Murders Without Motive (15 page)

He was in such deep thought he failed to hear Miss Watkiss announce that Mr Wilson Crampton would be accompanied by two oriental male carers, who the Sultan was convinced were sufficient security.

There were looks and sniggers amongst the professionals who only associated Oriental carers with those they had seen in local care homes working long hours for a pittance. Many unable to speak English, those who were alleged to be nurses had proved to local visiting doctors they were even unable to take a blood pressure reading.

Not so Jack, who, when he heard what she said, smiled causing Pearson to whisper.

“Why the smile?”  adding “would you place your safety, no life in the hands of two oriental carers, who’s experience of dealing with situations had been limited to yobs failing to pay their bill at the local Chinese restaurant”.

“Jack leaned over and whispered, back. I would if I knew they came from Daram and had anything to do with, Colonel Al Justice and the men in black”

Pearson appeared perplexed but pushed the point no further.

The briefing over, about to leave, Pearson and Jack caught the eye of the Chief; she called, “A week, less two days”.

The two sleuths eventually arrived in Long Street, Chester. Stopping outside a very large Victorian house.

“Here it is” said Pearson, The Westlands where Miss Mildred Barnes the old Governess now lives, I assume it was her you wish to speak with as I had missed her”.

“Yes indeed, by all means”, said Jack

They arrived at the door. It was locked they pressed the bell and a voice said. “Who do you wish to see?”

Miss Mildred Barnes please”

“Who is calling?” the next question.

“Police, Detective Inspector Pearson and Mr Jack Richards, as per my telephone call earlier”.

The voice said, “You are late” but a click indicated the door had been unlocked.

They both stepped inside to be greeted by of all persons an oriental lady, who it appeared could speak perfect English.

“Miss Barnes is awaiting you in the lounge, please follow me, oh just sign the visitors register.”

 The register signed to keep the peace, they arrived in the lounge. The scene was typical of care homes.

Very clean, warm, if not hot, with ample easy chairs around the room. There was a television with a gigantic screen.

All the seats were occupied but those seated were oblivious to the television or the visitors.

Mouths wide open, eyes partly closed the aged ladies were far away in dream land, comfortable it appeared, but nevertheless in dream land.

It was only moments before a voice called, “Inspector and Mister Richards, I am Mildred Barnes”.

They turned to see a very sprightly lady seated in a wheel chair.

It was with some great relief, for the two had assumed, wrongly of course, judging a book by its cover that it was one of the poor souls who was Miss Barnes,

They walked over and sat down next to her.

Pearson spoke, saying. “I am Detective Inspector Pearson of the Chester Police, this is my colleague and consultant Mr Jack Richards a retired detective of New Scotland Yard fame. We are investigating the murders of the Crampton family”.

“I am very pleased to meet you” she replied “I must say how can I possibly assist?”

“Miss Barnes, please tell us how you came to be employed at Crampton hall?”

She paused having thought and then commenced her story.

“I am a local person lived in the area all my life and always in service since I left school aged 15 years old”.

“The Crampons arrived back from Daram, having just married at the English church there. The Colonel was in the army, not a Colonel of course.”

“He met Mrs Henrietta Crampton whose father Major Ralph Livingston was a fellow officer. Her family were also very well placed, with a castle and estate larger than Crampton Hall. In addition I believe they had business interests abroad”.

It appears Henrietta and the Colonel had a dalliance and had to quickly marry.  Mrs Crampton was already pregnant when they arrived to take over the hall.”

“I eventually went into service there when the children were getting older. I was their Governess, until they left home for boarding school”.

The boys, well they were as some might say lazy, none ever had a job, nor the girls, just lived off the estate, you know, the farm rents”

“I never heard of them getting into trouble, they all seemed to get on, had their squabbles but they were nothing.

“Wilson Crampton went over-seas some years ago to be educated by a wealthy Sultan, an old friend of the colonel, when he was in the army in Daram”.

“The poor child was struck with some illness which caused him to be an invalid.” 

“I did hear once he had been attacked by some roaming beggars but the Colonel always assured us this was lies. The boy was taken by some insect bite which caused the loss of the use of his legs.”

“When the children moved on I was then kept on as a companion to Henrietta until I retired.”

“So you see I have really nothing to tell, I have been retired and in this care home for some years so I am out of touch with life at the hall”.

Richards, cleared his throat, and then asked.

“Miss Barnes surely you must know of some confidential items that shall we say were not readily known outside the Hall. Please bear in mind what you tell us will remain confidential and after all those concerned are all dead.

