A Bloody Hot Summer

by Trevor D'Silva

  Dermot nodded, took a deep breath, and tried not to bother with the many pairs of eyes staring at him. Usually it was his superior, Detective Lloyd, who did the talking and Dermot would be silent, waiting for his instructions. Now, standing in front of all of these people, his nerves were getting the better of him, so he inwardly sighed with relief when Inspector Enderby began to speak.

  “We’ll have to take your statements. I need to know where all of you were when the murder took place. Dr. Fielding estimates that the murder took place at around two a.m., give or take an hour or two. I understand that Lady Fitzhugh went to bed at ten-thirty p.m. – am I right?” asked Inspector Enderby.

  “Yes,” said the young lady who had smiled at Dermot. “She had her last glass of sherry and, after the guests left, she wished us all good night and went straight to her bedroom.”

  “Are you certain?”

  “Yes, I am. Aunt Doris looked at the clock on the wall and stated the time,” she answered, pointing to the clock.

  “Now, can someone please give me a description of the emerald necklace that was stolen?” asked Dermot.

  There were a few murmurs and then one of the elderly ladies said, “Look behind you, Detective. It’s around the woman’s neck in the painting.”

  Dermot and Inspector Enderby turned around and saw a portrait of a family of four hanging on the wall behind them. The woman had an emerald necklace around her neck. Dermot was impressed with the intricate details of the necklace that the painter had managed to capture. The emeralds were inlaid in a gold base and were surrounded by tiny diamonds.

  “Okay. We’ll be in the library. If you could all come in one at a time and answer a few questions, we can take it from there,” said Inspector Enderby.

  Chapter 4: A Time for Questions

  Two hours later, Dermot and Inspector Enderby had finished interviewing the family and, after the last person left, they began comparing notes.

  “Crikey, none of them have strong alibis. It could be any of them. Their bedrooms were close to the victim’s and anyone could’ve let the accomplice in, gone into her Ladyship’s bedroom, tied her up, and killed her,” said Inspector Enderby.

  “I assume that one of the family could be involved,” said Dermot.

  “Why would they do that?”

  “Because, as stated by Dr. Fielding, she was in perfect health. Perhaps someone wanted to hasten her demise; after all, being unmarried, she might leave the property to her next of kin and that would be to her nieces and nephews. They could all get a good chunk of the estate.”

  “I see what you mean. So, any one of them could be guilty,” said Inspector Enderby.

  “Maybe I’m wrong. Let’s go downstairs to the kitchen area. We have to interview the maid who discovered the body. The rest of the staff, I suppose, will probably tell us the same thing as the family – that they were nowhere near the murder scene and were asleep in their rooms. Do you have the guest list for the party?” asked Dermot.

  “Yes, and we can interview them once we’re done with the staff,” said Inspector Enderby.

  “One thing that surprises me is that the family doesn’t seem particularly upset at what has happened. They seem unusually calm…”

  “Dermot, you have to remember that they belong to the upper class. They have been taught to keep a stiff upper lip, even in trying times.”

  Dermot grimaced with amusement. “Well, my upper lip will only stiffen when I’m stone dead.”

  They laughed as they entered the kitchen and an elderly woman in her seventies wearing a pair of silver pince-nez came to them. She glared at the two of them and they stopped laughing. Inspector Enderby introduced her as Miss Carter, the housekeeper. She looked younger and stronger than most women of her age. Inspector Enderby asked her if they could talk to the staff in private and she suggested that they could use the servants’ dining room. Inspector Enderby then requested her to send Alice in and, before she left, Miss Carter asked if they would like some tea, to which he replied that they would.

  They entered the servants’ dining room and sat down. Shortly after, Alice opened the door and walked in. She still seemed very upset and distraught. She greeted the men and they asked her to sit down.

  “You must be Alice Hall?” asked Dermot. She nodded. “Please tell us how you discovered her Ladyship’s body?”

  Alice told them that she took Lady Fitzhugh her morning tea with some toast at seven, like she did every morning. She knocked on the door and when there was no response, she went in and discovered the terrible scene. She dropped the tray and started screaming, until Slattery and Miss Carter came in.

  “Did you see anything else odd in the room?” asked Inspector Enderby.

  “Nothin’. I was so upset, sir…”

  “Understandable. What happened after Mr. Slattery and Miss Carter came in?”

  “Mr. Slattery froze for a few seconds when he saw her Ladyship, and he then tried to calm me down. Miss Carter came in and I ’eard Mr. Slattery shout to her. They brought me out of there. The family started comin’ out of their rooms and Mr. Slattery stopped ’em from goin’ into the room. Mr. Endecott pushed his way in, then he came back out after a few minutes and closed the door. He looked white as a sheet, he did. Miss Carter and Mr. Slattery calmed me down and then brought me back down ’ere to the kitchen.”

  “Did Mr. Endecott say anything?”

  Alice thought for a second. “Yes… he said he couldn’t believe it as he never heard anythin’ in the night.”

  “If that’s all, then I thank you for your time. If you do remember anything, please contact me. Here’s my card,” said Inspector Enderby. “Would you send Mr. Slattery in please.”

