The Atlas Murders by John Molloy Page A

dinner." She handed Henry a large glass of
Remy Martin and poured one for herself. Then, tipping glasses she said, "Here's
to our continued friendship and your success in your duty. I'm going to change
into something a little more comfortable, be back in two minutes."
    Henry sipped his drink and
let his gaze wander freely over the room. He had never been in such a place so
seething with character and presence. The diamond fronted glass cabinet with
volumes of gilt and leather bound books, the heavily framed paintings of
sporting scenes and graceful equine specimens; a large carved inlaid table of
rosewood and six chairs to match, with silverware placed at random on an
elegant mahogany sideboard.
    After a short time, Vera re-appeared,
moving silent and graceful on slippered feet, her hair loose and shoulder
length. The pertness of her body was obvious beneath the lemon colored silk
kimono she was now wearing. She sat on the large couch curling her legs in
under her, and tossing her hair back, she sipped slowly from the brandy glass.
     "When I left Percy, or
should I say when he left me, well, he married Centaine and within the shortest
possible time to retain respectability, they had a son. His name: Oswyn P Welland,
the deck apprentice on the S.S.Rangoon. He should be my son and he would not
have the hot French blood of his mother which can drive young men into the
willing flesh of troublesome country girls. A young female member of staff fell
to her death from the rampart of Thurrock Hall about eighteen months ago. Did
you not hear of it in your job?"
     "No! It must have come
to nothing or the papers would have run the story."
    "Yes you're right it,
came to nothing and it was kept out of the papers. The true story is that young
Oswyn was having sex with this young girl named Alice Whittle, but she was also
giving her favors to one of the lads working on the farm. However, accidental
death was eventually recorded at her inquest."
    Henry stood up and removed
his jacket.
     "How do you know Oswyn
was involved with this girl and who saw him on the roof?"
    “Seemingly, only one person
saw them and what transpired up there. I heard it from a brother of the lad
that there was only one witness. The brother works on my family estate. I
didn't tell you I was noble born and reared - not extravagantly though. I grew
up on a four thousand acre estate in Surrey. It was the gardener who witnessed
the scene."
    "Why didn't the lad
spill the beans; he surely must have felt for the young girl and her
family?"
    "He was a loyal servant,
his family had worked at Thurrock Hall for four generations, and it's hard to
break that type of bond. Some of these people would die rather than cast disgrace
on their master or estate. But to make sure nothing came out he was given a
large sum of money and posted to Southern Rhodesia to one of the families
tobacco growing plantations."
    "He could still be
subpoenaed if we had enough evidence to substantiate a case. Would you be
willing to give that evidence in court?"
    "I thought you might ask
that and the answer is no. I am telling you this to help you catch the killer
of your niece, and if he's your man, well so be it. Let justice be done. There
is no chance either of those two brothers would ever give testimony if it would
cause problems for their future lord and master."
    Henry finished his drink and
Vera took the glass and placed it on the coffee table alongside her own.
"Come here Henry." As she leaned across to him her kimono loosened
and her naked filigree beauty washed over him in a wave of lust. Her deft
fingers quickly had his shirt removed. She loosed his buttons and belt and her
nymph-perfect body straddled his as he lay back against the firm leather. Like
a hungry babe he sucked her firm breasts as she began to moan and sigh as he
entered her. She savored his hard manhood moving slowly and deliberately,
devouring the intensity of its largeness. Their naked bodies reached the highs
and lows as