The Affair of the Thirty-Nine Cufflinks (13 page)

'She's sure to be in bed by now.'

'But she'd want to be woken, wouldn't she?'

'She wouldn't hear the phone. It's in the hall, and neither Aggie nor I can hear it in our rooms. Mother's is the only bedroom it can be heard from. Of course, if you think I should try . . .'

'Well, it wouldn't do any harm, if you feel up to it.'

'Oh yes, I'll come down now.'

On the way downstairs, Gerry said: 'She'll have been wondering why you haven't phoned.'

'Yes, I expect so.'

'I wonder why she didn't call here.'

'I don't think she knows your number, actually.'

'Oh, and of course, we're ex-directory, so she couldn't get it from Enquiries. Stupid of me. And it's so easy, too: Alderley One.' She thought that to keep chatting away about trivialities might help a little to take the other girl's mind off the horror of the situation, but wasn't really hopeful.

She took Dorothy to the telephone room and waited outside while she made the call.

Lord Burford went to the drawing-room, where he found all the guests gathered. The women had been told about the result of the search, and everybody was looking rather grim as the full implications of this sank in.

Lord Burford crossed to the Countess. 'Did you get through all right?'

She nodded. 'Dr. Ingleby was out on a confinement, but his wife will notify him immediately he returns. I told her there was no great urgency, as there is nothing he can do. I also spoke to P.C. Dobson in the village — not going into any great detail. He was going to inform the County Police Headquarters in Westchester and then cycle here. I told him, too, that there was no hurry, as I knew you would want to complete the search before having to set off the alarm.'

'Quite right, my dear. Thank you.'

'And George - I'm so sorry. You were against this little house party from the start, I know. I talked you into it. And your worst fears have been realised. I feel very much to blame. But who could have anticipated that something like this could happen, again?'

'No need to blame yourself, Lavinia. I went along. Heaven help me, I went along.'

* * *

Dorothy came out of the telephone room in about three minutes. 'No reply.'

'Well, at least you can tell her you tried. What do you want to do now? Come into the drawing-room with the others?'

'No, I think I'd like to go back up to my room.'

'Come on, then.'

'No, Gerry, there's no need for you to come with me.'

'Oh, but I don't mind, honestly.'

'No, really, you've been marvellous, but I would like to be on my own for a while.'

'If you're certain. Do you want anything?'

'A cup of tea would be nice.'

'All right, I'll have some sent up.'

'Thank you very much.'

'Oh, and don't be startled if you hear an alarm bell shortly. We'll be opening the door to let the doctor and police in.'

'Of course.'

Dorothy ascended the stairs. Gerry watched her until she disappeared from sight, then pulled the cord of the nearest bell. Merryweather arrived within seconds. He was fully dressed and as immaculate as ever.

'Merry, will you have some tea sent up to Miss Dorothy, please?'

'Certainly, my lady.' He started to turn away.

'And Merry, thank you. For taking all this so wonderfully in your stride, I mean. Please thank all the servants. I'm so sorry you're having to go through it all again.'

'That is quite all right, your ladyship. I, for one, am becoming quite accustomed to these occurrences.'

Gerry joined the others in the drawing-room. For the next ten minutes, conversation was virtually non-existent. When one had said how terrible it was and how inexplicable three or four times, there seemed nothing more to say.

At last there came the sound of the doorbell. The Earl heaved himself to his feet. 'That'll be Ingleby or Dobson.'

He went out to the great hall, where Merryweather was approaching the front doors. He unlocked and unbolted them, and pulled one open. Immediately a deafeningly loud clanging shattered the silence.

It was Dobson who was standing in the porch.

'Come in, Constable,' Lord Burford shouted above the din.

'Thank you, my lord.' He removed his helmet, carefully and unnecessarily wiped his feet and entered.

The Earl went up to him and spoke loudly into his ear. 'Come into the morning-room. Won't be so loud in there. It is morning, after all.'

He led the way and when he had shut the door behind them the noise was considerably muffled. 'What did my wife tell you, exactly?'

'Just that a lady had been found dead, my lord, and that it looked as though foul play might be involved.'

