Raisins and almonds - Poisoned Pen Press (UK)

Raisins and Almonds 1
‘Lady at the house over there says that Gibson’s been gone
for six months. Says he sold up his stuff and went to join his
daughter in Queensland—so you were almost right about the
South Sea Isles.’
‘That can’t be right,’ objected Bert. ‘The bloke delivered a
box to Miss Lee’s last week. We’ve got the dispatch note.’
‘Can’t have,’ insisted Cec. ‘The old lady was pretty clear about
it. Said she missed him being there. She’s crippled, and she liked
watching his trucks go in and out. Poor old chook. But she’s got
a good dog to keep her company. A blue heeler called Sally.’
‘I hope they’ll both be very happy,’ said Bert sarcastically.
‘But we’re at a dead end, then.’
‘Yair, well, Mrs. Hebden told me that all Gibson’s stuff went
to a dealer, and she gave me his name. And she says his top
cocky driver, bloke the name of Black Jack Alderton, practically
lives at the Albion Hotel since his latest job folded. That’s
at the corner of Faraday Street and Lygon Street, isn’t it? That’s
the next step.’
‘Bloody beauty,’ said Bert. ‘I gotta get out of the sun, it’s as
hot as bloody Cairo.’
999
Miss Lee looked up from her book. The hard-faced warder was
there.
‘You’re to pack up your things, Lee,’ she said crisply.
‘Governor’s waiting.’
Miss Lee closed the book and reached for her bag. She had
been moved from cell to cell over the last four days and was used
to packing quickly. She laid the last garment in her case, clicked
the latches, and asked, ‘Where am I going?’
‘Governor’ll tell you,’ said the guard. ‘Off remand, anyway.’
That must mean that she was going to trial. Miss Lee followed
the wardress through the corridors. The floors in the prison were
scrubbed every morning by a special punishment detail; they
were so clean that an unwary mouse might skid on them. The
walls were an unrefreshing shade of mud. Miss Lee preceded the