by Holly Bell
‘Good evening, Miss Cadabra. Found another body, have we?’ he asked, with slight disapproval.
‘Good evening, Sergeant Baker. Not exactly. This time I sort of saw it, that is, I saw Mrs Woodberry alive and then she disappeared, and next, she was, er …’
‘I’ll show you,’ intervened Trelawney. He took Baker into the hall.
The rector hurried into Amanda’s view. ‘Whatever has happened?’ she asked anxiously.
‘It’s Mrs Woodberry,’ said Amanda. ‘She’s dead, I’m afraid. In the cellar, and the police need to get down there.’
‘Of course. But whatever was she doing in the cellar?’ enquired Jane curiously.
‘She didn’t go down there on purpose, Rector. She fell.’
‘Into the cellar? How very odd.’
‘The floor gave way,’ Amanda explained patiently.
‘What! But … but I made sure … Mr Branscombe,’ said Jane in distress.
‘Yes, I can confirm that, Rector. This is Sergeant Baker,’ Amanda introduced him as he came back out of the hall. ‘This is The Reverend Jane Waygood.’
‘Sergeant,’ said the rector, ‘here is the key to the basement. You can open both doors with it. I’ll show you the way.’
‘Thank you, ma’am,’ said Baker respectfully.
The police were erecting barriers with rods and tape around the hall. Someone from the ambulance was taken down below, to confirm that there was nothing they could do.
Jane returned and took Amanda into the rectory. ‘Come this way, dear, we can get the best view of the action if we sit by this window over here. I’ll just put the kettle on.’ She was back in moments and peered out into the night.
‘Who’s that?’ asked Jane, seeing a woman arrive and get into a plastic suit.
‘Maybe the pathologist?’ hazarded Amanda.
‘Oh, dear! They’ll be coming up soon for the dance,’ the rector said in sudden realisation. ‘Someone had better tell them.’
‘Let’s ask the inspector,’ suggested Amanda. ‘He can assume an air of authority.’
‘Good idea. Where can we siphon them off to, do you think? It’s better if it’s not here at the rectory.’
‘I know,’ said Amanda and made a call. ‘Sandra?’
‘Yes, hun?’
‘Can you do a quick buffet in your function room? There needs to be an emergency change of plan for the dance.’
Amanda knew she could rely on Sandra not to panic in a crisis.
‘I’m sure we can manage,’ said the publican calmly. ‘How long do I have?’
Amanda checked; it was a quarter past six. ‘Fifteen minutes.’
‘Right. Can you tell me any more?’
‘There’s been a fatality at the hall. The police are here now, and it’s cordoned off.’
‘Who?’ asked Sandra.
‘Mrs W.’
‘Wow. OK, leave it with me. I’ll sneak off. OK to tell Vanessa?’
‘Yes, of course.’ Amanda went outside to Trelawney. ‘Are you needed here any longer?’ she asked him.
‘Why?’
‘I need you to do your man-of-the-moment thing and go and head off the party in the orchard. Send them to the Snout and Trough. You can just say there’s been a change of plan.’
‘OK, will do,’ he said reassuringly. ‘Did you see Vic Woodberry at the orchard?’
‘No. Yes ... yes, but I think he must have gone home. I don’t remember seeing him when I left, but there were so many people.’
‘Someone has to find him and tell him,’ explained Trelawney.
‘Leave it to Jane and me.’
‘And you’ll need to make a statement, Miss Cadabra,’ he added.
‘Of course. I’ll be with Jane in the rectory. I’ll let you know as soon as we’ve located Mr Woodberry.’
He made to leave, then stopped. ‘Miss Cadabra.’
‘Yes, Inspector?’
‘Did you see anyone else at the time of the accident?’
‘No, but I heard someone. In the ceiling.’
‘Ah yes, there’s an attic under just part of the roof. There’s a hatch.’
‘Yes, you must have seen the ladder at the side of the hall.’
‘Indeed. Did you hear anyone come down the ladder?’ he asked.
‘No. ‘
‘Or see any evidence that the ladder had been moved since you last saw it?’