  Alice nodded, took the card, and left the room. A few minutes later, Slattery entered the room and greeted the two men. He sat on the chair previously occupied by Alice.

  “Ahh, Mr. Slattery, Mrs. Endecott told us that you have the habit of walking around in the middle of the night checking the doors and windows. Is that so?”

  “Yes, Inspector. It helps me go back to sleep. It’s an old habit I picked up whilst in South Africa with the late Lord Fitzhugh.”

  “Interesting. How did the habit come about?” asked Dermot, curiously.

  “An English settler, known to his Lordship in South Africa, and his family were massacred either by the natives or by the Boers during the war. One of the windows was unlocked and that’s how they entered and killed everyone in the house. Ever since then, I’ve had the habit of checking the doors and windows when I wake up during the night. I also do it before I go to bed.”

  “Now, did you see anything last night?” asked Dermot.

  Slattery suddenly smiled. “Nothing at all. It was like a graveyard.”

  “What time did you sleep and wake up last night?” asked Inspector Enderby.

  “Her Ladyship graciously gave us two bottles of wine for dinner. After everyone went to bed, we quickly ate dinner, toasted her Ladyship, and went to bed. That was close to midnight. I woke up around two a.m. and it was very quiet. I heard nothing.”

  “Ahh, I see,” said Dermot smiling. “Now, tell us what happened this morning?”

  Slattery explained that he was in the dining room setting the table for breakfast when he heard Alice scream. He ran to her Ladyship’s bedroom and found Alice hysterical. He tried to calm her down and then Miss Carter entered and was transfixed when she looked at the dressing table. He called out to her and she broke off from her stupor, and they both took Alice out of the bedroom. The family had gathered by the door. Arthur pushed his way into the room and came out a few minutes later, closing the door.

  “Could you see wha
t he did inside?”

  “No, the door was almost closed when he went inside, and I was trying to prevent the rest of the family from entering the bedroom.”

  “How long was he inside the bedroom?”

  “Maybe two minutes… He came out and said to us that he couldn’t believe that her Ladyship was dead because he hadn’t heard anything during the night. That’s all I remember. Then Miss Carter and I brought Alice to the kitchen.”

  “If there’s nothing else, then I suppose there is no point in detaining you further from your duties. Please send Miss Carter in,” said Inspector Enderby.

  “Very good, sir.” Slattery got up and, as he was about to leave, Dermot asked him why he and Miss Carter were summoned to the library after Mr. Kerr spoke to Lady Fitzhugh. He replied that Lady Fitzhugh wanted to talk to them about serving the wine during dinner.

  After Slattery left, Miss Carter came in with a tray of tea. She poured for them; Dermot had his tea with milk and sugar, while Inspector Enderby had his with a slice of lemon.

  “Wonderful tea, Miss Carter. I must say, this is the best tea I’ve ever had,” said Inspector Enderby.

  “Indian tea. We also have tea from Ceylon and China, but the family likes the Indian tea. The family was in India at one point in time.”

  “How long have you worked here?”

  “For about five years. Lady Fitzhugh hired me when the former housekeeper, the late Mrs. Slattery, passed away.”

  “Did you see anything unusual last night?”

  “No, I was sound asleep. I got to know of the murder when Alice screamed. It seemed the whole manor could hear it. That girl can really scream!”

  “Why did you stare at the dressing table in the bedroom?”

  “I saw the body and then I noticed the open jewellery box. The emerald necklace, which she wore last night, was missing. I remember thinking that she was probably killed for the necklace. Then I heard Slattery calling me and we took Alice out. The poor girl was in a state of shock.”

  “So, you were the last person to see her alive?” asked Inspector Enderby.

  “Yes, besides the murderer, Inspector,” she said haughtily.

  Inspector Enderby smiled. “Of course, Miss Carter.”

  “Did you see Mr. Endecott go into the bedroom and come out?”

  “Yes, but I couldn’t see anything as I was comforting Alice and the door was almost closed. Mr. Slattery was preventing the family members from going in. Her Ladyship’s sisters were adamant that they should go in.”

  “Did you hear him say anything when he came out?”

  “Yes, something like he couldn’t believe that her Ladyship was dead… I think.”

  “Why did her Ladyship dismiss a maid recently?” asked Inspector Enderby.

  “Yes, Irene Shaw. Strangely, the emerald necklace, which is now missing, was found in her room. She denied taking it, obviously, but she wasn’t a good worker anyway, so she was given a choice to either leave willingly without a reference or we report her to the police. She chose the former. Until the moment she left, she was adamant that she didn’t steal the necklace.”

  “Ahh, so now we’re getting somewhere. Somebody did have a motive to kill her Ladyship,” said Dermot. “Did you notice anything else missing?”

  “No, I did not.” Miss Carter then straightened herself. “Can I tell you something?” she asked in a low voice.

  “Yes, please go ahead,” said Inspector Enderby.

  “I think I know who you should be looking at. It’s that nephew of hers, Mr. Endecott; the one who came from India. I tell you, he probably wanted her dead.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “I heard them arguing many times.”

  “About what?” asked Inspector Enderby.

