A Bloody Hot Summer

by Trevor D'Silva

  Inspector Enderby and Dermot looked at each other. They knew that arsenic was used as poison to get rid of pests and to murder people, but now they were being told that it was good for them.

  “The child was prescribed this tonic by Dr. Fielding?” asked Dr. Heathcliff.

  “Yes, he suffers from acute asthma. He had a mild attack a few weeks ago after he got back from a trip they made to the stream. I was told it was a chilly day,” replied Dermot.

  “The bottle says that it should be shaken before taking a tablespoon of the tonic. Shaking the bottle made the arsenic spread inside the bottle and enter the child’s body every time he took the tonic. That’s why he started feeling sick, with flu-like symptoms, every time he consumed it.”

  “So you mean that it was slowly killing him?” asked Dermot.

  “Yes, and if he had continued taking his tonic regularly, as Dr. Fielding prescribed, arsenic would have accumulated in his body. It would’ve been enough to kill the poor child by the time he finished the bottle.”

  “He was not taking it regularly and complained that he didn’t like the taste. His mother was after him to have the tonic regularly, but he only pretended to take it and then spat it out into the washbasin in his bathroom,” said Dermot.

  “That was what probably saved him. The poor child would’ve died an agonising death at the end. Ironically, his disobedience is a good thing. Usually arsenic has no taste, but it’s just that he did not like the taste of the tonic. Whoever put excess arsenic in it, knew that if the tonic was tested, the high amounts of arsenic would’ve been attributed to the chemist making a mistake while preparing the tonic. Nobody would’ve been any the wiser in this case.”

  “Good, God… We have a poisoner on the loose,” said Inspector Enderby.

  “Did anyone know that he wasn’t taking his tonic?” asked Dr. Heathcliff.

  “Everyone knew. His mother and aunts were after him to take his tonic,” said Dermot.

  “Someone may not have wanted to wait until he finished the bottle and that is why they tried to kill him by cutting the saddle strap,” said Inspector Enderby.

  “Or may’ve realised that he wasn’t taking his tonic. I must go back to the manor and warn them,” said Dermot.

  Inspector Enderby grabbed hold of Dermot’s arm and suggested that they first go to Dr. Fielding and find out where the bottle came from. Dermot agreed and, after thanking Dr. Heathcliff, the two men headed to Dr. Fielding’s office. They knocked on the door and went in. Dr. Fielding was surprised to see them.

  “Is something wrong?” he asked.

  Dermot asked whether he gave the tonic bottle to Hector and Dr. Fielding said that he merely prescribed it but the tonic was probably purchased from Mr. Harris, the chemist, in the village. Inspector Enderby told Dr. Fielding what the tests had found and Dr. Fielding’s jaw dropped in disbelief.

  “No wonder he wasn’t getting any better. We thought he wasn’t taking his tonic,” said Dr. Fielding.

  “Yes, he was getting sick when he took it and got better when he didn’t,” said Dermot.

  “The arsenic must’ve been inserted into the bottle by someone in the manor. Couldn’t have happened at the chemist’s shop,” said Inspector Enderby.

  Dr. Fielding looked at Hector’s medical report. “Yes, he did get better when he took it at first and then started getting worse. So that explains it.”

  The two men thanked Dr. Fielding and drove to the chemist located in the village square.

  — — —

  Mr. Harris was an older man with grey hair and glasses. He looked just like a character from a Dickens novel. He knew the two men and was surprised to see them in his shop. After the customer he was serving had left, the two men came forward and greeted him.

  “Nice to see you two again, but I think this isn’t a social call. Am I right?”

  “Nothing to alarm you, Mr. Harris. We just want to know if anyone from the manor bought any arsenic recently,” said Inspector Enderby.

  “Ahh, yes, their gardener, Mr. Lacey. He came here a few weeks ago and bought a big tin of arsenic. Said that he needed it for getting rid of pests. He even signed the poison registry.”

