Case Book #23.

Day 1: 15 August 2008
10:25 am.

Client/s: Mr Randolf Huxborough and Mrs Edith Langdale Huxborough.
Partner: Clinton Holmes (yes, amusing name for a dectective, I always think so)

As Mr Huxborough presented the case, his Mrs fidgeted with her fur coat – rabbit, I think, unless it’s one of those new synthetics.

Complaint that Mr. Dorian James Darke (with an E) and his wife Aramina Scott Darke [TEXT MISSING]



Day 12: 26 August
4.30PM
A lot has happened today. What an understatement!
It’s a bit scattered.
This morning, I think about half-past nine, one of Edith’s friends called to tea. Couldn’t get rid of her.  Clinton had gone out at nine to do something, I forget exactly what now.
So along about ten, there was a bit of a commotion outside. One of Randolf’s dogs barking at someone. I thought it was just the gardener but we heard shots. Edith’s friend went white and seemed to think ‘they’ were after her. She disappeared up the stairs as we heard the unmistakable sounds of the side door being broken into.
I followed her up the stairs. It would not be good for the case to have another incident in the house so soon after the apparent reconciliation.  I didn’t know if it was the same group or a different faction.
For some reason I think I decided to lead off whoever was attacking. I climbed out a window and slid down the drainpipe onto the shed roof.  I dropped awkwardly to the ground at the far end of the shed, via a stack of compost sacks, screamed loudly, and ran.
It gets a little hazy but I remember running along the paths to the gate. There were loud voices, I thought a chase. Shots rang out – they were shooting at me! I saw chips fly from the bark of a nearby tree. More shots.  I wasn’t too far from the gate. There were two vans parked outside. I think people were coming out of the second one. There was a sudden cold pain in my neck and I hit the ground. I heard more familiar voices from ahead. It wasn’t my partner, it was Dorian. My neck hurt. Someone knelt down and touched my neck, ye gods did it hurt, and I think I passed out.