Spider's Web by Christie Agatha

Author:Christie, Agatha [Agatha, Christie,]
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Published: 2010-06-23T04:00:00+00:00

Spider's Web

CHAPTER TWELVE

THE INSPECTOR'S announcement was greeted by Miss Peake with a jolly laugh. “I say, this is mysterious. I am enjoying myself,” she exclaimed delightedly.

The Inspector frowned. “It concerns Mr. Costello,” he explained. “Mr. Oliver Costello of twenty-seven Morgan Mansions, London SW3. I believe that's in the Chelsea area.”

“Never heard of him,” was Miss Peake's robustly expressed response to this.

“He was here this evening, visiting Mrs. Hailsham-Brown,” the Inspector reminded her, “and I believe you showed him out through the garden.”

Miss Peake slapped her thigh. “Oh, that man,” she recalled. “Mrs. Hailsham-Brown did mention his name.” She looked at the Inspector with a little more interest. “Yes, what do you want to know?” she asked.

“I should like to know,” the Inspector told her, speaking slowly and deliberately, “exactly what happened, and when you last saw him.”

Miss Peake thought for a moment before replying. Then, “Let me see,” she said. “We went out through the French windows, and I told him there was a short cut if he wanted the bus, and he said no, he'd come in his car, and he'd left it round by the stables.”

She beamed at the Inspector as though she expected to be praised for her succinct recollection of what had occurred, but he merely looked thoughtful as he commented, “Isn't that rather an odd place to leave a car?”

“That's just what I thought,” Miss Peake agreed, slapping the Inspector's arm as she spoke. He looked surprised at this, but she continued, “You'd think he'd drive right up to the front door, wouldn't you? But people are so odd. You never know what they're going to do.” She gave a hearty guffaw.

“And then what happened?” the Inspector asked.

Miss Peake shrugged her shoulders. “Well, he went off to his car, and I suppose he drove away,” she replied.

“You didn't see him do so?”

“No – I was putting my tools away,” was the gardener's reply.

“And that's the last you saw of him,” the Inspector asked with emphasis.

“Yes, why?”

“Because his car is still here,” the Inspector told her.

Speaking slowly and emphatically, he continued, “A phone call was put through to the police station at seven forty-nine, saying that a man had been murdered at Copplestone Court.”

Miss Peake looked appalled at this. “Murdered?” she exclaimed. “Here? Ridiculous!”

“That's what everybody seems to think,” the Inspector observed drily, with a significant look at Sir Rowland.

“Of course,” Miss Peake went on, “I know there are all these maniacs about, attacking women – but you say a man was murdered – ”

The Inspector cut her short. “You didn't hear another car this evening?” he asked brusquely.

“Only Mr. Hailsham-Brown's,” she replied.

“Mr. Hailsham-Brown?” the Inspector queried with a rise of his eyebrows. “I thought he wasn't expected home till late.”

His glance swung round to Clarissa, who hastened to explain. “My husband did come home, but he had to go out again almost immediately.”

The Inspector assumed a deliberately patient expression. “Oh, is that so?” he commented in a tone of studied politeness. “Exactly when did he come home?”

“Let me see.

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