  He showed them the poison registry and they looked at the date it was bought.

  “A day after the wills were stolen,” said Dermot. “So, whoever stole the wills is also responsible for tainting the tonic with arsenic.”

  They thanked Mr. Harris and, as they left, he called out to them.

  “Just one thing, that cook of theirs – Mrs. Withers. She came by a day after her Ladyship’s murder and bought some sleeping powders. She claimed that two of her sleeping powders went missing on the night her Ladyship was killed. Each box I sell contains fifteen powders and when she went to bed that night she was surprised to find only three remaining instead of five.”

  Dermot looked perplexed and thanked Mr. Harris for the information.

  — — —

  The two men drove to the manor and went in search of the gardener. Mr. Lacey was an older, heavily tanned man. He sat outside the gardening shed, smoking a cigarette.

  “Mr. Lacey, I presume?” asked Inspector Enderby, showing him his badge.

  “Yes, ’ow can I help ya, Inspector?”

  “We spoke to the chemist, Mr. Harris, and his records show that you purchased some arsenic a few weeks ago. For what purpose, may I ask?”

  “Well, Inspector, I have t’battle with the rats ’ere. They attack the vegetable garden and I need it ta poison them, you see. The strange thing is though that tin I bought was nearly half empty the day after. I thought someone had taken it for the rats, but since you’re here now it mayn’t be so.”

  Dermot and Inspector Enderby looked at each other.

  “So we were right, Dermot,” said Inspector Enderby.

  “Who knew about you buying the tin of arsenic?” asked Dermot.

  “All t’staff knew. When we was having lunch, you see, someone said they was seeing rats round the manor as it’s getting warmer. I told Miss Carter that I’d need some money to get some poison for ’em and that I’d keep it in me shed.”

  “This was before Irene was fired?” asked Inspector Enderby.

  “Yes, I think so, Inspector.”

  Dermot and Inspector Enderby thanked Mr. Lacey and walked back to the manor.

  “Wonder who could’ve pinched the arsenic?” asked Dermot.

  “It could be anybody, but none of them will admit taking it. At this point, all of them are under suspicion, perhaps with the exception of Pippa because she had a chance to murder Hector when she was alone with him after his accident.”

  “You’re right, but surely you wouldn’t suspect the elderly sisters and Mrs. Fitzhugh.”

  Inspector Enderby looked at Dermot. “Dermot, I know you’re young, but there are mothers who will do anything for money. If you’ve heard of Mary Ann Cotton, then you can safely assume there are women who will murder their children for money. That damned woman used arsenic too.

  “Mrs. Fitzhugh had access to the tonic bottle and she also worked as a nurse, dispensing medications to soldiers convalescing here during the war. So, she knows a thing or two about poisons. She also had a motive to kill Lady Fitzhugh so that Hector could inherit the estate and she could be in control and not be under three dotty old ladies… She also could’ve let her accomplice into the manor house,” Inspector Enderby explained.

  They went to the drawing room and found Alice dusting. They asked Alice to let Cora know that they wanted to talk to her. Alice went away and Cora came into the drawing room a few minutes later. They asked her to be seated and Cora sat
down without saying a word.

  “Mrs. Fitzhugh, from where did you get the tonic for Hector?”

  “From the chemist, Mr. Harris, in the village. Why do you ask?”

  “Was it opened?”

  “No, it was sealed. Why? Is this relevant?”

  Inspector Enderby told Cora what the chemical analysis of Hector’s tonic bottle had revealed. He also told her that they suspected the extra arsenic could have been stolen from the gardening shed and added to the tonic to slowly poison Hector.

  Cora looked horrified. “Why would anyone want to do that? He’s just a child and has never harmed anyone.”

  “We don’t know why. It seems odd that someone would target the oldest and the youngest members of the family. There must be a reason for it. Do you know if anyone wanted to harm Lady Fitzhugh and Hector?”

