Raisins and almonds - Poisoned Pen Press (UK)

Raisins and Almonds 10
‘Well, she didn’t want to carry two chooks and a dozen fresh
eggs home in her hand, did she?’
‘Do you deliver, Mr. Lane?’ asked Dot, reaching for her
notebook.
‘I do, Miss. But it doesn’t seem right to give away a customer’s
address.’
Dot knew what was happening. Mr. Lane was waiting for
a bribe and Dot was momentarily at a loss. How do you bribe
someone? Miss Fisher had not covered this in her briefing. She
took out a ten shilling note and laid it on the counter. ‘For your
trouble,’ she mumbled.
It was easier than she had thought. The note vanished with
speed and Mr. Lane seemed unaware that it had ever been there.
He consulted his ledger.
‘Delivery…now where is it? Two chooks and a dozen…yes.
Here we are, Miss.’ He jotted down the address and name on
the corner of a piece of white wrapping paper. ‘There you are,
Miss. Good luck. Miss Lee’s a real nice lady.’
Dot left the shop, vowing never to buy any of his produce.
If he thought Miss Lee was a real nice lady, why did he need
a financial inducement to give Dot the address? His chickens
probably were poisoned, thought Dot, and went into the bird
dealer’s shop. So far, she was doing very well.
The air was full of twittering. Cages lined three of the walls.
A profusion of rainbow-coloured finches, canaries and budgies
occupied the smaller cages. Dot was bending to look into
an elaborate wrought-iron construction when a gruff voice
remarked, ‘Pretty girl.’
Dot jumped. There did not seem to be anyone else in the
small room. She looked around.
‘Pretty girl,’ said the voice again.
Dot heard a discordant whistle and then the jingle of a chain.
‘Polly wants,’ said the speaker, shuffling into sight.
It was the biggest white cockatoo that Dot had ever seen,
sulphur-crested, with a beak which looked capable of opening
tins. It was secured by one leg to a fine chain fixed to the perch,