Chapter 23
A Trap Made of Seed Packets
Beatrice entered Wren House with the original key and no umbrella.
June waited behind the seed cabinet with a torch. Asha waited outside with two officers. The plan required June to observe only. It failed when Beatrice locked the outer door and found her first.
"A librarian's trap," Beatrice said. "Different catalogue locations. I expected better."
She held Elsie's missing memory card between two fingers.
"You killed Arthur for a housing annex."
"I protected a project from a man who monetised every decent impulse in town."
"By changing his medicine?"
For the first time, Beatrice's expression moved.
"He was meant to miss the vote. One collapse. One hospital night."
An admission, but not enough if no one heard it. June touched the fake seed packet in her pocket. Its folded seam concealed Elsie's tiny audio recorder.
Beatrice saw the movement and lunged.
The packet tore. Seeds scattered across the floor. The recorder slid beneath the cabinet.
Beatrice raised the memory card over the paraffin heater.
Behind her, the outer lock turned.