  “I don’t know. Hector inherits everything with others being provided for, but I don’t think anyone in the family would want to harm him. Everyone’s fond of Hector.”

  “There is something I wanted to clarify. I had the Toronto police investigate you and your family. They weren’t wealthy, am I right?”

  The question stunned her. “No, Inspector, we weren’t.”

  “You were also fired from your job as a teacher because money from the school safe went missing?”

  Cora looked perturbed. She excused herself and went and closed the door. She then came back to them. “It was a misunderstanding and the real thief was eventually caught. However, mud sticks and I couldn’t find a job. I was working as a waitress when I met Allan and he was so kind…” She then raised her voice. “Am I a suspect? Why did you have me investigated? You think that I would kill my own son for money? How dare you!”

  “Just routine questions, Mrs. Fitzhugh. All part of the investigation,” answered Dermot, trying to calm the situation.

  Cora looked at them. “Then find the killers,” she said firmly. “It’s your job, damn it!” She then took a moment and calmed down. “I must leave this manor house. I only stayed here after Allan died because of the children… His sisters, especially Lilian, resent me because I’m not from the same standing as them and because I’m not English either. It got worse after the American and Canadian soldiers who were convalescing here during the war were a bit unruly.”

  “If you leave, you’ll not be safe. My constables cannot be sent to wherever you go. Everyone needs to be here and then my constables will make sure that nobody gets in or out. Is that understood?” said Inspector Enderby sternly.

  Cora looked disappointed. “Yes,” she said sharply, “but if anything were to happen again then I am taking my children out of this horror house and will probably move back to Canada. Let the police try and stop me then.” She then turned and walked away.

  Dermot looked over at Inspector Enderby. “Now, does that sound like a mother who would kill her child?”

  “Believe me, that Cotton woman was just the same.”

  “It’s not her. I guarantee that.”

  “Sorry, you’ve lost me.”

  “According to the will, Cora handles the estate only if Hector is alive and only until he turns twenty-one – so Cora has everything to lose if Hector dies because Pippa is next in line.”

  “Which means that Pippa is back to being a suspect, but then who are her accomplices?”

  Dermot shrugged his shoulders and suggested that they go to the kitchen and talk to Mrs. Withers. They met her in the servants’ dining room and asked her about the two missing sleeping powder packets. She told them that she was sure there were five in the box the night before and was surprised to find only three when she went to bed after the party. She questioned the staff and they denied taking them.

  “Why would anyone want to steal sleeping powders?” asked Inspector Enderby as they left the manor.

  “I think I know why. The killers needed two people to be asleep and one of them was Slattery.”

  Chapter 14: Comeuppance is Served

  Dermot’s father, Edmund, reminded him about the billiards game at the Meadowford Country Club that night. Edmund’s friends – who had fought alongside him in the Boer War – wanted to meet Dermot after his father had told them that he was a detective with the Metropolitan Police. However, Dermot didn’t want to go because he was overwhelmed with the case.

  “There has to be a first time for everything, Dermot,” Edmund said. He understood his son’s plight. “Experience is the best teacher, and you will learn what your strengths and weaknesses are when you’re by yourself. Come and enjoy yourself tonight. It’ll do you some good and you may learn something.”

  Dermot knew his father was right. He needed some respite and going to the club would be a good opportunity to feel reinvigorated.

  Meadowford Country Club had a swimming pool, tennis courts, a gymnasium, and also a billiards room. Edmund was a regular member along with some of the villagers. They were greeted by the receptionist, who took their hats. They walked through the corridor and entered the billiards room. There were four men already there.

  “Edmund, nice to see you again,” said a man wearing a brown suit. “This must be Dermot, the great detective.”

  “Yes, Malcolm, this is my son, Dermot. Poor chap, he is supposed to be on his holiday, instead he’s investigating those two murders at Fitzhugh Manor,” said Edmund proudly.

