Dying for a Garden Party

by V L McBeath

  Archie was momentarily stunned as Eliza passed him a container of smelling salts.

  “Don’t look at me like that. You never know when you may need them.”

  “Don’t just stand there, man,” His Lordship said to Sergeant Cooper. “What happened?”

  “That’s what we need to address, sir. Witnesses say there was a shooting at around twenty-five to three and Mr Hartley was found dead shortly afterwards. We need to check everyone’s whereabouts between quarter past two and a quarter to three. Would you care to start?”

  Lord Harrington-Smyth stared at the sergeant. “What a blitheringly stupid question to ask. I’ve been here in the garden with everyone else waiting for the host to arrive.”

  “Yes, of course, and can you vouch for everyone present now? Did you see anyone leave the group?”

  “Well … yes, I would say everyone’s present and correct. I don’t recall anyone leaving.”

  “I was here when Eliza … Mrs Thomson, came to tell us of the accident,” Mr Bell said. “I was talking to Mr Royal here, as well as Mr Hewitt and the vicar.”

  “And I was with Mr Steel and the other men from the bowling club,” Archie added. “There were five of us at the time, the same number that are here now.”

  “Could you all slow down a moment?” Sergeant Cooper wiped his forehead with the back of his hand before resuming his writing. Eventually, he looked up again. “What about the ladies?”

  “My wife was talking to a group of them, I saw her myself,” His Lordship said. “Mrs Royal was with her and several others I hadn’t been introduced to.”

  The remaining women in the marquee indicated they had indeed been talking to Lady Harrington-Smyth.

  “And so is that everyone accounted for? Except for Mrs Thomson and Mrs Appleton, of course?”

  Eliza glared at the sergeant causing him to bury his nose in his notebook again.

  “Excuse me, Sergeant,” Eliza said, “but would you mind me asking if anyone here saw anything unusual while they were in the garden? Anyone running from the house, for example?”

  With a universal shake of heads everyone agreed there had been nothing out of the ordinary, until Mrs Royal hesitated and put her hand in the air.

  “I don’t know if it’s important, but I came into the marquee about a quarter of an hour after we arrived to get a glass of water and there were two women in the corner over there.” She pointed towards the far side of the marquee. “They glanced up at me when I arrived, but said nothing.”

  “That’s interesting,” Eliza said. “Could you describe them?”

  Mrs Royal hesitated. “Well, no … not really. They were sitting down and the only things I noticed were their hats, or in the case of one of them, her lack of a hat. She had light brown hair decorated with ribbons and flowers. The other was quite a contrast; her hair fanned out from her head in a dramatic display and she wore the largest hat. Navy I would say, although it’s difficult to tell in this light. It didn’t really suit her dark hair if I’m being honest.”

  “Thank you, Mrs Royal, I’m sure that’s most helpful. Did anyone else see them?”

  “I did.” Lady Harrington-Smyth spoke from her position on the floor where she had now been propped up.

  “You did?” Eliza gave the woman her best smile.

  “Yes, they were in here when His Lordship and I came in to get out of the sun. Surely you must have noticed them, William?”

  Every lady in the marquee tutted as His Lordship stared blankly at his wife. “Can’t say I did, my dear. It took a minute or two for my eyes to adjust to the light.”

  “Could you say what time they left?” Eliza asked.

  Both Lord and Lady Harrington-Smyth shook their heads. “It was a good while before you arrived. They didn’t stay long after we sat down.”

  “But that would still put them in here at the time of the murder; as I remember, you were still in the garden when I came for Dr Thomson.”

  “I can’t say I noticed,” Lady Harrington-Smyth said.

  “Thank you, Mrs Thomson.” Sergeant Cooper stepped forward and scanned the group. “If you could give me a few minutes to find a pen and a sheet of paper, I’ll be able to let you all go providing you write down your names and contact addresses in case we need to speak to you again.”

  “Is that really necessary, Sergeant?” Lord Harrington-Smyth said. “I’m sure you know us all already.”

  “That’s as may be, sir, but I need to keep a record. I’ll be as quick as I can.”

