Raisins and almonds - Poisoned Pen Press (UK)

Raisins and Almonds 1
‘Yes,’ said Phryne. ‘After a suitable interval for ablutions and
breakfast, I am taking Jack Robinson to the bookshop to show
him the murder weapon, and shortly thereafter I expect to get
Miss Lee out of quod.’
‘The murder weapon?’ asked Simon, after looking at Dot
for guidance and realizing that she was as ignorant as he was.
‘It’s still in the shop?’
‘I hope so,’ said Phryne, and refused to say any more.
999
Miss Lee had moved onto the fourth declension. She wondered,
occasionally, sleepless at three in the morning, if she would
master the whole lexicon before they hanged her, which seemed
to be a terrible waste of an education.
But one must not give way. Because she was on remand, she
was allowed to receive gifts. Every day fresh flowers arrived, and
chocolates, books and cigarettes. The last bunch was red roses,
from Mr. Abrahams.
Someone still believed that she was innocent. And the remarkable
Phryne Fisher was still investigating.
‘Manus, manus, manum,’ sang Miss Lee. ‘Manus, manui,
manu.’
999
‘What’s a man gotta do to get an answer?’ asked Bert of Cec, as
they stood before a gate which was not only closed but had two
braces nailed across it.
‘I don’t reckon we’re gonna get an answer, mate,’ opined Cec.
‘Yair, looks like Wm. Gibson, Carter, has cashed it in and
gone to the South Sea Isles, all right. You should be able to see
over the fence if I can give you a bit of a boost.’
Bert bent and Cec rose. He held on to the shaky grey timber
and reported, ‘Nothing in the yard, mate. Let me down. No truck.
There’s a busted-looking old dray, and that’s all. Not even a cat.’
‘Well, that’s torn it,’ said Bert, removing his hat and scratching
his bald spot. Working for Miss Fisher, he reckoned, was