  The four men came and shook hands with Edmund and Dermot. The other three men introduced themselves as Ernest, Owen, and Donald. Malcolm said that after the Boer War, he was stationed at various locations in India and retired as a colonel after nearly thirty-two years of service. Ernest left the army after the Boer War and became a chartered accountant. Owen joined the diplomatic service and travelled all over the empire before retiring. Donald came back to Meadowford and continued his profession as a stone mason.

  “There’s another friend who hasn’t retired. He lives in South Africa and his name is Elmer Griffin. He’s a detective with the Pretoria Police Force,” said Donald.

  “Maybe he could help you with your case,” said Owen, laughing.

  “Oh, come on, Dermot’s here to forget about the case and relax. Let’s start with a game, shall we fellas?” asked Edmund, applying chalk to the tip of his cue stick.

  They began playing and the older men began talking about their war experiences. Dermot listened and felt out of place.

  “Is that all you ex-servicemen talk about?” asked Dermot. The men stopped talking and laughed at Dermot’s candour.

  “Yes, Dermot, what you say is true,” said Owen. “Believe me, hardly anyone likes war. Most of us hated going into combat, but when it’s all over we like to reminisce about it, especially when we get together here at the club for sundowners on some evenings, just like we used to do in Africa.”

  “Edmund, do you remember when the Boers ambushed us in the veld?” asked Donald.

  “Yes, I do. They caught us by surprise, but we overpowered them.”

  “A few of them were taken as prisoners to the camps.”

  “What camps are you talking about?” asked Dermot with great interest.

  “The ones where the families of the Boers were interned for the duration of the war,” replied Donald.

  “I read about them and I heard that the camps were horrendous, with people dying like flies.”

  “Yes, and some of us, like your father and me, were assigned to those camps as guards.”

  Edmund looked at Donald and gestured to him to stop, which did not go unnoticed by Dermot.

  “You never told me that you were a guard at a concentration camp,” said Dermot, taken aback.

  Edmund showed his a
nnoyance at the revelation. “Son, I’m not proud of that, but it was what we were commanded to do. We asked no questions but obeyed our superiors.”

  “I learnt about those camps because of this case and also how cruel the British military were to the Boers. Many innocent women and children perished due to starvation and disease in those camps.”

  “Yes, it was a terrible mistake. I’ve heard that even her majesty Queen Victoria was upset about the war and that it could’ve hastened her death. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Boers still harbour resentment or join forces with others who have a grievance against the British Empire to harm us,” said Owen.

  “Well, I would not put it past them to join forces with the Irish Republican Army or the Scottish Independence Movement to weaken the British Empire. I heard that some of the IRA joined forces with Germany during the Great War to fight against the empire,” said Malcolm.

  A waiter entered with a tray of glasses and drinks and placed them on the table beside the billiards table.

  “Here come the sundowners. Let’s finish our game and then we can have our drinks,” said Donald as he positioned himself to take a shot. The others agreed with him.

  — — —

  Bertram Kerr sat next to the window in his room at the Carlton Inn, facing the street and drinking his scotch and soda. He smiled, satisfied with himself. The errand that Lady Fitzhugh had sent him on had given him power over someone. He had the greatest regard for Lady Fitzhugh, but he had decided to use that information for his own advantage now that she was dead. He had to be careful though because he had contacted that person about his secret past and he knew that the person would do anything to keep that information hidden.

  Sending that letter had worked. When Bertram telephoned from a pay phone, the person had agreed to meet with him. Bertram had insisted that they meet at the Carlton Inn in Meadowford, somewhere where he had never stayed before and so nobody would recognise him. If anyone in London had gotten wind that he was involved in blackmail, he would no longer be allowed to practice law. Not that it mattered. The items that his victim would give him in exchange for the proof he had would ensure that Bertram lived a life of luxury for the rest of his years. But he had his reputation to uphold and he needed to hold his head high in society.