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Chapter 10
It was late morning by the time the two women got back to 24 Harrington Square. Harriet left Agatha sitting in the study looking at her drawing of the cartouche, while she went and changed out of Sarah’s clothes back into her own.
Agatha sat at the study table thinking how she was going to get the drawing translated, when there was a knock at the study door. It was Sarah, with a copy of the mid-morning newspaper.
There were three extra issues of the daily newspapers printed during the course of the day. First there was the ‘Extra’ that came out mid-morning. Followed by the ‘City Extra’ which came out mid-afternoon and the ‘Final Extra’ was available to read, early evening before the presses ran again at 11pm.
With the disappearance and now murder of Thomas Carter still taking up columns in the papers, Agatha wanted to keep abreast with all the press releases issued by Scotland Yard and the Carter family.
She closed her notebook and began to scan the four-page broadsheet. The top story was of the continuing disturbance between the South African farmers and the British government over land-rights. Sadly, Agatha knew, over time, how that would eventually end up.
Next, there were reports of a spate of killings again around Whitechapel, sparking fears that after a ten-year absence the serial killer, dubbed Jack the Ripper, was back attacking women.
Then, in the bottom left-hand corner, she spotted it. ‘Funeral of Thomas Carter to be held at Bromwood Cemetery tomorrow at 3pm.’
Agatha thumped the table, just as Harriet walked back into the room. Seeing a look of disappointment upon Agatha’s face, she asked; “Anything wrong?”
Agatha left her chair and went to stand by the study window, looking down onto a busy Harrington Square. “The police have released the body of Thomas Carter; his funeral is tomorrow.” She eventually said.
Harriet went across to the table and read the article for herself. “I don’t understand,” she said. “Why does that make you so vexed?”
Agatha then walked away from the window, “It means the police think they have collected enough evidence to convince them that they know who the murderer is!”
“But, that’s good. Isn’t it?” said Harriet, who was still a little confused over Agatha’s disappointment at receiving the news.
“I suppose so.” Agatha answered. “I still would like to have had one final look at the body. That swollen hand of Thomas is still bothering me not to mention the odd appearance of his pockets turned inside out.”
Harriet read the time and location of the funeral one last time, “So, are we going to the funeral then?”
Agatha looked up at her from her notebook, “You bet we are!” Then returning to her notebook she concluded, “You can learn a great deal from a funeral."
To be continued...
© Alice White
Agatha sat at the study table thinking how she was going to get the drawing translated, when there was a knock at the study door. It was Sarah, with a copy of the mid-morning newspaper.
There were three extra issues of the daily newspapers printed during the course of the day. First there was the ‘Extra’ that came out mid-morning. Followed by the ‘City Extra’ which came out mid-afternoon and the ‘Final Extra’ was available to read, early evening before the presses ran again at 11pm.
With the disappearance and now murder of Thomas Carter still taking up columns in the papers, Agatha wanted to keep abreast with all the press releases issued by Scotland Yard and the Carter family.
She closed her notebook and began to scan the four-page broadsheet. The top story was of the continuing disturbance between the South African farmers and the British government over land-rights. Sadly, Agatha knew, over time, how that would eventually end up.
Next, there were reports of a spate of killings again around Whitechapel, sparking fears that after a ten-year absence the serial killer, dubbed Jack the Ripper, was back attacking women.
Then, in the bottom left-hand corner, she spotted it. ‘Funeral of Thomas Carter to be held at Bromwood Cemetery tomorrow at 3pm.’
Agatha thumped the table, just as Harriet walked back into the room. Seeing a look of disappointment upon Agatha’s face, she asked; “Anything wrong?”
Agatha left her chair and went to stand by the study window, looking down onto a busy Harrington Square. “The police have released the body of Thomas Carter; his funeral is tomorrow.” She eventually said.
Harriet went across to the table and read the article for herself. “I don’t understand,” she said. “Why does that make you so vexed?”
Agatha then walked away from the window, “It means the police think they have collected enough evidence to convince them that they know who the murderer is!”
“But, that’s good. Isn’t it?” said Harriet, who was still a little confused over Agatha’s disappointment at receiving the news.
“I suppose so.” Agatha answered. “I still would like to have had one final look at the body. That swollen hand of Thomas is still bothering me not to mention the odd appearance of his pockets turned inside out.”
Harriet read the time and location of the funeral one last time, “So, are we going to the funeral then?”
Agatha looked up at her from her notebook, “You bet we are!” Then returning to her notebook she concluded, “You can learn a great deal from a funeral."
To be continued...
© Alice White
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