Twelve Horses and the Hangman's Noose (Mrs. Bradley) by Mitchell Gladys

Author:Mitchell, Gladys [Mitchell, Gladys]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer Seattle
Published: 2013-12-30T16:00:00+00:00

“The whole question boils down to this,” said the headmaster, addressing Sir Mallory. “When could it have been done? The answer,” he went on, lifting his hand to prevent the chief constable from speaking, “is that it must have been done between the end of afternoon school and the beginning of the Official Opening. And yet”—a worried frown replaced the professionally benevolent gaze of the pedagogue—“I still can’t see when there was the opportunity. There was certainly no body in the hall when it was locked at two p.m., and from then onwards it remained locked until half-past six. From half-past six until the ceremony began I do not see how there could have been any opportunity. I shouldn’t think the hall was left entirely empty for a moment.”

“I should be glad of a word with your chief caretaker, Mr. Bond. You state that he was in charge of the parking arrangements that evening.”

“Quite so. Your own view, I take it, is that the body was brought by car and was introduced into the hall after the ceremony was over? Wait a moment, though! I’m not at all sure that that will do. It would depend upon when the plants and flowers were rearranged. But see the caretaker by all means. I doubt whether he can help you very much.”

The chief caretaker—thorough man!—produced his parking list. (One job less for the superintendent, thought Sir Mallory.)

“I marked out a plan on the asphalt,” the caretaker explained, “being that it would be dark when they wanted their cars to go home, and some of them not being used to the layout here. So, as they parks, I takes their name and the number of the car, and it’s all wrote down here, sir, to expedite getting them away after the ceremony and refreshments.”

“Some job to check all these cars,” thought Sir Mallory, thankful that it was one which he had already delegated. “May I keep this?” he asked. “You’ll have heard, of course, about the body that was found here after the ceremony.”

“Saw it, too, sir. But I’ll swear it wasn’t there when I popped my head in as soon as I unlocked at half-past five, sir.”

“You mean at half-past six, don’t you? Mr. Bond—”

“I unlocked at half-past five, sir, to take a last look round, it being too late at half-past six, with people and boys arriving.”

“Mr. Bond seemed certain that the hall was locked from two until half-past six.”

“The school, sir,” said the caretaker firmly, “is, as I see it, my responsibility when the building is vacated as for immediate school use, and, whether known, or, as in this case, unknown to Mr. Bond, I make it a practice to look into anything that’s been locked up. If you had my experience of boys, sir—let alone Science masters—you would appreciate that the same is absolutely necessary in a building of this sort. Taps left running, electric lights left on, lavatory cisterns running over, Bunsen burners left alight, vomit what’s never

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