She hesitated for some moments, then looked up and said.

“Gentlemen, I am not a person of tittle-tattle, neither am I a gossip monger, nor do I betray a confidence.”

“As you say however, all those involved are now dead.”

“ In view of your promise not to reveal my identity I can say something?”.

“You are assured of that Maam” said Pearson.

“Well” said she “The Colonel was a heavy drinker and a gambler.”

“ Over the years I believe the in-laws, that is the Livingston’s came to the rescue paying off the Colonels gambling debts”.

“Mrs Crampton was often left on her own whilst the Colonel went to the Chester races often staying out over night”.

She hesitated but her handkerchief to her mouth then said.

“Well Mr Templeton for years the family solicitor, well he and Mrs Crampton, well I did see them kissing one day. Rumour was rife.

“The Colonel, it was said in the servant’s hall, had alleged two of the children were not his, but as you may have seen from the colour of their hair, they clearly were”.

“I think if it had not been for the good offices of Jessop running all the house accounts, ordering the items and paying all the accounts, the household would have been in ruins many years ago”.

“The same goes for Mr Templeton, his affair with Mrs Crampton well that was one thing but Templeton took care of all the legal things, got the colonel out of various scrapes. He handled all the farm rents and estate workers, the staff; we were all paid by Templeton’s clerk.”

“In fact all the staff were so good, worked long hours for low pay, few holidays and kept all the family secrets. I am sure I am the first to reveal anything.

“What did you know of Mrs Crampton before she arrived as lady of the house?” asked Jack.

“Oh nothing. She had lived in Shrewsbury in Shropshire, at the Castle”

“What about the Colonel?” asked Jack.

“Oh yes I recall him as a boy, a rugged child, didn’t mix in the village of course, but I often saw him with the old General and his mother.”

“ They were a very nice couple, the old sort you know”.

“Well gentlemen I am getting tired, if there is nothing else I would ask you to excuse me” she said.

But, then added, “I take it you have seen all the other old staff though, I don’t think they can help, even as much as myself”.

“You are correct; I will just tell you who has been seen”.

Pearson produced his papers and read the entire staff list current and old including the relatives.

The old lady patiently listened but clearly she was now very tired.

Pearson recognised this put away his papers and said.

“Thank you very much indeed Madam, you have been of great assistance.” Lying of course.

As they arrived at the door Miss Barnes arrived wheeling in hot pursuit.

“Just a moment” she called.

“Yes  Madam?”

“Is there something else you wish to say?” asked Richards.

“Nanny, have you asked Nanny?”

“Who is Nanny?” asked Pearson”

“Well Nanny of course, she is nearly a hundred years old bright as a pin they say, she is at The Haven Rest Home just over the road from here”

They stopped, Pearson took out his note pad.

Miss Barnes continued, “Well of course Nanny, she worked for the Crampton family since before the Colonel himself was born”

“ She was Nanny to all the children.”

“She went everywhere with them, yes even overseas, Nanny, Miss Gladys Openshaw is her real name, but everyone just called her Nanny”.

They left and walked down the street until at the far end they saw a large new building signed, “The Haven”.

Pearson rang the door bell; it was opened by a young man, who from his appearance was clearly of East European extract at least.

“Yes Gentlemen, who you come to see?” in broken English. It is not visiting hour you see”

A voice called “Edic, who is that?”

Before he could answer a tall lady aged in her mid forties. Wearing a grey uniform and a cotton hat with frills arrived.

Her name badge boldly announced her as Miss Mabel Cowden, Matron.

“Who might you be?” she asked with a very stern and austere look.”

“Police”, announced Pearson producing his warrant card.

“Police, what on earth do the police want here. We have no sudden deaths at least I hope not for I have not been informed”

“No madam” replied Pearson.

“We have come to speak with Miss Gladys Openshaw”.

“Nanny”, she bellowed “you wish to speak with Nanny, good heavens man she is one hundred today, she has had a letter from The Queen among other things”.

“It is a very important matter, but we simply need some back ground information from any years ago”.

“Where are you from? The police station I mean”

“Chester Matron” said Pearson.

“Oh Chester, I see well yes, you may come in, Your Chief-Constable is a patron of this home, she has an aunt here”.

They walked inside and were taken not to a lounge with an array of aged and gaping mouths but to a very nice room over looking the River Dee.

“Nanny there are two nice policemen to see you”