‘None, Inspector, but it was dark in there.’
‘OK. I’ll go and take care of the party; then I’ll come back.’ With that Trelawney strode off toward Orchard Row.
Chapter 33
Amanda’s Statement
‘May I use your computer, please, Rector?’ Amanda asked. ‘I want to find the Woodberrys’ dance studio and get some contact details. Someone will have to tell poor Vic.’
‘Oh yes, perhaps I could go and see him with one of the police officers,’ said the rector.
As Amanda located the information, there was a polite knock on the rectory door. Jane went to answer it and shepherded in the caller.
‘Hello again, Miss Cadabra.’
‘Detective Constable Nikolaides, isn’t it?’ Amanda replied with a friendly tone, seeing the familiar face, framed by neat dark hair above the police uniform. ‘It’s nice to see you again, even though the circumstances are not ideal. You were very kind to me on the last occasion.’
‘We try, Miss Cadabra. Are you OK to talk?’
‘Yes, I’m fine, really.’
‘All right. Why don’t you just tell me in your own words what happened.’
While the constable took rapid notes, Amanda explained about the glasses and plate, the time she’d left the party and where she’d parked, what she’d done and what she had seen. ‘I knelt on the edge of the boards and, as it happens, I have a flashlight app on my phone.’ Amanda described the unfortunate sight that had met her eyes. ‘It was clear that Mrs Woodberry was beyond help. I came outside and called Inspector Trelawney, as he was just two minutes down the road, and he called Sergeant Baker.’
‘You only touched the floorboards then?’ asked Nikolaides.
‘I tried not to touch even them, just sort of leaned on my hand so I could look over the edge of the hole and down, in case I could help Mrs Woodberry.’
‘OK. Now, can you think of anyone who might have wanted to harm Mrs Woodberry?’
Amanda shook her head at once. ‘No. She wasn’t the nicest of people, and I think she was probably a bit of a martinet to her husband, but no one kills someone because they’re not very nice.’
‘So no one in the village, as far as you know, had any kind of a grudge against her?’ enquired the constable.
‘No, no one that I know of.’
‘Do you know anything about her family or friends?’
‘No, but Sylvia, our lollipop lady, knew her years ago, before she was married. The Woodberrys’ house is in Romping-in-the-Heye; they’re not Sunken Madleyists. I only know people there I’ve done furniture work for, but I know of no one connected to the Woodberrys. I’d never met them before the first dance class.’
‘Thank you, Miss Cadabra. Can you tell me where I might find Sylvia?’
‘Yes, she’ll be at the party. Er, though I think she may be a bit … merry. Probably better to talk to her tomorrow … afternoon. But here are her contact details,’ said Amanda helpfully, showing Nikolaides the relevant page on her phone.
Jane came in with tea for the constable. ‘Here’s some paper for Amanda to write her statement,’ offered the rector. ‘Save her going to the station.’
‘Thank you, but I have some here,’ the constable replied kindly. ‘Would you mind, Miss Cadabra?’
‘Not at all. I’ll write it while you drink your tea.’
Jane returned to the kitchen to brew up some more for the police outside. Nikolaides sipped her drink while Amanda scribbled away. When she was done, she read it, signed it and handed it over to the constable.
Amanda had chosen her
words with care and precision and told nothing but the truth. Just not the whole truth. Not by a long chalk.
Trelawney presently returned, having herded the merrymakers to the pen of the Snout and Trough, where Sarah had rapidly ordered the upstairs room, cast damask over trestles and set out cups, glasses, bottles, and snacks. Vanessa had commandeered the sound equipment from downstairs and was organising the dance lesson, he reported.
‘It was quite a sight seeing the two of them in action. Worthy of Mission Impossible!’
‘They are a redoubtable pair,’ agreed Amanda with pride in her fellow villagers.
‘Have you given your statement?’ he asked her.
‘Yes, just done. To Constable Nikolaides.’
‘Tea, Inspector?’ asked Jane.