'I think that's pretty definite. Her name is Mrs Clara Saunders. She's a distant cousin of mine.'

Dobson took out his notebook and slowly wrote down the name. 'She would have been one of the mourners at the funeral, my lord?'

'Yes, she was the dead lady's daughter-in-law. D'you want me to go on?'

'I don't think there's much point, my lord. Better to wait until the CID arrive and give them all the details.'

'So, what do you want to do?'

'I had better inspect the remains, my lord. There is not much else that I can do.'

'Very well, I'll take you up.'

They had just reached Clara's room when the alarm bell blessedly fell silent.

The Earl opened the door. 'Nobody's touched anything, other, obviously, than the knob and the light switch.'

Dobson went into the room, looked down at Clara's body for a quarter of a minute and then came out. He took out a pocket watch, glanced at it, put it away and wrote in his notebook, saying as he did so: '
Viewed remains of victim at 2:10 a.m
. Right, my lord, I'll just wait here until CID arrive.'

'You don't happen to know who the investigating officer's going to be, do you?'

'It'll depend who's available, my lord.'

'Yes, of course. I do hope it's—' He broke off. 'Never mind.'

He went downstairs again.

Chapter Twenty

It was just twelve minutes later when they heard the sound of car tyres on the gravel outside. Again the Earl went into the Great Hall. But this time when Merryweather opened the doors two men were standing there. The first was rather plump, had a drooping black moustache and a melancholy expression. He was wearing a raincoat and black bowler hat. With him was a tall, strongly built, brown-skinned young man.

Lord Burford gave a sigh of relief. 'Wilkins! I'm so glad it's you.'

Detective Chief-Inspector Wilkins came in, removing his bowler hat. 'Why, thank you, my lord. That is extremely gratifying.' He had a surprisingly deep and somewhat mournful voice, and did not sound in the least gratified. 'It's not often people are pleased to see me. And I must say this is like coming home, if I may make so bold.'

They shook hands. The Earl looked at the younger man. 'Detective-Sergeant Leather, isn't it? How are you?'

'Well, my lord, thank you.'

He turned back to Wilkins. 'How much have you been told?'

'Very little, my lord. Just that there has been another regrettable incident here. Murder, I believe.'

'Yes.'

Wilkins made a tutting sound. 'Dear, dear. Most unfortunate. Well, I can't say that I'm surprised.'

The Earl stared at him in astonishment. 'You're not? You mean you expected us to have another murder?'

'I wouldn't go that far, my lord. But twice I have been called to investigate murders here. You know the old saying, "Never two without three." '

'Bit superstitious, isn't it?'

'I am superstitious, my lord, I admit it. But I don't think that particular saying is superstitious. Two unusual occurrences in the same place, or involving the same person or persons, might well suggest some underlying cause leading to a third.'

'The only underlyin' cause I can think of is that blasted gypsy's curse. I'm startin' to think there might be somethin' in it. Otherwise, it's such an incredible coincidence.'

'Perhaps not, my lord. Let's wait and see.' He lowered his voice. 'And may I ask, my lord, do you have any film stars here this time?'

'No, nobody like that.'

'Or oil millionaires?'

'No, just relatives. One of them's an MP.'

'Really?' He seemed to perk up a little.

'Thinkin' of your memoirs, were you?'

He was amazed to see the Chief Inspector actually blush, but before he could reply two more men appeared in the doorway. One was carrying a small case and the other a camera and a large accessory bag.

'Perhaps my fingerprint man and photographer could be shown the deceased, my lord?'

'Yes, of course. Oh, and one of the other guests reported an intruder in her room, lurking by the dressing-table. I don't know whether he'll want to check in there as well.'

'Yes, indeed, my lord.'

'Merryweather, will you take these gentlemen to the scene of the crime, and also show them where Miss Simmons' room is. And if I'm not here when the doctor arrives, take him straight up. I'll speak to him afterwards.'

'My lord. Please follow me, officers.'

He started towards the grand staircase, the two policemen at his heels.

'You're not going up to see the body, Wilkins?'

