Raisins and almonds - Poisoned Pen Press (UK)

0 Kerry Greenwood
Phryne moved to allow Dot to supply a handkerchief and a
hug, and presently Miss Lee recovered herself. That had been a
cry straight from the heart, Phryne thought, and yet some scant
five minutes later Miss Lee was back in firm control of her face
and voice, though her hands gave her away, clenched together.
‘I’m so sorry,’ Miss Lee apologized. ‘Well, Mr. Michaels. He
came in, asked about the Theatrum Chemicum Brittanicum,
which is still on its way from France, then wandered over to
the Great Unsaleables.’
Phryne laughed and Miss Lee smiled. ‘You know how it is at
auctions, one has to buy a lot of rubbish to gain the thing one
requires? Well, I have my share of volumes which no one will ever
want, but one never knows in the book trade, so I keep them
on display in a case. Then—well, then it happened. I was doing
some accounts, and I heard him make a strange little sound, then
I caught him, he had some sort of fit, and then he died. The rest
you know. I went next door, the ambulance was called. They took
the body away. I knew he was dead. There’s an absence in death,
the person isn’t there any more. I was shaken, so I cleaned the
shop, reverting to type, perhaps. I swept the floor and re-shelved
the books and then the police came and here I am.’
‘Did you have a cup of tea that day, Miss Lee?’
‘No, I didn’t have time.’
‘And you didn’t leave the shop that morning?’
‘No,’ said Miss Lee. Phryne looked at her. She was trying to
conquer something—distaste? Finally she managed it.
‘Of course, I had to go to the lavatory, and I asked Gladys to
mind the shop for the time I was away—five minutes, perhaps.’
‘Because of your condition,’ hinted Phryne. Miss Lee blushed
as red as a poppy.
‘Yes. Of course, I had a packet of necessities in my desk. Oh,
Lord, and that policeman must have found them.’ Miss Lee tried
to cool her cheeks with her hands.
‘And that’s why you didn’t tell him you had left the shop and
why he thinks you’re lying,’ said Phryne, triumphantly. ‘Miss
Lee, I must go, thank you for your time. I will have you out of