A Bloody Hot Summer

by Trevor D'Silva

  “Yes, and in my experience there are some who will be happy at what they’ve inherited and others who won’t be happy. I’m sure that will be the case here too.”

  The waiter came and placed the bill in front of Dermot.

  “This man is a guest of mine,” Kerr said angrily to the waiter, his voice raised. “I will pay for his meal… add it to my tab.”

  The waiter meekly apologised and hurried away, while some of the guests stared.

  Dermot and the guests were perplexed at Kerr’s outburst. He quickly thanked Kerr for supper and went away.

  Chapter 6: Night-time Rounds

  Slattery woke up in the middle of the night and lit a candle. He took the candlestick and went out of his room. He checked the windows and doors in the kitchen and climbed the staircase to the main floor. He was always haunted by the memory of the murdered British family in South Africa. Those had been dangerous times – the war was going on and the British were not popular. It was said that the killers were natives that got in through an unlocked window and maybe the Boers were involved too. People thought he was stark raving mad for doing this every night, but like he always said, better safe than sorry.

  He walked into the library and towards the cupboard where he expected the money to be. What someone had said after the murder had made him suspicious of who might be involved. Nobody would’ve guessed anything because they had cleverly fooled everybody, but not him. He had decided to confront one of them. The look in that person’s eyes had confirmed what he suspected, and the person readily agreed to buy his silence.

  His loyalties were first to Lord Fitzhugh and then to Lady Doris Fitzhugh, but now both of them were dead and her funeral was only a few hours away. He would leave after he got what was bequeathed to him in Lady Fitzhugh’s will, but extra money always helped. He liked his job, but he wanted more money so he could retire early and buy a small cottage near Dover, close to his daughter, and live comfortably for the rest of his life.

  He had decided that he would publish his memoirs about his time in South Africa. People always read memoirs based on war experiences and he had an interesting story to tell. He had started writing it when he was in South Africa and wrote intermittently during the Boer War, but then he had stopped. A few months back, he had decided to finish the work and now he was almost done.

  Slattery placed the candlestick on the table next to the cupboard and opened the cupboard’s door. Rising up on his toes, he placed his hand on the top-most shelf and his fingers touched an envelope. This was the second envelope he was receiving. The first was the previous night after he confronted and made a deal with the killer. He smiled at his good fortune. If he could bleed that person for more money, even after he left, he would have more than enough.

  “Good it’s all here,” he said as he counted the money inside the envelope.

  Slattery heard a noise behind him and turned. He saw a face he never really liked, and then he saw the glint of metal in the candlelight and suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest. As he fell backwards into the cupboard, his grip on the envelope loosened and he closed his eyes forever.

  His killer took the envelope, blew out the candle and put it inside the cupboard next to Slattery’s body, and closed the cupboard’s door.

  — — —

  Fitzhugh Manor – The next morning

  Lilian Endecott was upset that Slattery was not available and ordered the staff to search for him. The maids scurried around the manor to find Slattery. Miss Carter assured Flora and Lilian that she would make sure everything was organised in time for the funeral repast.

  It was time for the funeral and they would soon be leaving for St. Andrew’s Church. Lilian spied Pippa walking about and commented to Flora that Pippa’s legs were showing and that she had no respect for the dead. Flora reminded her that the styles had changed since the war and that Doris only viewed death as an entry into the afterlife, like they were taught in church.

  “Flora, traditions must be followed. Being a mere chit of a girl, Pippa only wants to defy… Oh and where has that butler gone to? He decides to disappear at the most inopportune moment.”

  “Maybe he doesn’t want to attend the funeral because he is upset. He was devoted to Doris, like he was to Father,” said Flora. She glimpsed Arthur coming down the staircase and asked him if the staff had located Slattery, to which Arthur replied in the negative but Miss Carter had also assured him that she would get everything organised. “Thank God for Miss Carter,” said Flora. “She is ever so reliable. She even does the work of that thieving Irene with a smile.”

  “Here come Cora and Hector. At least Cora knows how to dress for a funeral, unlike her daughter,” said Lilian.

  Cora came towards them with Hector, and the two elderly sisters got up and walked with them out of the manor. They climbed into the waiting car chauffeured by Charles, a muscular man of medium height with blond hair, who also worked as a stable hand. After the whole family was in the car, Charles drove them to the church.

  The funeral was well attended, packed with local villagers and members of some English aristocratic families who had all held Lady Fitzhugh in high regard. After the burial, the family and other mourners came back to Fitzhugh Manor. Flora went up to Major Havelock and Gerda.

  “Thank you so much for the moving eulogy,” Flora said, taking the major’s hand. “Doris would’ve been so pleased about the wonderful things you said about her.”

  “You’re welcome, Flora. Doris was very special to us. It was the least we could do,” said Major Havelock, as he tried not to show the pain in his leg.

  Gerda gave Flora a hug and condoled with her. The rest of the people who gathered there started helping themselves to the tea, sandwiches, and cakes that were laid out on the table.

  After the meal, the guests departed and the family and staff gathered in the living room. Mr. Kerr came in with his leather briefcase and stood in front of the family, who were all seated around the table.

