Mystery at the Summer Garden Party

Author's note: I owe a great amount of gratitude to three wonderful friends who made this story possible. First, I thank Dianthus who kept me from chucking the mystery of the icicle dagger by giving me the great idea to switch the overused cliche with another story I was working on. Next I thank Kimbalee who, with great humour, answered all my constant technical questions in order to make this a much better story. Finally, I don't even want to think about how many mistakes were in this story until the very vigilant eyes of MichChick98 brought them to light. Ladies, you all rock! Thanks.

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The grey Morris Minor pulled around the oval car way to slide in next to a green Jaguar Mark IV.

Alec Hendersen got out of the right side and walked around staring at the car worth probably more than his annual income. He extended the other door and watched as the shapely leg followed by the rest of Polly Winthrop emerged from the auto.

She took one look at his expression and burst in the pleasant giggle that Alec loved so well. She leaned up to give him a chaste peck on his cheek while whispering in his ear, "You're worth far more than that fancy import my good sir and a lot easier to get into bed with I might add."

Alec barked a laugh, "Did you just call me easy?"

"Well, if you'd rather sleep at your flat..." Polly fluffed her short dark red hair.

"Easy I happily am in that case," Alec reached over to grab the lever to the boot so Polly could take out the crisp white papered bundle.

"Well off we go to the lion's den. Are you sure the Inspector of police should be seen, as it were, at such a scandalous fete just as he shows promise of earning Chief Inspector rank?" Polly smirked at her beloved.

"I don't give a rot about my ranking when there are eyes that will be perusing the naked form of my lass." Alec looked at his girlfriend with a stern look.

Polly looked up at the scowl and burst into another fit of giggles, "All relative eyes, my dove, who will only be looking so as they do not have to look at their own equally naked forms."

Alec continued as they walked along the side of the stone Tudor mansion towards the sounds coming from the back.

"I still don't see why his lordship must insist on this tommy rot. I mean whoever heard of a naked garden party?"

Polly's light laugh continued, "Oh my big gruff bear, you know as well as I that dear Grandpa is merely again enjoying his "because I bloody well can" moment and making all the vultures after his money jump through his absurd hoops."

"Exactly, which is why I am baffled as to why we're walking toward this foolishness. You never cared a wit for the old bird's money."

"Even if I wasn't a self made woman with my own florist shoppe, I never gave two wits about his money. Look at all the misery that has brought this family. And even though I'll be returning in your Morris rather than that other shiny auto at least we can afford a bed big enough for two. And that my love is really all that matters to me." Polly looked ahead at the white gate ahead.

"I do believe the idea of this foolishness is making you right randy. Why not skip all this and just rush back and have more time to make use of that bed you appreciate so much?"

Polly stopped to look at her flustered bear of a love, "I'm here because I love my grandpa regardless of his foolishness and will always come when he calls. Now enough of your bark and help me get through this or it will be quite awhile before you put another bounce into the spring of that bed."

"I shall grin and bear it all as it were," Alec couldn't help but smirk back at Polly.

Polly stopped at the sight of the bare, pale chest of Edward the manservant who stood behind the white gate.

"Good afternoon, Miss Winthrop, Inspector Hendersen. I am afraid that I must inform you, and I quote, 'disrobe entirely here and leave your clothes on the table or' ahem 'kiss my arse and your chance at my money goodbye'."

Alec chuckled, "So Edward, anyone kiss your arse yet old man?"

Polly turned and swatted Alec, "Alec, behave."

Edward coloured slightly, "That would be Lord Winthrop's...ah arse, Inspector, and no that has yet to happen, thank God."

"I figured as that would be quite the expensive kiss." Alec whistled.

"Quite right sir," Edward was clearly uncomfortable with his lack of attire and the ribald nature of the discussion at hand but was maintaining a stiff upper lip as was his duty and devotion.

Polly passed the bundle over the gate to Edward, "Here Edward be a love and hold this a moment."

Polly turned to look at Alec sheepishly feeling less sure now that the moment had arrived, "Well, shall we?"

"Must we?" Alec gave one more try.