‘Not just at the moment, thank you, Rector,’ said Trelawney. He made a gesture to Nikolaides, and she followed him out. He returned several minutes later. ‘I have permission to take Miss Cadabra home. I expect you don’t feel much like partying,’ he said to her.
‘True. Thank you. Thank you, Rector, for your hospitality.’
‘Any time. I’ll take Mr Woodberry’s contact details to Sergeant Baker, shall I?
‘Yes, please, or Constable Nikolaides.’
Trelawney helped Amanda on with her coat and walked with her to her car.
‘Shall I drive?’ he offered.
‘Thank you, but I can go that short distance.’
‘You must have left the door open,’ he commented, as they approached the Astra. Tempest was curled up on the back seat. But not asleep.
At the cottage, Trelawney insisted Amanda rest while he made tea. He sat and waited while she settled, then took a folded sheet of paper from his pocket.
‘Your statement,’ he said.
‘A little light reading for you?’ she asked.
He regarded her thoughtfully.
‘I think, Miss Cadabra, that you are one of those rare individuals who cannot help but always tell the truth. Would you consider that an accurate assessment?’
‘Yes,’ Amanda agreed levelly. She knew what was coming.
‘The question is …,’ he said, as he waved the paper, ‘… is this the whole truth?’
‘Oh, do you mean, did I leave out the bit where I took the fire axe to the floor, then pushed Mrs Woodberry into the hole, first having ensured that the anvils and stage spear were properly set up to receive her?’
‘Miss Cadabra,’ he replied sternly, ‘I would strongly advise you not to take a jesting tone with either Constable Nikolaides or Sergeant Baker.’
‘I’m sorry,’ she replied stiffly, ‘I did not realise that this was a formal interview, Inspector. I did not intend to give the impression that I take this matter of untimely death lightly.’
Trelawney reflected that she was right. He was not the investigating officer in this case, and he had no authority to question her as he had done. He got up and started making up the fire in the hearth for something to do, forgetting it was not his own.
‘No, I’m sorry,’ he said contritely. ‘I was going into autopilot. I want to help. You found the body, and …’
‘I know. That never looks good.’
‘You were the only person present when it happened. It may be that everyone else has an alibi. I want to help you clear yourself beyond all doubt.’
Amanda felt the urge to confide what she had seen in the basement. But there was no way she was going to tell him the means she had used to get down there, through two locked doors.
Chapter 34
Puzzle
‘Let me put it another way, Miss Cadabra,’ Trelawney tried. ‘Are forensics going to find your fingerprints on the door handles of the doors leading to the basement? And your footprints in the dust of the floor down there?’
Amanda had already thought about the traces she and Tempest must have left. ‘I went down there with Jane, so my finger and footprints will be no surprise,’ she answered with a show of unconcern.
‘I see. Was that recently?’ he asked.
‘Not very, but I expect no one except the rector and Mr Branscombe has been down there since, as far as I know. There would be no reason.’
Trelawney essayed another route.
‘In your opinion, Miss Cadabra, was this accident?’
Here, at least, Amanda could be forthcoming. ‘No, Inspector, it was not. I saw those floorboard supports myself when the rector took me down there. They weren’t industry standard, but they were solid and tightly wedged. Mr Branscombe will testify to that effect as an expert witness, I have no doubt. The only way that that floor could have collapsed is if someone had deliberately … damaged it. I thought something fell or was thrown, possibly, from above, but I couldn’t see anything when I looked down there. It had to have been sabotage.’
‘Could something have accidentally fallen from the ceiling?’ Trelawney suggested.
‘I don’t believe so. I’m sure there was someone up there. I thought I saw a leg — legs — sort of … that is, one was … small and … not clear — but I though it punctured the plaster. Maybe they unintentionally knocked something down. There is that possibility, of course. In which case, it would be accidental,’ Amanda admitted.
He got the fire going, and she attempted a little candour. ‘I’m in the soup, aren’t I? If my fingerprints and the rector’s are the only ones on the basement doors, then either or both of us could have gone down there and meddled with the supports, I suppose. But why would either of us do such a thing?’
‘And when?’
