Death on Herons' Mere by Mary Fitt

Author:Mary Fitt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Golden Age mysteries british;1940s murder mysteries;vintage murder mystery
Publisher: Moonstone Press
Published: 2022-04-11T13:10:59+00:00

17

On the day before the inquest on Giles Gabb, Mallett was shown through the French windows into Mrs Charleroy’s garden. Mrs Charleroy was already out of doors, cutting long-stemmed roses. She drew off her leather gloves as Mallett appeared, and closed the secateurs.

‘Good morning, ma’am,’ said Mallett politely, with a forward movement of the head and shoulders which he imagined to be a bow. ‘I hope you’ll excuse this early call.’

‘Oh, good morning, Superintendent!’ Mrs Charleroy sounded as if he were the most welcome of visitors. ‘Won’t you come inside? Or would you rather sit out here and smoke your pipe?’

Mallett pulled out the pipe which, still smouldering, he had just pushed away into his coat pocket. Together they sat down on a rustic seat at the side of the path, and Mrs Charleroy placed the basket of roses on the flag-stones beside her. When he turned to look at her, she met his look unflinchingly; but he fancied that, a moment before, her eyes had been darting here and there, making sure that no one was visible.

‘I was passing by,’ said Mallett casually, ‘and I thought I’d look in. As a matter of fact, I’m on my way to Morgan’s cottage.’

‘Oh, indeed?’ said Mrs Charleroy carefully.

‘Yes. Not that I expect to find him there. Funny how elusive that fellow is. I expect he’s up at the Hall by now. Still, I can leave a message with his wife, I suppose.’

‘Yes, I suppose so.’ Mrs Charleroy sounded vague.

‘Time’s getting a bit short,’ continued Mallett, as though he had all day to spare. ‘I must get him up to the Station to-day, if I don’t find him at home.’ He turned to her confidentially. ‘Between you and me, he seems to have been the last person to see Giles Gabb alive – except the murderer, of course.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes. If his statement is correct, he saw Giles Gabb on the lake at about six that morning. Not that he’s told the police. Oh, no! People, I notice, prefer to talk to almost anyone else except the man who’s trying to solve the problem. Have you noticed that, Mrs Charleroy?’

Mrs Charleroy laughed somewhat artificially. ‘I’m afraid I haven’t had much experience of murders, Superintendent.’

‘No. No. You wouldn’t have.’ Mallett pressed fresh tobacco carefully into his pipe, tucked away the strands neatly, and lit it again. Mrs Charleroy watched him uneasily. When next he spoke, she started.

‘Is your son about just now?’

‘I don’t know. He may be. Did you want to see him?’ She half-rose, and her leather gauntlets fell to the ground. Mallett picked them up and gave them back to her.

‘No. Don’t trouble, Mrs Charleroy. It doesn’t matter. Perhaps if you’ll spare me the time, instead?’

She sat down again, reluctant yet alert. Mallett’s manner became more serious.

‘Have you had any talk with your son about the events of Saturday evening and Sunday morning, Mrs Charleroy?’

‘No,’ said Helen, running her mind hurriedly over the past. ‘Not since the actual morning of the murder, that is, when we were all told the news.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.