My Unfair Lady

Book 390: Murder Room

by Guy Cullingford

Genres: Mystery; Traditional Mysteries

Synopsis

A short story by Guy Cullingford 'See my finger's wet See my finger's dry Slit my throat if I tell a lie . . . 'When a young girl approaches a man reading by a tree, warning him of a murder, he rushes to help. However, upon the disappearance of the girl - the only witness - he finds himself the prime suspect and shunned by the community. After managing to track down the young girl, Ruby, he sets about his own investigation but, when push comes to shove, can he bring the murderer to justice?

Release date: November 14, 2015

Publisher: Orion

Print pages: 19

Sample

I was sitting in a nook in the woods reading a paperback, when this little girl parted the leaves and looked in at me. At first sight she seemed no better or worse than the
usual run of small females, a set of indeterminate features framed in towy pigtails which had a long way to go to reach her shoulders. She was wearing a fairly clean dress, bare legs and
sandals.

“Excuse me, mister,” she said, staring at me good and hard.

“Certainly,” I said amiably. “But the wood’s big enough for both of us, and I daresay we’ll get on better at a distance.”

I went on with my reading. And though I kept my eyes on the printed word, I could feel hers like a pair of gimlets boring into me.

“How about leaving me in peace?” I said. “Be a good girl.”

She made no attempt to move. She was following her own line of thought, not mine. After a moment, she said, “There’s a gentleman being unkind to a lady under that tree.” And
she turned a bit and pointed.

I felt myself getting hot under the collar, and I said, “That’s none of my business or yours either. Run away home, you nasty pryin. . .