  “I cannot say. They spoke in low tones. Her Ladyship didn’t like her nephew. They never got along. I heard from her Ladyship that he collects antiques; you know, knives and guns. She told me that he had brought an antique knife with him from India.”

  “You and her Ladyship were close?” asked Dermot.

  “Yes, but I know my place. Ever since Irene was dismissed, I did her duties including tending to her Ladyship’s needs. She trusted me and used to ask my opinions. I only gave them if I was asked.”

  “Do you know where we could find this… Irene Shaw?” asked Inspector Enderby.

  “I don’t, no. You could ask the agency in St. Crispin’s Village that sent her here. They may know where she is now.”

  Dermot thanked Miss Carter and asked her to send in the cook.

  A few minutes after Miss Carter left, a stout middle-aged lady walked in. Mrs. Withers greeted the two men with a high-pitched voice and they asked her to sit down. Dermot asked her if she had heard or seen anything unusual during the night. She replied that she hadn’t, as she had taken a sleeping draught along with a strong cup of Miss Carter’s chamomile tea.

  “Do you always take a sleeping draught before bed?” asked Dermot.

  “Yes, I’ve always been a light sleeper so I take the sleeping powder to get me a good night’s rest.”

  “When did you hear about the murder?”

  “When Miss Carter brought Alice to the kitchen. I just couldn’t believe it… Poor Lady Fitzhugh! What a sad end!”

  “How long have you worked here?”

  “For nearly seven years. Mind you, everyone likes my cooking. I was a poor girl from London’s East End and now I cook for the upper classes.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Withers. Please send Abigail in,” said Dermot, looking at Inspector Enderby with relief.

  Abigail entered a few minutes later. She was the same age as Alice and her dark hair was tied back. She wore spectacles and looked a bit nervous. She greeted the two men before sitting down. Inspector Enderby asked her if she had heard anything unusual at the party or during the night, and she told them that she and Alice were busy serving the guests and also helping in the kitchen. She slept soundly at night because she was very tired and she never heard anything.

  Dermot asked Abigail when she heard about the murder. She replied that she was in the laundry room and she heard people running upstairs. Then she heard Alice crying as she and Miss Carter passed by the laundry room on the way to the kitchen. She followed them and when Mrs. Withers enquired, Alice slowly told them that Lady Fitzhugh had been murdered.

  “Do you always do the laundry?”

  “Yes. First thing in the morning an’ sometimes in the afternoon. I help with other chores too.”

  Suddenly, a cat came through the open door and stood next to Abigail.

  “Does the cat belong to the manor?” asked Dermot.

  “Not really, sir, but me an’ Alice feed it when we can an’ it stays on the property. Miss Carter doesn’t like her much. I told her that the cat will sort out the rats, but she said we ’ave poison for that.”

  Miss Carter came into the room. “Abigail, I told you to get rid of that cat,” she said sternly. “Now go and put her outside.”

  Abigail picked up the cat and held it close to her. She looked at the two men and they told her that she could leave. Abigail got up and left with the cat.

  “If you shan’t be needing us any longer, we’ve got to get back to work,” said Miss Carter.

  “Yes, Miss Carter. We’re finished here and we’ll show ourselves out,” said Inspector Enderby.

  — — —

  The two men went upstairs and found Arthur Endecott in the library, sitting near an open window, drinking whisky, and reading the newspaper. He looked up and saw the two men approaching him.
r />   “Is there anything else, gentlemen?”

  “Mr. Endecott, you never heard anything last night?” asked Inspector Enderby.

  “That’s right, Inspector. Like I told you earlier, I was sound asleep. I had a cup of Miss Carter’s chamomile tea and I only woke up when that silly girl was screaming like a banshee. Is there a problem?”

  “Not that we know of, but you told us that you returned to England to attend your aunt’s birthday party.”

  “Yes, that’s true.”

  “Is there another reason why you came to England? You were overheard arguing with her Ladyship several times.”

  “Yes, but that’s a private matter. It’s of nobody’s concern.”

  “Well, it is for the police. I urge you to be honest with us. It’ll be in your best interest,” said Inspector Enderby impatiently.

  Arthur sighed. “All right. I was arguing with Aunt Doris about taking those guns with me back to India.” He pointed to the collection of guns in a glass case.

  The two men turned and looked at them and Dermot said, “Why do you want them?”

  “They were gifted by the Maharaja of Kamalpore to my Granduncle Theo when he became the commander of the Kamalpore Garrison. I want them for my antique collection. Aunt Doris did not want to part with them, as Uncle Theo wanted them here. Once she’s dead, who better to give them to but me? Nobody else is interested in them. Grandpa William once told me that I could have them.”

  “Did she finally say that you could have them?”

  “Yes, Aunt Doris, stubborn as she was, saw sense in my argument. It took some convincing, but she finally agreed. She called me to her bedroom before the party and told me so.” He smiled and took a sip from his glass. “Hot day. Would you two like a spot of whisky as well? I need a stiff one now that breakfast’s been delayed.”

  Dermot ignored him. “Did you bring back any antiques; like a knife perhaps?”