'Not yet, my lord. I don't like looking at bodies. I find it so depressing, so I always put it off as long as possible. I suppose I'll have to take a peek sometime.' He sighed. 'Not that it'll tell me anything. I would prefer it if you could list the
dramatis personae
, as it were, and give me an account of the events of the day.'

The Earl led the way, to the morning-room, they sat down and Leather produced a notebook and pencil.

The Earl ran his fingers through his hair. 'Difficult to decide where to start. You know we had a funeral here yesterday?'

'Yes, my lord. So a melancholy day on two counts.'

'Well, the funeral wasn't too melancholy, actually. Quite a nice funeral, as funerals go. It was a great aunt of mine. The - the victim was a Mrs Clara Saunders, the daughter-in-law of my great aunt.'

Wilkins had rested his elbow on the table, with the palm of his hand supporting his chin. He closed his eyes and might have been asleep. The Earl eyed him doubtfully for a second before continuing.

* * *

Twenty-five minutes later the Earl sat back. 'I think that's all I can tell you at the moment. Sorry, if it was a bit incoherent, but I don't think I left out anything of importance.'

Wilkins opened his eyes. 'Not at all, my lord. It was extremely clear and comprehensive. Let me just see if I've got the names of your guests correct: Miss Dorothy Saunders, stepdaughter of the deceased; Mr Timothy Saunders, KC; Miss Penelope Saunders, his daughter; Mr Gregory Carstairs, MP; Mr Tommy Lambert; Miss Stella Simmons; and Miss Jean Mackenzie, companion to your great aunt. All of these people, with the exception of the latter, being relatives of your great aunt, and indeed of your good self.'

Wilkins had made no notes or consulted Leather, and Lord Burford looked impressed. 'That's it. Very distant relatives, of course.'

'And some relatives can never be distant enough, can they? But all of these were beneficiaries under your great aunt's will. Now tell me, this unpleasant contretemps at the reading of the will, when Mrs Saunders made these threats: do you think they were genuine? I mean, did she really know damaging facts about the other beneficiaries, and was she serious when she made her threat about exposing them?'

The Earl sighed. 'I honestly don't know, Wilkins. It may have been just pique. And, of course, Clara was a great forager-out and collector of secrets. But I can't believe she knew somethin' damaging about each of them. One, perhaps, or maybe two. But if she did, then yes, I think she would have made sure the facts got known. I'm sure, though, that her accusation of some conspiracy between them to get her cut out of the will is absolute nonsense. Most of them barely know each other, as far as I can gather. Anyway, I'm certain none of them knew my great aunt was going to leave enough for it to make it worth anyone's while to try and cut Clara out.'

'Now, about this search you made, my lord. You are absolutely certain no one could have been concealed in the house.'

'Quite certain.' He told Wilkins all about the search.

'And he couldn't have sort of dodged from one place to another, as you were searching?'

'We thought of that. We did it in a pretty systematic way. After we searched every room, Merryweather or I - he's got the only other set of keys - locked the doors that are lockable and one of the other searchers stuck sticky tape across the doors that aren't, so no one could get in to hide there without moving it, and obviously couldn't replace it after he was in. After we'd finished, we went back and checked every door. There were eight of us, and it took nearly an hour.'

'That sounds like almost military efficiency. And it certainly seems conclusive. However, you do realise the implications of it, I'm sure.'

'Only too well, Wilkins. Unless somehow the alarm was circumvented, or faulty, the murderer's one of my guests.'

'And which of them do you fancy, my lord?'

Lord Burford jerked his head up. 'You're asking
me
?'

'You're the nearest thing I have to an expert witness, my lord. You know them all, at least to a certain extent.'

'Not well enough to commit myself on that score — especially after the other times, when all my early ideas were totally wrong. Anyway, how d'you know it wasn't me?'

'Oh no, my lord. One of the things Chief Superintendent Allgood got right last time was that you'd never murder one of your guests at Alderley. Wouldn't be the done thing, would it?'

'Is murder ever the done thing?'

'Some of your peers have thought so, my lord. And not only in the distant past.'

'Just as long as you can clear it up for us quickly. You did wonders the other times.'

'Oh, I had great deal of luck, my lord. Can't expect that to continue. I'm not sanguine, not sanguine at all.'