I nodded. “But first what of Mr. Klein? Did anyone go and see what had happened to him?”
“We did,” he said, eyeing me coldly. “And it turned out he’s been staying with his daughter in Torquay. We felt like a lot of right charlies, I can tell you.”
“So he’s all right, then?”
“Perfectly.”
I let out a sigh of relief.
“Do you mind telling me what made you think he wasn’t all right?”
“Because he should have died on the twenty-fourth,” I said. “He was the gold rings.”
And I explained what I had figured out. He listened, at first with a smirk on his face, but then a frown formed on his forehead and his expression grew grimmer and grimmer as I went along.
“It’s positively bizarre,” he said at last, “but I have to admit it certainly fits. And if you’re right, then the man who died today did not have a heart attack.”
“Maybe he did,” I said. “If the killer knew he had a weak heart and was on medicine, he could easily have tampered with the dose. He has been staying here so you’ll probably find his medicines up in his bedroom. I suggest you take them with you for testing.”
The inspector looked at me suspiciously. “Where do you get these ideas, a well-bred young lady like you?”
“I’ve had some experience with murders,” I said.
“Do you go around actually seeking them out for fun?” He shook his head. “I’ve heard of you bright young things stealing policemen’s helmets, but this takes the cake.”
“Certainly not. I hate them, but I’ve been involved in a few. I’d much rather not.”
He perched on the edge of Sir Oswald’s desk. “All right, then, my lady. If you’ve figured out how these deaths are linked, perhaps you’d be good enough to tell me who might be playing this little game with us.”
“I wish I could. Somebody local who knows everybody’s habits. Somebody with considerable skills and a twisted mind. Somebody with a grudge against a lot of people.”
He sucked in air through his teeth. “And how are we to find out who that might be?”
“He has made two mistakes,” I said. “Mrs. Sechrest and Mr. Klein. He has let them live. They may have some idea of who might want them dead.”
“Right,” he said. “I don’t think Mrs. Sechrest will be up to talking much yet, but I could go to see Mr. Klein tomorrow.” He looked at me almost coyly. “Do you think the retired gentleman from Scotland Yard might want to accompany me?”
“He might very well want to,” I said. “And I’d like to come along as well, if I may.”
“Well, given that you’re the only one who has made any headway with this puzzle, I can hardly say no, can I?” He stood up again.
“And my friend Darcy O’Mara. I know he’d want to come along too.”
“This isn’t a blooming bright young things’ charabanc outing,” he snapped, then seemed to remember to whom he was speaking and checked himself. “I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to fly off the handle like that. But if you want my advice, my lady, the fewer people who know about this, the better. If the murderer is lurking around here, word will get back to him somehow or other and it may put more people in danger. I agreed to taking you, because you’ve figured it out, but no more. And I’d be grateful if you didn’t mention our excursion to anybody.”
I took a deep breath. “All right, I suppose.”
“I’d best be getting along, then. Another long day and the missus isn’t pleased. Says we’ve had no Christmas at all this year. But that’s the nature of the job, isn’t it? I told her she knew what she was getting when she married me. For better or worse, eh?”
I escorted him up to Johnnie Protheroe’s bedroom, where he took several medicine bottles. Then I accompanied him to the front door.
“Remember now.” He wagged a finger at me. “Nobody else is to know at this stage. All right?”
I closed the door and went to join the others for sherry. I could hardly contain my excitement. Finally we were getting somewhere, and I was being allowed to join in. I was no longer the annoying amateur. It was quite satisfying. It was only as I entered the salon and saw Darcy’s back, as he talked with Monty and Badger, that I felt the full implication of leaving him out of the next day’s little jaunt. I reasoned that he hadn’t really shown much interest and was all for leaving the investigation to the police. But I still didn’t like the thought of going off without telling him. How was I going to explain this away?
He seemed to sense my presence and came over to me. “What did the inspector say? Was he impressed with your detective abilities?” he asked, drawing me aside so that we couldn’t be overheard above the buzz of conversation.
“He was.” I managed a bright smile. “And he’s found that Mr. Klein is staying with his daughter. He’s going to see him tomorrow.”
“Splendid,” Darcy said. “Now I hope you’re satisfied. I said it was a good idea to leave this to the police.”
I attempted a bright smile, but I felt too sick and worried at dinner to eat much of the delicious leg of lamb and golden syrup pudding.
Chapter 35
DECEMBER 30
Lovely day so far. Going to see Mr. Klein and excited at the chance of this horrid riddle finally being solved. I just hope he can set us on the right track before someone is killed today.
In contrast to the previous day’s damp and gloomy fog, the weather was sparkling and clear. Remnants of snow still clung to the top of Lovey Tor and the sky looked as if it were made of blue glass, with the bare bones of trees etched upon it. I dressed, grabbed a hurried breakfast and then set off down the drive, having told Lady Hawse-Gorzley that I wished to visit my grandfather.
I was nearing the front gates when someone stepped out in front of me, barring my way. It was Wild Sal and she was staring at me with those strange bright green eyes.
“You’re still here, are you?” she said. “You’ll leave right now if you know what’s good for you.”
“Why is that?” I stared back defiantly.
“You’re not wanted in these parts. Outsiders like you only cause trouble. You’re the one who set the police on me, aren’t you? You got me locked up in that little cell.”
“I only told the police that I’d seen you up near where the master of hounds disappeared, that’s all,” I said. “I was asked if I’d seen anybody and I could hardly lie. Besides, you saved me from falling into the bog. I told them that too.”
She looked at me strangely. “He went into the bog, and good riddance too,” she said. “Hunting poor defenseless foxes.”
“Did you string the wire that tripped up his horse?”
“Me? Why would I want to harm a horse? I love all creatures, except humans, that is.”
“But you saw him fall off his horse?”
“No, but I saw someone putting him in the bog.”
“Who was it?”
“Couldn’t tell you that. Big bloke, all wrapped up, wearing some kind of hood. And I reckon the other one was already dead, ’cos he just lay there and let the bog suck him up.”
“Why didn’t you get help?”
“Too late by then. Once the bog gets you, you goes down fast, and like I said, I reckon he was already dead.”
“Why didn’t you tell this to the police?”
“I did, but they weren’t interested. I couldn’t describe the bloke, see, couldn’t tell if he was young or old or anything. Just that he were a big, strapping chap.”
“And you saw that van go off the road, too?”
“No, I heard the noise and I got there too late. It was already smashed to bits down in the stream.”
“So you didn’t see the same man there?”
“Didn’t see nobody,” she said.
