An Unmentionable Murder by Kate Kingsbury

maintain that if he was in a befuddled state, as you suggest, his actions would be automatic, would they not? His actual decision might well have been reached under the influence of alcohol, but if I picture a man hopeless enough to end his own life, surely he would make that last desperate move in a way most natural to him. He would reach for the gun with his left hand. I’m convinced of it.”
    â€œWell, we’ll never know now, will we.” George leaned back in his chair and laced his stubby fingers together across his chest. “Iris Morgan has identified the gun as the one belonging to her husband, and the inspector is satisfied it were suicide, so the case is closed.”
    Elizabeth pinched her lips together. “Don’t you find it odd that the man should choose such a dismal place for his last act on earth? All alone, in the ruins of a deserted building?”
    Obviously put out by her insistence, George gave her a baleful look. “I find it odd, your ladyship, that anyone would take a gun and blow his brains out. That’s what’s odd. Poor sod must have been in a terrible state to do such a thing. As for where he did it, well, I’d say he chose that place because he thought no one would find him and know what he’d done. He knew the building was coming down. Sort of a burial place for him, weren’t it.”
    â€œAnd you think that Clyde Morgan, from all accounts a harsh bully of a man with a temper to be feared, worried about what people would think of him if they knew he’d killed himself?”
    George dropped his hands to the table. “I didn’t think you knew the gentleman, your ladyship.”
    â€œI didn’t,” Elizabeth said shortly. “But from everything I’ve heard and seen, it wasn’t that difficult to draw that conclusion.”
    â€œIf you’re talking about that dart incident—”
    â€œI’m talking about a little girl who bullies her toys in an obvious imitation of her father. And a young boy who finds it necessary to settle his differences by pummeling his friends. I’m talking about at least two people who have mentioned Clyde Morgan’s hot temper. What other conclusion would you have me reach?”
    George’s eyes grew wary. “What are you saying, exactly?”
    â€œI’m saying that from what I’ve heard, Clyde Morgan was a man who collected enemies. I’m saying there’s a strong possibility that someone else shot him and made it look like suicide. The distraught father of a helpless young woman, for instance.”
    George’s eyes widened. “Bob Redding?” He shook his head violently. “No, no, your ladyship. You’re on the wrong track there. I won’t argue that he was upset by the unfortunate accident, but he’s not the kind of man who’d take a gun to someone’s head. Besides, this all happened almost two years ago. If Bob was going to do something like that he would have done it before this.”
    â€œNot necessarily,” Elizabeth said grimly. “Two years of watching your daughter struggle to hang on to life can create a monster out of the most docile of men.”
    â€œWell, no matter what you or I think, the inspector is satisfied it’s suicide.” George leaned forward to emphasize his point. “I suggest, for everyone’s peace of mind, your ladyship, that you leave it at that.”
    Elizabeth rose. “I shall keep your suggestion in mind, George. Thank you for your time.” She swept out, while George was still struggling to his feet.
    She had no attention of heeding his unwanted advice, of course. Until she was fully satisfied that every avenue had been explored, she was not about to accept the verdict of a police inspector who rarely had time to visit Sitting Marsh, much less actually work on a case.
    The demands of a big town like North Horsham kept the inspector’s hands too full for him