‘Show who? What?’
‘You’ll see.’
Chapter 42
‘Have you seen the newspapers this morning, Augusta?’ said Fred when she arrived at her shop the following day.
She froze. ‘Walter Ferguson’s published his article?’
‘No. A lady had a fatal fall from her flat in Baker Street last night.’
Augusta placed Sparky’s cage on the counter and peered over Fred’s shoulder at the newspaper report. ‘It’s not…’
‘It is,’ said Fred. ‘Jane Stanton.’
Augusta leant on the counter for support. A wave of nausea washed over her. ‘Jane Stanton?’
‘I suppose there could be more than one Jane Stanton living on Baker Street. This Jane lived at number fifteen.’
‘It’s her.’
‘Are you alright, Augusta?’ asked Fred.
‘It’s just a shock. I’ll be alright in a moment.’
‘Can I get you some sugary tea?’
‘Thank you, that will help a lot. But tell me what happened first.’
‘It doesn’t say much more. It only happened last night, so I suppose there wasn’t a lot of information when this edition went to print. It says that Jane Stanton, aged forty, was found on the pavement on Baker Street shortly after half-past eight yesterday evening. It’s believed she fell from her third-floor flat.’
‘How?’ Augusta tried to comprehend this. ‘Did she do it on purpose? Was it an accident? How could it even be an accident? Do people accidentally fall out of windows?’
‘Sometimes they do. But only if they’re putting themselves in danger by leaning out precariously.’
Augusta shuddered. ‘Perhaps she was pushed?’
Philip told Augusta more later that morning. ‘I telephoned your friend, Inspector Whitman, at Crawford Place police station,’ he said. ‘They’re examining the flat and speaking with Mr Stanton to find out exactly what happened.’
‘Was Mr Stanton in the flat at the time?’
‘No, apparently he was elsewhere.’
‘Do you think someone could have pushed her?’
‘It’s too early to say, Augusta. D Division are trying to find witnesses at the moment.’
‘But it can’t have been an accident, can it?’
‘Who knows? Perhaps Mrs Stanton leaned out of the window for some reason and lost her balance. Or maybe she jumped deliberately.’
Augusta shuddered. ‘I hope this has nothing to do with our investigation,’ she said. ‘I already feel guilty about Louisa Bradshaw being threatened. And now this!’
‘It may have nothing to do with it, Augusta. I’ll keep in touch with Whitman and make sure we can get updates on what’s happened. We need to wait and see how he gets on. He’s asked Scotland Yard for help.’
‘So where was Robert Stanton at the time?’
‘I don’t know. Presumably he has an alibi, but I feel confident he’ll be properly questioned all the same.’
Chapter 43
Robert Stanton glared at the two men opposite him. Inspector Whitman was a lean-faced man with a thick grey moustache. Next to him sat a boy-faced detective from Scotland Yard. His name was Detective Sergeant Joyce, and he had fair hair and a sparse moustache.
‘I don’t know why you’ve got me here,’ said Robert. ‘It’s quite obvious I had nothing to do with this.’
‘We need your help,’ said Inspector Whitman.
‘Then why am I in the police station being treated like a suspect?’
‘Because it’s the easiest way to speak to you.’
‘My wife has just died!’
‘We’ll make this as quick as possible. Do you believe your wife could have deliberately harmed herself?’
He couldn’t bear the suggestion Jane would have jumped deliberately. ‘No, that’s impossible!’
‘And why do you say that?’
