The Sandie Shaw Mysteries: Sins of the Mother: Sandie Shaw, #11

By R T Green

Tutankhamen, tomb-raiders and an ancient Egyptian curse… what could possibly go wrong?

 

Even before Sandie has chance to come to terms with life in England, the team is asked to head to Egypt for the biggest job they've ever undertaken.

It all begins when, unaware of the consequences, Archie and Rose accept a straightforward missing-person case, for the last man on Earth they ever thought would contact the agency.

As it turns out, it's anything but straightforward.

The trip to Egypt descends into a dangerous mix of murder, buried secrets, and shadowy figures who will stop at nothing to ensure their justice is done.

And then of course, there's the ancient curse…

 

Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, 'Sins of the Mother' will keep you on the edge of your seats until the very last twist!

 

Enjoy!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wise Owl
• Release date: Feb 5, 2024
• ISBN: 9798223784166

R T Green

The RTG mission in life is simple... to not be like everyone else! ‘Going Green’ has taken on a new meaning, in the book world at least. Whilst we applaud the original meaning (ebooks are a perfect way to promote that) we also try to present a different angle to it. The tendency these days is that if you don’t look and read like everyone else, you don’t sell books. Maybe there’s some truth in that, but we simply don’t do it. The RTG books have been described as a ‘breath of fresh literary air’, and, by those discovering us for the first time, ‘unexpectedly good’. We know many readers prefer the same-old same old, and that’s fine. It’s just not what you get from the RTG stable. Those who know about such things said it would take five years to become a proficient author... I scoffed at that. They were wise. It took six. It’s one reason why even today we remodel existing books, and will always do so. Right from the early years the stories were always good, but were put into words less well than they could have been! These days we have several series and a few standalones, the hit Daisy series most popular amongst them. In everything we do, the same provisos apply – Never the same book twice. If we can’t think up a good story, it doesn’t get written. The RTG brand is about exciting and twisty plots, a fast pace which doesn’t waste words, and endearing (sometimes slightly crazy) characters. We can never please everyone, but it works for us, and, it seems, for those who appreciate our work. Enjoy! Richard, Ann and the RTG crew

Book preview

Introduction

SANDIE, FORCED INTO making a new life for herself, joins Daphne and Archie in Windsor UK, where the private detective agency is alive and well.

For sure it’s a whole new way of life, but her friends (especially the English ones) do all they can to make the transition as easy as possible.

Now 1929, it’s a far cry from the time nine years ago, when another huge change was forced upon her, making her reevaluate her entire existence the first time round.

Taking over the one-man agency when her father died, and making it a one-woman operation, she knew from the off that in the male-dominated Chicago environment she had to be tough and witty to succeed.

And that keeping well away from anyone with a machine gun was a big part of staying alive.

She managed it, for seven years refusing to be drawn into anything mob-related. But then one day someone came to call, and without Sandie even realizing what she was getting into, suddenly everything changed, and it wasn’t a one-woman operation anymore.

Almost three years from the time Daphne descended on her world, living in Chicago became intolerable. A new criminal organization painted a target squarely on Sandie’s back, and although she fought like hell, finally she had to admit if she didn’t choose to disappear, someone else would do it for her.

In ‘The Sins of the Mother’, Sandie discovers that, England-based or not, there’s no shortage of intriguing and scary cases to solve. Archie takes a covert job for the last person on Earth they ever expected to work for, and it’s not long after that the crew travel to the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, charged with escorting an obsessive tomb raider and a priceless crown back to England.

That’s when things get really complicated...

Enjoy!

Richard, Ann, and the crew

CairoEgMuseumTaaMaskMostlyPhotographed.jpg

Fitting In

‘DO I LOOK ENGLISH ENOUGH?’

Daphne walked a full circle around me, a finger on her chin in a most infuriating way as she assessed my attire. Finally she shook her head.

‘Actually, you look Welsh.’

‘Welsh? How does someone look Welsh?’