  “Still no sign of Slattery?” he asked to a silent chorus of shaking heads and a tut from Lilian. “Well, we had better get on. We have gathered here today to read the last will and testament of Lady Doris Agnes Fitzhugh. She signed and dated this will on the thirteenth of July, 1917. In her previous will, her brother, Allan Phillip Fitzhugh, was her heir, but after his untimely death, she changed it to her current will.”

  Mr. Kerr began reading the will. As he had told Dermot, two days earlier, Hector inherited the lion’s share of the estate with Cora as his legal guardian until he turned twenty-one. There were also some legacies bequeathed to the rest of the family and some to the staff.

  Arthur was upset. After the staff left, he spoke up without bothering to hide his disappointment. “What about the changes to my inheritance Aunt Doris said she would make in favour of me? I saw you go into the library with her.”

  “She never confirmed anything. Lady Fitzhugh planned to finalise her changes the next day after thinking about it, but she never got the opportunity to do so,” Kerr said, expressionless.

  “You mean that she wanted to change some portions of the will and not just what Arthur could inherit? Just what did you and Doris discuss in the library during the party?” asked Lilian.

  “I can’t answer anything more. What we discussed was confidential.”

  “Where’s Slattery? I am sure he’ll be glad to know that he will get five hundred pounds,” said Flora with a smile.

  “Yes, good heavens! It’s high time Slattery showed up. I will take him to task for disappearing without a word,” said Lilian.

  Suddenly, Alice came running into the room, stammering, “He… He… He’s… in the cupboard.”

  “Who?” asked Lilian, impatiently.<
br />
  “Mr. Slattery. He’s dead. In the library.”

  Cora gasped, placing her hand over her mouth.

  “What are you saying, you stupid girl?” asked Lilian, exasperated. “You seem to be finding dead bodies all the time.”

  “Are you sure?” asked Flora.

  “Yes,” said Alice, who crouched down on the floor as if she had no strength left.

  Arthur got up and ran to the library. He went to the open cupboard door and peeped inside. As his eyes got used to the darkness, he could make out the outline of a body and the greying hair, and then he recognised the face. Slattery’s white nightshirt had a bloody stain around the handle of a knife sticking out from his chest.

  Arthur froze at the sight, and then gradually composed himself. He left the library and telephoned the police. A few minutes later, the residents of the manor heard the sirens of police cars approaching.

  — — —

  Dermot was at home having tea when he heard the phone ring. He had attended the funeral but, like Inspector Enderby, had decided not to go to the wake. His father answered the phone and called out to Dermot that it was Inspector Enderby. Dermot immediately went to the phone and listened. In the next few minutes, he was on his way to Fitzhugh Manor. He pulled up next to the two police cars and an ambulance parked at the front of the manor. He went in and saw Inspector Enderby interviewing Arthur. Dr. Fielding was just coming down the stairs, followed by Flora.

  He went to Inspector Enderby and was briefed about what had happened.

  “That girl, Alice, does have a knack for finding murdered people,” said Dermot wryly.

  “Well, she was searching for him like the staff were told to do and happened to chance upon the body. I suppose nobody else thought about looking in the library. After all, what would a butler do in the library?” said Inspector Enderby, almost laughing at his own joke.

  They went downstairs into the kitchen and saw Alice sitting at the dining table being comforted by Abigail. Miss Carter was standing next to her, pouring a hot cup of tea. Alice appeared to be flushed, but was calmer this time.

  “May we talk to her alone?”

  “Yes, you may,” said Miss Carter and she motioned Abigail to come with her.

  After the door was closed, Inspector Enderby and Dermot sat down and Alice looked at them slowly.

  “I know it’s hard for you finding two bodies within days of each other, but do tell us how you discovered the body of Mr. Slattery.”

  Alice took a sip from her cup. She then took a deep breath and told them how nobody had seen Slattery since the previous night and that Mrs. Endecott was very upset as he had not served the tea or helped with breakfast. He was also responsible for the funeral repast. Mrs. Endecott had demanded that he be found at once and they had searched but couldn’t find him.

  “We thought maybe he couldn’t ‘andle her Ladyship’s death and he wanted to be on his own instead of going to the funeral.”

  “Yes, I can see that. Were her Ladyship and Slattery close?” asked Inspector Enderby.

  “Yes he was, and also to her father.”

  “So what made you go into the library?” asked Dermot.

  “I didn’t think anyone would have searched for him in there, so I thought I’d have a look. I thought he might be catchin’ some shut-eye on one of them armchairs as he did walk about checking the locks at night.”

  “Why did you look in the cupboard?”

  “There was candle wax on the floor next to the cupboard door. I wondered why and so I opened the door, sir. Poor Mr. Slattery, stabbed in the heart and stuffed into a cupboard like an old coat nobody could be bothered to hang.”

  “Did you hear him leave his room last night?” asked Inspector Enderby.

  “I saw the light go by from under me bedroom door. Everyone knew about him checking the locks at night, so I thought nothin’ of it.”