  Eliza stood up from her seat on the front row. “Will this do, Sergeant? I always carry some in my handbag.” She handed him several sheets of letter-writing paper. “You never know when you may need it.”

  Sergeant Cooper took the paper from her. “Yes, thank you.” He looked again at the faces staring up at him. “If you wouldn’t mind forming an orderly queue, I’m sure this won’t take long.”

  “Sergeant, can I have a word?” Eliza pulled the sergeant to one side as the guests made their way to a table near the door where the paper had been placed. “When I first came to the marquee, Lord and Lady Harrington-Smyth told me they’d tried to leave the grounds but hadn’t been able to get out. I imagine whoever locked the gate may have the key with them.”

  Sergeant Cooper stared at her.

  “That means that once the guests are free to leave, they won’t be able to.”

  “Hmm, are you sure?”

  “That’s what they said. Shall I go back to the house and see if Mrs Hartley has a spare key? That might be the easiest solution.”

  Sergeant Cooper eyed Eliza cautiously. “You’re sure that’s all you’re going to do?”

  “Sergeant, please. What’s got into you? You should know me well enough to realise I would never kill anyone, even less so with a handgun. All I want to do is help. We worked well enough together last time.”

  The sergeant wiped his brow with his handkerchief. “Yes, you’re right. I’m sorry, but you threw me with being in the house. Please go ahead and find the key. I don’t suppose Lord Harrington-Smyth will be very pleased if we can’t let them out once we’ve finished here.”

  With a signal to Connie to follow her, Eliza left the marquee to head towards the house.

  “What’s going on?” Connie asked once she caught her up. “I’ve never seen Sergeant Cooper acting so strangely.”

  “No, me neither, but let’s not worry about him. We need to find the key to the gate so everyone can go home.”

  The two of them walked around to the front of the house and knocked on the door.

  “Good afternoon,” Eliza said when a maid answered. “I understand that Mrs Hartley is rather preoccupied at the moment but could you ask her if she has a key for the gate? The guests need to leave and they can’t get out.”

  The maid invited them to stand in the hallway before she left them to go in search of her mistress.

  “At least we’re here officially this time,” Connie said. “It makes me feel so much better.”

  “You worry too much,” Eliza said. “In many ways it was a good job we were here earlier. At least we could give a few details about the murder. Poor Mrs Hartley may well have been in custody by now if it wasn’t for us.”

  “Yes, I might.” Mrs Hartley walked down the main staircase, her face as impassive as ever. “I suppose I should thank you, even though you weren’t supposed to be in the house.”

  A corner of Eliza’s mouth turned up. “Yes, I’m sorry about that, I hope you can accept our apology. We meant no harm.”

  Mrs Hartley straightened her back. “You may not have done, but you still shouldn’t have been in here. Did you hear my argument with Edward?”

  “Only that he wasn’t happy with the party. We couldn’t hear much of what was said when you were in the office.” Eliza bit her lip as she stared at the carpet.

  “Very well,” Mrs Hartley said eventually. “I suppose there was no harm done, and you did save me. Now, I believe you’re looking for
the key to the gate.”

  “We are. The villagers would like to go home but they’re locked in. Is there a spare one?”

  Mrs Hartley frowned. “I’m afraid I couldn’t tell you. As far as I’m aware, there’s only one key. Edward always kept it in his office but I’ve just been to fetch it and it’s not there.”

  “Not there.” Eliza’s eyes narrowed. “Who opened the gate earlier this afternoon? Perhaps they were the one who locked it when they knew all the guests had arrived and forgot to put it back?”

  “That’s possible, but I can’t say for certain who unlocked it. It could have been my son Benjamin. He worked with Edward and knew where things were kept. He’d also taken a fancy to leaving the house over the last few days.”

  “Could we speak to him, to see if he still has the key with him?”

  “I’m sure you could but I don’t know where he is. I’ve not seen him since we had luncheon together.”

  “Oh, that’s awkward,” Eliza said. “Could you hazard a guess where he might be?”