‘Take a peek in the mirror.’

I did as she asked, but it didn’t seem to answer my question. ‘I don’t look Welsh, if that’s even possible.’

‘Really? Big white frilly collar, a long skirt that looks like it’s been made from a pair of curtains, and that... waistcoat thing which reminds me of one of Archie’s mother’s creations? All you need is a tall black hat tied under your chin with white ribbon and you’d fit right in, somewhere in the valleys.’

‘You’re unkind. I spent a fortune at the Daniel Department Store too.’

‘Shame you didn’t take me with you.’

‘Sometimes I really dislike you.’

Daphne sat me down on the end of the bed, slumped down next to me and took my hand. ‘Sandie, why the hell do you want to look English anyway? You’re... not.’

My head seemed to lower, all by itself. ‘I guess I... I just need to fit in.’

‘Why? I’m from Ghana. If anyone needed to fit in, as you put it, it’s me.’

‘But... but you’re gorgeous. When you’re you, anything you wear makes people look twice. For all the right reasons.’

‘Oh, not this again. Archie’s American, I’m Ghanaian... do you see either of us dressing like English aristocrats?’

‘Well no, but...’

‘But nothing. Be your own person, Sandie. Inside, outside... every way. We all love you for you. Just the way you are.’

‘Maybe I’m lacking a little self-confidence.’

She nodded slowly. ‘I suppose that’s understandable, given the fact you were forced to leave your home town... even though according to you, what Chicago has become doesn’t please you.’

‘No, it doesn’t. But it’s still the only place I’ve ever known as home.’

‘Did ever know as home. Now you’ve got a new one.’

My lips didn’t want to utter the words, but my brain knew they had to. ‘If you want to know the truth, it’s scaring the hell out of me.’

Daphne walked slowly over to the dresser, smiling weakly back to me, like she knew exactly what I was going through. ‘You want to know what feeling scared to death is really like, Sandie? Apart from a few too many occasions in the last couple of years, that is?’

‘Maybe I need to know.’

She headed to the window, stood gazing out over the lawns leading down to the River Thames. ‘When I left the village in Ghana that was the only place I’d known as home, I did it alone. The need to find a better life was greater than the fear of the unknown. I asked my brother to go with me, but he refused.’

‘So you travelled to England, on your own, with no prospects and no idea how you would survive?’

She nodded. ‘Crazy, huh?’

‘Totally insane.’

‘Ghana is a different world, Sandie, especially in the more remote villages. I just didn’t fancy spending half the day cooking meals for a husband, and the other half washing clothes on a rock by the river.’

I shook my head. ‘That I can understand.’

‘My mother, bless her, made sure I had the fare for a tramp steamer to London, but that was all I had. I spent the first two weeks living on the streets. Another reason to feel scared to death.’

‘Gee... why didn’t you say any of this before?’

She wiped away a tear. ‘Because it’s a time in my life I try to not recall. Now I think you need to know.’

‘I need to know how you went from a guttersnipe to meeting James.’

She sat down beside me on the bed. ‘I suppose you can say it was a stroke of luck. Although it didn’t start out that way.’

‘Please tell me.’

‘I had plenty of offers from men once I arrived in London, most of which involved taking off my clothes.’

‘That doesn’t surprise me. So... did you?’

‘Almost. I spent a while running a mile from those lecherous men and their false promises. Then I worked out I was starving, and extremely vulnerable to not being around much longer. I’d just decided if I was to survive I’d have to swallow my pride and use my body, when my luck changed.’

‘Guess it couldn’t get much worse.’

’Perhaps not, but I brought it on myself, didn’t I? Swanning off to England without knowing anyone, and not a penny to my name. If it hadn’t been for Emmeline...’

‘Emmeline?’

‘I’d been having a low day. After it dropped dark I was foraging in the waste bins behind the restaurants in Regent Street, desperately trying to find some morsels to eat. I did find food, but also a very angry vagrant, who decided I was the perfect candidate to warm him up. He wouldn’t take no for an answer, started to get rough. I screamed, managed to free myself, and ran off in tears. Right into an angel called Emmeline.’