‘I didn’t have a key until this evening when Donna gave it to me. And it could have been anyone walking across that bit of floor that gave way. It could have been me! It makes no sense.’
‘I agree. Is there nothing else you can tell me?’ he asked her gently.
‘Nothing, Inspector. I’d never met Majolica before. I don’t know why or how this could have happened. If it was sabotage, it could have been done by someone else with access to the church hall, access to the key. People were in and out of the hall before classes began to help paint it and clean the windows, but none of them would have had access to the basement. All of the decorating materials were above ground. You’d have to ask the rector if any one apart from her was given the keys. Whatever was done to make the floor collapse, it would have had to have been between last Saturday, when we used the hall, and today. As for prints, the saboteur could have worn gloves.’
‘You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I doubt that you will be considered a serious suspect,’ Trelawney said reassuringly. ‘But the sooner you can be eliminated from the list, the better.’
‘Of course. I’m sorry today has ended like this,’ Amanda replied regretfully. ‘I’d hoped your visit would be fun for you.’
‘It was, I promise you. Don’t let this upset you unduly. I think Mrs Woodberry was not a particular favourite of yours,’ he suggested diplomatically.
‘You could say that. I hope that doesn’t push me back up to the top of the suspect list!’
‘By no means. I doubt she was a particular favourite of anyone’s. Putting that matter aside, we still have a mission. Or rather, I still have a mission. This doesn’t change the fact that there is still a spy in the camp and your Uncle Mike has charged me with your safety and to discover the identity of the person in question.’
‘Well, my guess is that Sandra will offer the function room at the Snout and Trough for the dance classes, and I think Vanessa will be able to take over teaching them. I’ve watched her, and I reckon she has sufficient knowledge of the technique, plus she loves to dance, even if she doesn’t have the Woodberry experience.’
‘Do you think the villagers will want to go on with the classes after this?’ asked Trelawney, slightly surprised.
‘Oh yes,’ responded Amanda with certainty. ‘They’re hooked now. You could see that last Saturday. As you said, no one was attached to Majolica, and I think they’ll still want to learn and to su
pport the fund for the new church hall. Perhaps all the more so now. And there’s no question about it needing a new floor!’
‘Quite,’ he acknowledged with a smile. ‘I bow to your superior knowledge of your fellow denizens. I shall see you next Saturday then. If you need me, I shall be in Crouch End until late afternoon tomorrow. Will you be all right?’
‘Of course. I think I shall have a hot bath, a hot drink, watch something funny on the television and go to bed. And I have my mobile comfort blanket with me.’ Tempest had draped himself across her knees and was purring loudly. He now trained his gaze upon Trelawney to convey that the very idea that his human required any more care and protection than could possibly be offered by one other than himself was an insult of the lowest order.
The inspector rose. ‘No, please don’t get up, Miss Cadabra. I’ll see myself out. I’ll call you tomorrow.’
‘Thank you, Inspector,’ Amanda replied with genuine appreciation.
‘Sleep well,’ he bade her kindly.
‘Good night.’
Amanda heard the door close, and, before she could say the words, her grandparents appeared, Senara beside her on the sofa and Perran in Trelawney’s vacated chair, each with a cup of tea and plate of scones and jam.
‘That’s a good fire he’s built,’ said Perran approvingly.
‘He knows his way around the kitchen,’ remarked Senara.
‘Glad you popped in to talk about the inspector,’ commented Amanda dryly.
‘Now don’t take on. You’re not in any trouble,’ said Grandpa, cutting a scone in half.
‘It’s another puzzle,’ explained Granny, spreading clotted cream on hers.
‘Do you know what happened? Did you see it coming?’ Amanda asked urgently.
‘No,’ Granny replied, ‘but then we can’t be everywhere at once.’
‘And we’re not omniscient,’ added Grandpa.
‘No, that would be frightfully dull!’ exclaimed his wife.
‘Can you help?’ Amanda enquired pressingly.
‘Naturally. But you have to tell us what you know,’ answered Senara, picking up her scone and proceeding to take a bite.