  Mrs Hartley shrugged. “He’s often out in the garden. He likes to watch the birds in the wood, but if he’s there, we’ll struggle to find him. Let me ask around and I’ll send him over to the marquee if we find him. Offer everyone another drink while they wait.”

  Eliza and Connie headed back and by the time they arrived, they were greeted by an impatient crowd.

  “Did you get it?” Sergeant Cooper asked.

  “No.” Eliza explained the situation and asked a maid who had stayed in the marquee if they could have another bowl of punch. “I’m sure that as soon as they find Benjamin, everyone can go.”

  “Did you see Constable Jenkins while you were in the house?” Sergeant Cooper asked.

  “No, we didn’t.” She looked at Connie. “We didn’t see anyone other than Mrs Hartley. Perhaps that means they’re all waiting for us in the drawing room.”

  “It’s to be hoped they’re not all aligning their alibis while they’re waiting,” Connie said.

  Eliza turned to the sergeant. “That’s a very good point. We had a case of that earlier in the year; we can’t let it happen again. Should we leave the guests here and go and speak to the family? It’s much more likely to be one of them who did it.”

  Sergeant Cooper hesitated. “I … erm … I’m sure you’ve no need to worry, Constable Jenkins is with them, but…”

  “Sergeant, please don’t exclude us. We want to help. We’ll obviously let you do the talking but if you need any support…”

  The sergeant studied Eliza but was distracted when a young man with bright red hair and a face to match sauntered into the marquee.

  “Sergeant Cooper?” he said. “Mother said I was to give you this.” He dropped the key into the sergeant’s hand. “I’m sorry, as you know, I’d been to the shop, but when I came back you’d disappeared from the gate. I took the precaution to lock it and forgot to tell anyone.”

  It was the sergeant’s turn to blush. “Thank you, sir. I must confess I’d forgotten you’d gone out.” He tossed the key in the air. “At least we can let everyone go home now.”

  Eliza studied the young man she presumed to be a similar age to her son Henry. “It’s Benjamin, isn’t it?” she said as he turned to leave.

  “Yes, why?”

  “No reason, we just need to be able to put names to faces. Could you tell us what time you arrived back at the house?”

  Benjamin’s lips rasped as he breathed out through his mouth. “Now you’re asking. I was back before three o’clock, because I heard the chimes in the hallway when I came in … but I also heard the church bells strike for quarter to when I was in the village, and so probably about ten to or five to, I would say.”

  “Which would be when we were in the house,” Sergeant Cooper said.

  Eliza nodded. “You’d been to the shop, you said. Did you see anyone leaving the house when you came back?”

  Benjamin shook his head. “No, I can’t say I did, although I did think it strange that the police had left the gate unattended and unlocked. Other than that, there was nothing out of the ordinary.”

  Sergeant Cooper cleared his throat. “Yes, sorry about that, we did come back to lock up, but you beat us to it. I wonder, now you’re here, would you mind escorting us back to the house? It’s about time we interviewed the remaining members of the family.”

  Chapter Six

  Sergeant Cooper handed Mr Bell the key before joining Eliza and Connie as they followed Benjamin to the house.

  “Did you see Constable Jenkins?” Sergeant Cooper asked the young man.

  “Assuming he’s the other police officer, he was talking to Mother outside the drawing room when I got back to the house. I didn’t speak to him. Mother just hurried over to me and sent me out to find you.”

  “Did you notice whether anyone else was in the drawing room?” Eliza asked.

  “I didn’t look, but my stepbrother was huffing and puffing to someone in the doorway. I didn’t see who, his brother Robert I would imagine.”

  “Well, at least it sounds like Constable Jenkins has found everyone,” Connie said.

  “Or at least some of them,” Eliza said. “Benjamin, can I ask you another question? I heard that the party was organised by your mother for Mr Hartley’s birthday, but none of the family members came out into the garden. Were they all unhappy that the villagers had been invited?”

  Benjamin shrugged. “Don’t ask me. I wasn’t bothered about the party, if I’m being honest. I didn’t think there’d be anyone of my age here. My sister never does anything without Mother and so I expect she was waiting for her so they could join you together. As for the rest of them, you’ll have to ask them.”