Polly shook her head and unbuttoned her square shouldered jacket, "We must. God, I'm happy the Utility fashion phase is past, now just to sell enough bouquets to upgrade my wardrobe." Polly looked around the fenced area. Those on the other side were out of sight behind some hedges leaving only poor Edgar in view, and the bushing manservant was doing his best to look at anything but the disrobing couple. Polly took a deep breath and eyes cast downward shrugged off her blouse and folding it neatly placed it on the proved table filled already with piles of men's and women's clothes of various sizes and styles. She glanced up to see her bare-chested love pulling open his belt before she looked down to slide off her skirt which folded up blended into the matching jacket it was set upon. She leaned down to kick off her wedge shoes and skim down the stockings that she only recently had gotten used to wearing again now that the war was over and the material was no longer needed for parachutes. She straightened back up to reach behind and unsnapped her brassiere which was tossed on the pile, her full breasts wobbling with the motion. Again taking a deep breath she skimmed down her one-piece garter and knickers which were discreetly tucked under the rest of her clothes before standing fully naked in the bright sun her breasts pebbling sharply as she resisted the urge to put a hand over her reddish thatch of trimmed hair between her legs.

Finally Polly looked at the body that always brought her intense pleasure smirking as he reached over after placing his rumbled clothes down to grab to pick up a nude coloured and very pointed bra, "Good Lord they make such a thing!"

Laughing Polly swatted the garment from his hands, "Behave bear and stop pawing some other lass' unmentionables."

Hooking her arm through her equally nude partner Polly looked up at him and bravely announced "Into the lion's den we go."

Alec flicked his eyes skyward in disgust, "What utter stuff and nonsense."

Edward shook open the gate, still protecting his modesty behind it, and let the young couple through Polly taking back the bundle as she entered the sprawling garden of the estate. Ahead lay a large bricked area with a pool and water fountain and many umbrellas and wrought iron furniture. Music could be heard coming from the direction of all the people.

Being this far out from London proper, the estate had survived the war without getting hit by any bombs. Her own flat was still in the midst of repairing some nicked cement and shattered window frames.

Polly scanned around at the lush garden that had been her playpen for years before becoming her first professional responsibility. It was still highly unusual for a woman to be referred to as the boss and as such many of the more traditional home owners were still reluctant to hire the young lady. She would always be grateful for her Grandpa's exuberance to hire her permanently as landscaper on her first day of business. She owed the old loveable goat so much that appearing at his party down to the bare skin was really such a small price to pay. Besides this garden was her masterpiece, and as a London girl she seized every chance she had to come out and check it over.

Ahead, the young couple could see many pale forms standing around, sticking out before the lush forest green background made up of shrubbery.

"Before this nonsense is over we're all going to be cooked like lobsters." Alec muttered.

Polly spun and jabbed her finger into his broad pale chest, "One more growl from my gruff bear and you'll be confined to your flat until your lobster state will be but a faded memory as will any liberties you assume to have with me. Are we understanding each other, Inspector Hendersen?"

Alec stared innocently at the glaring naked girl biting his lip before bellowing in his hearty laugh.

The indignant Polly again jabbed his chest to accent her words, "I refuse to see the humour in anything that I just spoke. Care to enlighten me before I tell you whose arse you can be kissing goodbye?"

Alec wiped his eyes and bent down to smooch his glaring love, "I'm sorry love; it's just so hard to take you seriously dressed... err... rather undressed as you are." He leaned in to whisper in her ear, "Besides which the angry flush in your face has traveled down your neck and attracts the pull of the eyes to the rather pleasant pebbles sticking out from your pillows my dear so you could be babbling any stuff and nonsense you want but I'm afraid I'm not able to pay any attention to a word of it in light of the most pleasant distraction before me."

Polly, turning a deeper red, looked down at her breasts, "Oh...well... right... errr...eyes back on top sailor. We'll just sort all that out later when we're alone. If you behave."

Alec snapped into a stiff formation with a salute, "Aye, aye, cap'n."

It was Polly's turn to burst in a fit of giggles. "Oh remind me to have you salute me before we get into bed later, my dove, as it brings such an amusing bounce to your night stick my dear Inspector."

Now it was Alec's turn to look down and develop a stronger shade of crimson to his skin.

"Stuff and nonsense."

Polly smirked and turned back to the scene at the pool and with a deep breath, and ignoring what it did to her chest, she trounced off toward the group with her silent, gruff bear in tow.

