Murder on the Flying Scotsman by Carola Dunn

Author:Carola Dunn [Dunn, Carola]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781849018388
Publisher: Constable & Robinson

CHAPTER 12

‘What about the valet?’ Alec said as Piper returned with two brimming tankards in one hand and one in the other. ‘Miss Dalrymple didn’t mention, or didn’t know, that he gets a legacy from Albert. It may not be much, but as you so rightly say, murder has been done for very little.’

Tom shook his head. Taking a deep draught of bitter, he wiped the suds off his mustache and reached for a sandwich. ‘I’d count him out, Chief. He wasn’t even on Miss Dalrymple’s list of suspects.’

‘That’s no reason for not putting him on mine!’ Noting too late the twinkle in the sergeant’s eyes, Alec realized he’d been had. ‘All right,’ he said resignedly. ‘Explain.’

‘Weekes knows about the legacy, and it’s just a couple of hundred and a gold watch. McGowan paid him a hundred and fifty a year, all found, of course.’

‘Blimey,’ said Piper, ‘I’m in the wrong business.’

‘Ah, but you got a future, lad. Weekes is out of a job. He’s sorry the old man’s gone, though more peeved than grieved, I’d say. The other thing is, he reminded me what Miss Dalrymple told us: He was the one first drew attention to suspicious circs.’

‘That’s right, I’d forgotten. He confirmed the rest of Miss Dalrymple’s statement, about McGowan’s illness and the window and so on?’

‘Every word, Chief.’

Alec chewed on a mouthful of ham-and-tongue sandwich while he considered. ‘All right, he can go to the bottom of the list.’

‘Who’s next, then, Chief?’ Piper asked.

‘Efficient of Halliday to collect everyone in one place so we don’t have to race around town. We’d better see this Indian doctor chap. No apparent motive, rather the reverse, but you never can tell. And he may have some medical information for us.’ Not to mention the fact that Alec was all agog to meet the fellow who had so quickly wormed his way into both Daisy’s and Belinda’s good graces.

Piper swallowed a final bite, emptied the last drop of his abstemious half of mild, and went off to find the doctor. As he opened the door, the sound of a wireless or gramophone wafted down the hall from the residents’ lounge, playing ‘K-K-K-Katy.’ So much for mourning Albert McGowan.

‘I’ll be waiting at the k-k-k-kitchen door,’ warbled a hearty tenor.

‘Turn the blasted thing down!’ bellowed an irate voice.

The wireless was silent when Piper ushered in Dr. Jagai. His youth took Alec by surprise; for no good reason he had expected a man of forty or so, older than himself. Chandra Jagai was nearer Daisy’s age than Alec’s.

‘Detective Sergeant Tring.’ Alec waved at Tom. ‘And I’m Detective Chief Inspector Fletcher, Scotland Yard.’

The Indian’s round, rather serious face broke into a white smile and he held out his hand. ‘How do you do, chief Inspector. So you’re Miss Belinda’s father. A delightful child.’ His English was perfect.

Alec shook his hand, warming to him. ‘Thank you, Doctor. I think so, too. Do sit down.’ He must not let the praise of his daughter influence his attitude to this man.

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