  Benjamin pulled open the back door through which Eliza and Connie had entered earlier. “We can go this way; it’s quicker.” He led them towards the kitchen before turning in the direction of the main staircase.

  Constable Jenkins was standing at the door to the drawing room as they reached the first-floor corridor.

  “Do you have everyone we need, Constable?” Sergeant Cooper asked.

  “All present and correct, sir.” He ushered the sergeant and Benjamin into the room but stopped Eliza and Connie at the door.

  “It’s all right, Constable, Sergeant Cooper knows we’re here.”

  With what Eliza swore was a pout, he reluctantly let them into the room where a short, stout man with dark hair was on his feet. He bore an uncanny resemblance to Mr Hartley.

  “Would someone have the common decency to tell us what’s going on?” He stabbed his finger towards Constable Jenkins. “That fool on the door has refused to inform us why we’re here.”

  “You’ve not told them?” Sergeant Cooper stared wide-eyed at his constable.

  “No, Sarge, I thought you’d want to do it.”

  Eliza took a deep breath as she glanced at the expectant faces of those who had gathered on the settees surrounding the fire. Without having been introduced, she guessed that these were Mr Hartley’s original family: his ex-wife, two sons and their wives. It also solved the question of the mysterious women in the marquee. Mrs Royal had described them well, and wearing their respective headwear, they were easy to identify.

  The current Mrs Hartley, however, appeared decidedly disinterested as she sat with her daughter on a settee in the bay window. She gave Benjamin a faint smile as he took a seat beside them.

  “Well, come on, man, spit it out.”

  Sergeant Cooper coughed to clear his throat. “Yes … right, well, I’m sorry to tell you that earlier this afternoon … at about twenty-five minutes to three o’clock, a shot was fired in the office, which led to the immediate death of Mr Hartley.”

  The room momentarily fell silent before the younger Mr Hartley jumped from his seat.

  “You mean to say my father was shot dead an hour and a half ago and this is the first we’ve been told of it?” He spun on his heel to glare at Mrs Hartley. “I bet she knew … in fact, it would
n’t surprise me if she pulled the trigger. The money-grabbing…”

  “That’s enough, sir.” Sergeant Cooper stepped forward.

  “No, it’s not enough.” The second man moved to his brother’s side. “We should have been the first to be told, not the last.”

  “Unfortunately, at the time of the death, we were unaware of your whereabouts.”

  “You managed to find her.” The younger Mr Hartley stabbed the air in the direction of his father’s new wife.

  “Sir, please. Mrs Hartley found the body; we didn’t intentionally tell her while excluding yourselves.”

  “She found the body! Well, that’s hardly a surprise…”

  “That’s enough, sir. We’re here to find out who the murderer is but until then, all this speculation isn’t helpful. Now, is there a room we can use to interview you all? The first thing we need to do is check everyone’s alibis.”

  Mrs Hartley stood up from her seat by the window and walked to the door. “You can use the dining room, Sergeant. Let me take you there.”

  Constable Jenkins turned to follow her, but the sergeant stopped him.

  “I’ll need you in here to keep an eye on everyone. Make sure there’s no trouble.”

  The constable glared at his boss before turning his attention to Eliza and Connie. “Are they going to sit in?”

  Sergeant Cooper looked uncomfortable. “They do have experience in this area and we could do with their help … until someone from London calls at any rate.”

  The dining room was dark as Eliza followed the sergeant to the doorway but Mrs Hartley headed straight to the windows and opened the wooden shutters.

  “The worst of the sun should have passed by now. Can I get you anything?”

  “A jug of water would be lovely, thank you,” Eliza said. “Actually, while you’re here, can I ask about your relationship with the two gentlemen in the drawing room?”

  Mrs Hartley’s face dropped. “They’re Edward’s sons by his first marriage. The elder one is James and the younger, Robert. They both live in London and have hated me since the day they found out about my marriage to Edward. I don’t expect any sympathy from them.”