Making a point to look strictly at their faces Polly beamed a smile at the first couple she approached "Auntie Gertrude! Uncle Richard! How good to see you!"

"Polly my dear, how wonderful you could be here. And Inspector Hendersen what a pleasant surprise! Things all safe in London good chap?" Aunt Gertrude smiled and held out her hand with bent and gnarled fingers. Age had not been all that kind to the dear old woman.

"As well as can be expected in a city full of blighters, my dear." Alec kissed the offered hand.

Polly smiled, "We'll stop back after we pass regards to the master of the ceremonies."

Polly shifted forward and took another step towards the reclining form at the edge of the brickwork. Again with eyes up Polly again flashed the smile she was legendary for in the family, "Allyson and Phillip, how are you dears? How was your trip to the far east?" Polly was annoyed at the steady direction of Phillip's eyes until the gruff "Ahem" from the scowling bear next to her caused the eyes to snap up to her face. She was again thankful for convincing him to come with her today.

"Hong Kong was such a stiff, cramped place filled with the most ghastly foreigners imaginable. It will be quite a while before we venture out that direction again, I must say." Allyson had her lips pursed probably from also being aware of the direction of the gaze of her husband on Polly.

Polly glanced at her scowling companion and with a nod to the angry couple edged closer to her grandfather.

Polly stopped to smile at a short brown haired woman who was busily keeping her hands across her chest and lower parts. The thirty something year old woman's face clearly showed anguish from being at the party.

"Helen, dear. How is your garden keeping?"

Helen blushing profusely could only squeak and nod looking anywhere but at Alec.

"Right, well we best pay our respects to Grandpa. Cheerio, Helen."

Polly and Alec stopped before a stunning blonde long-legged girl who was hanging on her young, well-coiffed gentleman.

"Roger, and this must be your new bride Erica. Welcome to the family my dear. This is my boyfriend Inspector Alec Hendersen of the London Force"

Again Alec kissed the offered well-manicured hand, "Charmed, my dear." Clearly Erica had no problem showing her very womanly charms to those attending this unusual garden party and was more than happy to admire the available male physiques on display.

Erica grinned staring pointedly, "I must say Inspector Henderson that I shall sleep much better tonight knowing our policemen are so well equipped."

Polly's mouth dropped open and then to the outburst of both Erica and Roger without thinking about what she was doing Polly grabbed her love by the very equipment in discussion and pulled him away.

"What a cheeky lass," muttered Polly who gasped realizing what she was doing and dropped the held cock quickly.

Polly took a deep breath as she walked up to the next late middle aged couple: the man, a large barrel of a form with a long waxed handle bar moustache and the woman a small, but plump and scowling.

"Why, Evelyn and Harold. How are you feeling?"

"Well I must say that I am not surprised to see you here at such nonsense as you don't have a knock of sense in your noggin, girl. Business fail yet?"

"No actually it's doing rather well thank you very much."

Twirling the curl of his moustache Harold Andrews was not finished yet, "Don't be cheeky lass. It's not right for a woman to be running her own affairs. A recipe for disaster if there ever was one. And you Inspector. I can't believe you let her get away with such nonsense nor that an upstanding member of our law enforcement would be out of uniform at such a bloody nightmare as this. What is the force coming to these days? Win the bloody war and it all goes to our thick heads. Next thing a damn female will be running Parliament."

Alec opened and closed his mouth several times before gratefully being led away by an excited Polly as she looked around at the final table before her grandfather and found the smirking young man leaning against the table smoking a thin cigarette.

Polly suddenly beamed her brightest smile "Charles, you old rogue. Still not behind bars eh cousin?"

Charles Smythe returned the smile to his favourite member of the family and leapt over a chair to grasp both the girl's shoulders planting a huge kiss on the delighted girl's lips before pulling back and taking a good look at the blushing girl, "Good lord lass, look at what you have been hiding behind them knickers all these years. Alec my man what are you thinking ever letting this lass out of your bedroom?"

"Right, well you try to keep her down Charlie." Alec laughed not the least offended by the harmless rogue.

Charles put his arm around the girl, "Right, well now that you're here we can turn the old sourpuss' frown around. Let's bring a cheer to the old codger's day."

