Chapter 1
Detective Sergeant Iberson had been polite but firm.
"Lord Grantham, I do feel it is in Lady Edith's best interests that she hear this news from me, rather than gossiped about in the village, don't you?"
"Why can't you let me tell her?"
"My Lord, because my Inspector will have my guts for garters if I don't do exactly as he has ordered me to do. Besides there are details that I am sure you and she will want to know that you will not want her to remember hearing from your lips."
It was just before dinnertime and he stopped abruptly as Edith entered the Library. Cora had fetched her, and brought Mary and Matthew as well.
"You wanted me Papa?"
"Edith, dear, this is Sergeant Iberson. He has some news for you."
Edith turned to Iberson who said "Lady Edith, I don't know what you will think of the news I have to tell you. A few hours ago a motorist found a body on the road between Grantham village and Locksley." Edith gasped fearing the worst. "We believe it to be that of Sir Anthony Strallan."
"Oh no" she breathed, words failing her.
Cora asked "Was it a car accident?"
"No" Iberson said flatly.
"A heart attack most likely then" said Robert.
"No, my Lord. We know how he died." He paused, considering his words carefully.
"Well, speak up, man!" said Robert, impatiently.
"We believe he may have been robbed, or held up. I'm afraid he died violently."
The atmosphere in the Library darkened considerably.
"Oh Anthony!" cried Edith "You got through the War only for this to happen to you."
"Sorry, Sergeant" said Matthew, who'd been paying close attention to the Sergeant's words "You said you believed the body to be Sir Anthony's. Why aren't you sure? Has he not been formally identified?"
"No, sir, we haven't had a formal identification yet, but, from the contents of his pockets…"
"I'm still confused. Why…?"
The Sergeant anticipated his question "Sir Anthony was shot several times, and some of the bullets hit his face. It is impossible to identify the body by sight."
Edith fainted. The Sergeant turned to Robert. "You understand now why I had to tell her, my Lord?"
"Yes, yes, thank you."
After a few moments, Edith came round enough to say "Someone should tell his staff. They were very fond of him."
"Yes, my Lady, someone is there now."
Carson saw the policeman out, Lady Edith's sad sobs ringing in his ears.
Meanwhile, Detective Inspector Redman was standing outside the front door of Locksley grim faced. When Rigg, Strallan's butler answered the door, he introduced himself.
"Do you wish to see Sir Anthony, Inspector?" said Rigg, as deadpan as ever.
"It is about Sir Anthony that I wish to speak to you. I'm afraid I have some bad news. Sir Anthony is dead."
"Oh no he isn't, sir, he's in his study."
"I'm sorry?"
Rigg led the policeman to Sir Anthony's study and announced him.
"Good evening, Inspector. What can I do for you?"
There in front of him, hale and hearty, stood a man who, for the last few hours, had been officially dead.
"Well I'm blowed" he said.