‘Oh boy. I’m starting to feel pathetic, moaning about fitting in.’

‘I’m telling you all this so you stop moaning, okay?’ she grinned.

‘Sure. No more whinging.’

‘It was my first stroke of luck. Emmeline whisked me to her hotel, cleaned me up, and two days later introduced me to a friend who ran a hospitality company in London.’

‘This Emmeline must have been well-off if she lived in a London hotel?’

‘Oh no, she lived in the North of England. She was in London because she’d helped to organise a huge rally in Hyde Park. She believed in women’s rights, luckily for me.’

‘You... you’re not talking about Emmeline Pankhurst?’

‘You’ve heard of her?’

I nodded. ‘Her suffragette movement made headlines all over the world.’

‘Yes. Trust me, I’m not the only woman who saw her as an angel. I began to work for the hospitality company, and within two weeks I was assigned as a waitress at a function in Richmond Park. That was where James set his sights on me, and... well, you know the rest.’

‘Gee... so Emmeline Pankhurst pretty much saved your life.’

Her head lowered. ‘Yes, I suppose she did. Until James took over... and then you.’

My head lowered along with my best friend’s. ‘I feel humbled.’

She squeezed my hand. ‘So now do you see? I arrived in a strange land with no friends and no money. By the grace of God I survived. You however have friends to care for you, a beautiful house to live in, and the man you love joining you in a couple of months.’

‘As I said, I’m well and truly humbled. I’ll never complain, ever again.’

‘Sure you will. But now it’s time for dinner, so shall we go... Aunty Bronwen?’

‘Okay, enough now.’

______

Chapter 1

I STOOD BESIDE DAPHNE and Roland in the crisp morning sunshine at the rear of the manor, watching the construction workers separating yet another wing of the house Henry built, making it a detached three-bedroom home for Frank and me.

I’d tried to insist the connecting lobby didn’t need to be demolished. An attached residence would have been more than enough, but as Poppy pointed out, turning it into a separate building would have tax advantages. I didn’t argue anymore.

Daphne had moved into Roland’s house, just over a mile away, and Rose and Archie had been enjoying their own separated wing for a few months now. That was also the location of the agency office, now called Shimerman and Shimerman, to avoid any possibility of the Mexican cartel coming across a private investigation agency called deMountford and Shaw.

Highly unlikely as it was, our sworn enemies were well aware of our names. It gave us both peace of mind that Archie and Rose were now the official names on any business documents and advertizing.

‘Shall we go inside? It’s cold out here,’ said Daphne.

‘It is early February.’

‘It’s still cold. And I was still born in Ghana.’

‘Lead the way, my little hot-house flower.’

We linked arms and headed back into the warmth of blazing open fires. Roland took his leave, heading off on some Secret Intelligence Services business, now that his bosses were making full use of the talents which were England-based once more.

Daphne and I wandered into the office, to find Rose and Archie already there, organizing the extra desks and chairs that had just arrived into some sort of order. We mucked in, and a half-hour later it was looking more like our Chicago office once did.

Then the phone rang.

Archie answered. ‘Shimerman and Shimerman. How may we help you?’

Daphne and I left him to it, heading for the kitchen to brew coffees for everyone. ‘Maybe that’s a new case?’ said Daphne. ‘We are advertizing now we don’t have to put our two names out in the world.’

‘Let’s hope so. I could do with something to get my teeth into.’

Archie frowned. The man’s voice on the other end of the phone sounded extremely well-spoken. And extremely hesitant.

‘Am I speaking to Mr. Shimerman?’

‘Indeed you are.’

‘I’m sorry. You do not sound English.’

‘I’m American. Is that a problem? There are five of us in the team, both English and American.’

‘I see. No, I do not suppose it is a problem.’