"Oh, Granddaddykins, look what the cat drug here in all her stunning glory," Charles announced to the elderly nude man sitting on an open bath robe draped across his chaise lounge.

Polly bent to kiss the proffered cheek, "Well, Grandpa, you have us all here starkers. Happy with yourself?"

Lord Winthrop just cackled and sat back. "I'm having a hoot of a time dearest Polly. How do you like my new toy? It's a portable phonograph with its own small generator battery." He waved at the large wooden cabinet that had its top held open to show the spinning black vinyl disc.

Alec looked down with interest, "What is that -- Glenn Miller and 'String of Pearls'?"

"Right you are good man, shame we lost him to that bloody war. Polly dear I can't believe that you came to this silly party of mine," Lord Winthrop shook his head at his granddaughter.

"What and miss a chance to play in my garden? I think not."

Polly placed the papered package on the table next to her grinning Grandfather and stripped the wrapping off to reveal a beautiful bouquet of painted daisies and begonias. She flounced the petals and leaves out and stepped back to view them critically.

"There, just the right splash of colour."

"Beautiful, my dear just like you. Make sure you give Edward a bill for these." Lord Winthrop leaned up to smell the flowers.

"Oh posh! These are a gift for your party. Enjoy them."

Lord Winthrop glared at his granddaughter, "Haven't I taught you enough about business that you never gave things away for free? What are you trying to do prove that idiot Andrews correct?"

"Enough about all that Grandpa. This isn't business, this is family. The flowers are a gift. Now close your trap and enjoy them."

Lord Winthrop bellowed, "I wish any of the males of this family had the balls you do lass! None would dare talk to me that way - the fools." And his peals of laughter continued as Polly smiled and walked towards a wilting tree off near a hedge in the back.

Polly bent over and felt around the dirt and roots by the base as she became aware of the large shadow above her.

"What, my dear gruff bear? Not one to mingle and hobnob with the wealthy elite of society?"

"I much prefer the delectable backside before me to any of these snobs. Besides I'm much more the hoi polloi type as you very well know." Alec was more than happy to watch the curves his kneeling love presented to his gaze.

Polly hopped up, and turning, brushed the peat from her hands, "Such an equal opportunity bloke. I thought it was my pointed pillows that stole your gaze."

Alec watched the pleasant jiggle from her hop, "Well actually I'm more of an 'any port in a storm' bloke."

Polly laughed pleasantly and looked around the patioed area. "Poor Helen, I'm amazed that she actually came today."

The two watched as the quiet girl tried her best to shrink into the hedge nearest her.

"Look, Roger's cheeky, new bride seems quite smitten with old Charley there and Roger seems none too pleased with that." Alec pointed.

Polly giggled, "Well Roger is a sweetheart so hopefully things will work out better this time for him. Oohhh, there goes Alyson in for the kill with Grandpa. When will she learn that she's just distancing herself more and more from dear Grandpa rather than getting closer to his money?"

Polly and Alec walked over to join up with his Aunt and Uncle, "Aunt Gertie, I've been meaning to ask you about your tomatoes. Is your blight all gone?"

Gertrude gave a huge smile, "Yes, my dear! Who knew that you had to seal up the dead ones else the disease just blows right back on the living? I could have lost my whole yard if not for you."

Polly beamed back and looked as Richard chuckled and pointed over to the scene on by the pool, "Look at how that hussy slathers that lotion on poor Lord Winny."

Alec laughed, "Who are you kidding? The old codger is loving every minute of it. Besides, I think we should all get something on before we become redder than your tomatoes, Gertie."

They continued to watch as Harold and Evelyn walked over to Lord Winthrop and Alyson. They couldn't hear them but words were exchanged which, considering Harold Andrews, was not surprising. Harold reached down to grasp the top of the chaise lounge bringing his red face close to the grinning old man. After a few barks he waved an angry hand and stormed back over to another table.

As the red faced man and his wife walked away, Edgar and Helen both walked in next for a couple of words before also departing. It seemed that one by one or twos every one else went over to Lord Winthrop who was enjoying every minute of everyone's discomfort.

Polly giggled, "He can be such a devil with his little games."

Alyson looked on with disgust at something Charley said. She retorted "Beast" and carrying the box of ointment, stormed off toward her husband who was engrossed in a very close conversation with the beaming Erica.