Raisins and almonds - Poisoned Pen Press (UK)

104 Kerry Greenwood
‘You don’t reckon she done him in?’
‘No, I don’t, and my employer, Miss Fisher, she doesn’t
think so either. Did you see anyone you knew in the market
on Friday?’
‘Yes, plenty of people. Most of my customers are regulars,
though they won’t be much longer if Gunn keeps on telling ’em
my chooks are poisoned. I’ll have the law on him if he opens his
gob again. But no one I know went into the bookshop, Miss.
No one came in here carrying a book, not that I noticed. My
boy might know more, but he’s a bit light on for brains. A few
kangaroos loose in the top paddock, you know?’ Mr. Lane tapped
his forehead. ‘Not that he isn’t good with the chooks, though.
They’ve got a lot in common. Billy, c’mere. Do you remember
anyone coming into the shop on Friday carrying a book?’
The boy looked frightened. Dot tried a gentle approach.
‘I’m sure you’re a good boy, Billy, and you like the chooks,
don’t you?’ Billy nodded. ‘And you remember Friday?’
‘Man dead,’ said Billy.
‘That’s right. Before the man was dead, did anyone come in
here with a book?’
‘No, but there was a lady.’
‘You spend too much time looking at sheilas,’ growled his
boss, and Billy gaped again, losing whatever concentration he
possessed.
‘Tell me about the lady,’ coaxed Dot.
‘Lady with a chook on her hat,’ said Billy importantly. ‘Nice
hat. It had a white chook on it. And shells.’
‘Did she buy anything?’
‘Two chooks,’ said Billy.
‘So she did. Why, does that mean something to you, Miss?’
asked Mr. Lane.
‘It certainly does,’ said Dot. ‘I really want to find that lady.
There can’t be two hats like that in one market.’
‘Well, if you really need to find her,’ said Mr. Lane slowly, ‘I
might be able to help.’
‘How?’ asked Dot.