  Dermot looked at Inspector Enderby and asked him if he had any more questions. He had none. They interviewed Miss Carter and the other staff, but nobody saw anything suspicious.

  Chapter 7: The Boer War Years

  Dermot and Inspector Enderby went into Slattery’s room. The room was immaculate, with everything in order. There was a small window that overlooked the woods and the stables behind the manor. On the table was a picture of his late wife and another of his daughter and her family. There were also some papers.

  “Wonder why anyone would want to murder a man like Slattery? There’s nothing to indicate he could be involved with the murder,” said Inspector Enderby.

  “Things may not be what they seem. He could’ve had some knowledge about who killed Lady Fitzhugh.”

  Dermot went to the table and saw a writing pad marked with indentations on the paper. He turned on the table lamp and held the pad towards the light. He could just make out a few words.

  “…know what you did… Please meet…” Dermot read aloud. He then turned to Inspector Enderby. “So he was blackmailing someone.”

  “He didn’t have any money in his pockets when his body was found. If he did get a payment the night after the murder, then it should be here,” said Inspector Enderby.

  They started searching the room and Inspector Enderby found some money in-between the pages of a notebook filled with Slattery’s handwriting.

  “Ten pounds. That’s a lot of money,” said Inspector Enderby.

  “It is… Is that his diary?” asked Dermot.

  Inspector Enderby turned to the first page and read, “The Memoirs of James Slattery During the Boer War.”

  “So he was writing his memoirs about his experiences in South Africa,” said Dermot.

  “He may’ve wanted to publish his memoirs. A lot of people write their memoirs, especially if they have experienced war.”

  “Let me keep the book,” said Dermot. “Possibly the person he was blackmailing is mentioned in it.”

  “Maybe, but who? The only person who was in South Africa during the Boer War with Slattery was Lord Fitzhugh, and he’s dead.”

  “Major Havelock was in the same regiment. We can ask him…” Dermot stopped and thought for a second, then said, “I’ll say… you know those military knots used to tie Lady Fitzhugh… Slattery was probably involved in the murder and someone in the manor got wind of it and wrote that note on his writing pad.”

  “Yes, that’s possible. However, everyone says that he was devoted to her Ladyship. Seems very unlikely,” said Inspector Enderby.

  As they left the room and climbed the stairs to the main floor, Dermot looked through the notebook and came to a page with some scribbling and drawings. When they were on the landing, he showed the page to Inspector Enderby.

  “Look at these drawings of men with and without facial hair.”

  Inspector Enderby chuckled. “I heard that writers sometimes draw when they cannot write.”

  “Inspector, a thought just occurred to me. What if Cora is involved in the murders?…”

  “Why do you think that?”

  “Because Hector inherits everything when he comes of age and, until then, Cora is his guardian and gets a say in the property. Now, maybe Slattery saw her coming out of Lady Fitzhugh’s room or maybe he figured it out and was blackmailing her. Then there is the other possibility that both Cora and Arthur may be involved. They both murder her Ladyship and then Cora gets control of Hector’s inheritance and Arthur of his.” Dermot paused before asking, “What do we know of Cora Fitzhugh?”

  “Only that she’s from Canada and she came to Fitzhugh Manor with Allan and Pippa after Lord Fitzhugh died. She mostly keeps to herself and is focused on Hector’s e
ducation and upbringing. Oh, and she used to teach at the village school,” said Inspector Enderby.

  “I will ask Flora Ainsworth for more information. She seems willing to talk, unlike her sister,” said Dermot. Inspector Enderby smiled and nodded his head as they climbed the stairs and reached the main floor.

  — — —

  Inspector Enderby and Dermot met with Flora in the living room. She seemed calm and composed. Dr. Fielding had given Lilian a sedative and she was now asleep. Inspector Enderby promised Flora that he would bring two constables, who would be replaced every twelve hours, so that they would have round-the-clock protection.

  “Thank you, Inspector. It’s all too much to take in. Poor Lilian is so upset. You know how high strung she can be.”

  Inspector Enderby smiled, wished Flora goodbye, and left. Dermot sat next to her and asked her to tell him about Lord Fitzhugh’s life in South Africa during the Boer War.

  Flora told him that her father spent most of his money gambling and living a lavish lifestyle after he retired from the army as a general in 1880. He had read in the newspapers that diamonds were being discovered in the Northern Cape Province close to Kimberley in South Africa. So he had decided to go there in 1898 and invest in a diamond mine. He thought it would make him rich very quickly. He also missed the colonial lifestyle and wanted a taste of it again. He invested in a diamond mine in Kimberley owned by a Boer farmer named Christiaan De Villiers. When the war broke out, Lord Fitzhugh volunteered for the British Army even though he was too old to fight. Because of his command experiences in India and England, he was given a small unit and Slattery, who went there as his butler, became his batman.

  Lord Fitzhugh became the sole owner of the mine when Christiaan and his family were killed in the war. There was a clause in the partnership agreement that stated that if there were no direct living descendants to inherit the mine from the primary partner, then the surviving partner or his direct heir becomes the owner. On the day of the inauguration, the mine mysteriously exploded and it was deemed unsafe for further excavation.