly Investment which are all part of the Fitzjohn Mystery Series.  She has also authored two non-fiction books entitled Self Publishing-Pocket Guide and Writing-Painting A Picture With Words.

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Also by this Author

The
Celtic
Dagger

University professor Alex Wearing is found murdered in his study by the Post Graduate Co-coordinator, Vera Trenbath, a nosey interfering busybody. Assigned to the case is Detective Chief Inspector Alistair Fitzjohn. Fitzjohn is a detective from the old guard, whose methodical, painstaking methods are viewed by some as archaic. His relentless pursuit for the killer zeros in on Alex’s brother, James, as a key suspect in his investigation.

Compelled to clear himself of suspicion, James starts his own investigation and finds himself immersed in a web of intrigue, ultimately uncovering long hidden secrets about his brother’s life that could easily be the very reasons he was murdered.

This gripping tale of murder and suspense winds its way through the university’s hallowed halls to emerge into the beautiful, yet unpredictable, Blue Mountain region where more challenges and obstacles await James in his quest to clear himself of suspicion and uncover the truth about his brother.

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Murder At The Rocks

When Laurence Harford, a prominent businessman and philanthropist is found murdered in the historic Rocks area of Sydney, Detective Chief Inspector Fitzjohn is asked to solve the crime quickly and discreetly.  After barely starting his investigation, uncovering a discarded mistress and disgruntled employees, a second killing occurs.

Meanwhile, Laurence’s nephew, Nicholas Harford, has his certainties in life shaken when he becomes a suspect in his uncle’s death, and receives a mysterious gold locket that starts a chain of events unravelling his family’s dark truths.

Available on
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