‘Sir, is there something we can help you with? I can assure you all clients receive our strictest confidence.’

‘In this case that is an essential, Mr. Shimerman.’

Archie frowned again. ‘Can you give us a little information, please?’

‘Not over the phone. The situation is... sensitive.’

‘Then what do you propose, sir?’

‘Perhaps... perhaps I could ask you to come and see me, as a matter of urgency?’

‘Of course. We will need an address though.’

‘Oh yes, indeed. It would be best if you come to my parliamentary office in Mayfair.’

‘Oh, you’re a member of parliament?’

‘House of Lords. I will be there this afternoon, if that is suitable?’

Archie glanced to Rose, listening in over his shoulder. She shrugged, and then nodded.

‘Yes, we can do that. The address please?’

Archie scribbled it down. ‘Sir, you haven’t told me your name. We need to know who our potential clients are.’

The voice hesitated. ‘Yes, I suppose you do.’

‘Sir?’

‘I must insist you keep my name, and all details of this matter, extremely private. If anything leaks to the press, the consequences would be unthinkable.’

Archie sighed. ‘I can assure you, sir, as I said, in strictest confidence.’

‘Very well. My name is Theodore deMountford. Lord Theodore deMountford. Three o-clock, on the dot.’

Archie blew out his cheeks as he put the receiver down. ‘Do you believe in coincidences, Rose?’

‘Yes, and that sure has to be one.’

He rubbed a hand across his mouth. ‘What in hell’s name is a lord of the realm doing calling us? And what’s all the secrecy about?’

‘Guess we’ll find out at three.’

‘But... he’s based in London. I know we’re not that far away, but surely there are more suitable private investigators in the city?’

Rose narrowed her eyes. ‘Maybe that’s why he chose us. The very fact we’re not in London.’

‘Very mysterious. Of course, it may not be him.’

Rose chuckled. ‘Really? How many aristocratic lords with the name deMountford do you know?’

‘Okay, so it has to be him. What the hell do we tell Daphne?’

Chapter 2

‘I WOULD SAY YOU’RE winding me up, except you’d never do that where my past is concerned,’ said Daphne, turning as white as a sheet. Quite an achievement for someone born in Ghana.

‘To be fair, he’s no idea you’re part of the team. If he did find out it would be a bit of a shock.’

‘Bit? He likely thinks I’m living in a hovel on the streets of Chicago.’

‘You want to come with us this afternoon?’ Rose grinned.

‘Like hell. Although I will confess he wasn’t the worst one where James’ parents were concerned. My mother-in-law was a complete snob, thinking she was better than everyone else.’ She tapped a finger thoughtfully on her chin. ‘I suppose I would like to see her face when I walk in, but no way... this one’s all yours.’

‘He’s asked us to go to his parliamentary office, so it’s unlikely she’ll be there anyway.’

I couldn’t help my curiosity bubbling over. ‘I wonder what’s so secret, because from what you say he was extremely reluctant to even call you.’

Archie nodded. ‘Sure he was. Then again, if there’s something underhand going on, a member of the House of Lords could have a lot to lose if it all came out.’

‘It wouldn’t surprise me if she’s murdered a servant in a fit of pique.’

‘Daphne!’

‘Well, you’ve never met her.’

‘Not sure I want to after those words.’

‘Trust me, you don’t want to, regardless.’

‘Oh, I don’t know. She sounds intriguing...’

Daphne threw me the stare from hell. Archie gallantly stepped in. ‘Okay, opinions aside, Rose and I will go and find out actual facts. Then maybe we can all form an opinion.’

‘Wow... how the other half live,’ said Archie, pulling the bell rod sitting to the side of the shiny black door set into the white façade of the elegant building in the centre of a run of an impressive curving terrace of houses in Mayfair.

‘I doubt this is anything compared to his actual home,’ Rose reminded him. ‘These are just offices.’

‘Oh boy.’

The door opened. A man who appeared to be dressed as a beefeater smiled warmly. ‘Good