A Bloody Hot Summer

by Trevor D'Silva

  Bertram heard the knock on the door and felt nervous. Maybe he shouldn’t be doing this, but it was too late now. He went and opened the door. His victim had lowered his hat so that he could not be recognised. Bertram relished the surprised look on his victim’s face when his victim recognised him. He smiled and let his victim in.

  — — —

  Dermot parked his car and walked to the entrance of the Carlton Inn. Inspector Enderby had called him a few minutes earlier about the discovery of a dead body by the chambermaid that morning. Dermot, by now, was familiar to the constables and they let him pass. The guests were clustered in the dining room and were being served tea and refreshments. The women looked distressed. The owner of the inn, Mr. Jessup, a middle-aged and balding man who stood at the bottom of the staircase, greeted Dermot and told him to go upstairs. He looked perturbed. Dermot guessed that Mr. Jessup was worried that his business would suffer because of the murder.

  He reached the top of the staircase and walked to the end of the corridor to the room that had the number four marked on the door. He knocked on the door and then walked in. Inspector Enderby was inside with a police constable who he introduced as Constable Drake. The body of Bertram Kerr was on the floor and his eyes were bulging out. He had been garrotted and the cord was still around his neck. Dermot couldn’t believe that only a few days earlier he had eaten with Bertram Kerr and that now he was looking at his corpse.

  “Probably a former client of his that didn’t like him, or perhaps he knew who was involved in Lady Fitzhugh’s murder,” said Inspector Enderby.

  “I think he chose the Carlton Inn as a rendezvous point on purpose, because he did not want to be recognised by the staff of the Meadowford Inn. He told me that he always stayed there whenever he came to Meadowford,” said Dermot.

  “You’re right. He used the alias Thomas Morrow when checking in,” said Inspector Enderby.

  “Did anybody see or hear anything?”

  “Nothing from the guests; they were all in the dining room as it was lunch time. The chambermaid was passing by and she heard a sound. She knocked on the door and, when there was no response, she was about to unlock the door with her key when a voice told her that he was all right and that he had knocked down something. He asked not to be disturbed and thanked her. She went about her business after that. When she came to clean the room in the morning, she discovered the body.”

  “I must talk to her. Has the room been searched?”

  “No, we just came in and examined the body. Nothing seems to be disrupted or unusual, except for the body on the floor,” said Inspector Enderby.

  “Exactly, the room looks immaculate,” said Dermot. “Whoever was here must’ve been careful not to touch anything so as to not leave any fingerprints or evidence. However, I have learnt from previous cases that, when a murder is committed, the murderer leaves in a hurry and inadvertently leaves behind some evidence. I suggest that we search the room ourselves.”

  After Constable Drake took some pictures of the room and the body, the three men began searching the room. A few minutes later, Constable Drake said that he had found something. The two men came to him and looked at what he had in his hand.

  “Looks like a stone,” said Inspector Enderby.

  “Blimey, that looks like an uncut diamond! Let me take a look,” said Dermot.

  Constable Drake handed the piece to Dermot and he held it to the light.

  “Looks very expensive. I’m positive this diamond, or maybe there are more of them, has something to do with the murder of Mr. Kerr. Thank you, Constable,” said Dermot. Constable Drake smiled and nodded.

  After the body was taken to the morgue, Dermot and Inspector Enderby went to meet the chambermaid. She was a petite brunette in her thirties, with her hair tied in a bun. She looked upset but managed to maintain her composure.

  Inspector Enderby introduced her as Violet Moran. She told Dermot about the voice in the room and discovering the body in the morning.

  “What sort of a sound did you hear?”

  “A choking sound. It was very low, but then I heard the chair fall and the sound of stones or marbles falling on the floor.”

  “How did the voice sound when it answered you?” asked Dermot.

  “It sounded a bit like he was scared… I asked if he wanted help, but he said that he was fine and asked not to be disturbed.” She suddenly sat upright, looking anxious. “Should I have gone in, Detective? I could’ve seen who the killer was.”

  Dermot smiled. “You did the right thing by not going in. You’re alive because of that. If anything had happened to you, nobody would’ve heard anything because it was lunch time.”

  Violet Moran stared for a second, then nodded and leaned back on the chair.

  — — —

  After leaving the Carlton Inn, Dermot drove to Fitzhugh Manor. Cora came out to greet him and was smiling, which was unusual since she always had a dour look on her face.

  “Detective, I have some good news. Pippa called from London to tell us that she’s engaged to be married. Richard proposed to her yesterday and wants to get married at the earliest. He spent all day finding her an engagement ring. She can’t wait to show it to us.”

  Dermot was stunned. “How have your sisters-in-law taken the news?”

  “They’re not too happy. Lilian thinks it’s disrespectful to Doris. Flora thinks it’s too soon, but Richard feels that it’s the right thing to do. He told Pippa that the tragedies of the past few days had made him realise that death can come at any time, and so he wanted to marry her before anything happened to either of them.” She smiled and then added, “I couldn’t care less what they think. They resent me because of my background and lack of finesse, but Allan chose me. In the same way, Pippa has chosen Richard and after all it’s her happiness that counts.”

  Dermot smiled. “Please tell the happy couple that I’ve congratulated them… I must go in and see Mrs. Ainsworth. Please excuse me.”

  “Of course. She is with Lilian in the library, reading the newspaper.”

  Dermot went to the library and saw the two sisters sitting together and reading portions of the newspaper. He went in and greeted them. He could see the exasperated look on Lilian’s face, but Flora greeted him with a smile.

  “What is it you want, Detective Carlyle?” asked Lilian without hiding her annoyance.

  “I need some answers about the mine your father owned. It may help me understand what the motives could be behind these murders.”

  “Go right ahead, Detective,” said Flora. “Don’t let Lilian’s behaviour bother you. She’s just upset because of Pippa’s engagement.”

  At the mere mention of the engagement, Lilian grunted, showing her disapproval.

  “Oh, yes, Mrs. Fitzhugh told me about it. Congratulations, nevertheless,” said Dermot.

  “It is not just the news of Pippa’s engagement, but the torch in the library is missing,” said Lilian with exasperation.

  “Now, Lilian. Let’s not waste Detective Carlyle’s time… Go ahead and ask your questions, Detective.”

  Dermot cleared his throat. “Mrs. Ainsworth, did your father bring back any diamonds from South Africa?”

  “As a matter of fact, he did. There were ten uncut diamonds in a pouch. He said that Mr. De Villiers gave them to him when they became partners.”

  “Where are those diamonds?”

  “After Father’s death, Doris kept them in a safety deposit box in the Bank of England. They’ve been there ever since.”

  Dermot reached into his pocket and took out a small box. He opened it and the two elderly sisters gasped.

  “What are you doing with tha
t? I haven’t seen them in donkey’s years. This one looks just like the diamonds that Father showed us,” said Lilian.

  “Are you sure?” Dermot asked.

  “Yes, I’m certain, Detective.”

  “I will obtain permission to check if the diamonds are still in the safety deposit box at the bank.”

  “They should be. Why wouldn’t they be there?” asked Lilian.

  “Lilian, be quiet. Let the detective do his job,” admonished Flora.

  “It’s okay, Mrs. Ainsworth. We found this diamond in the room where Bertram Kerr was murdered…”

  “Whaaattt… there’s been another murder? Doris’ solicitor? Why on earth?” said Flora, stunned.

  “Oh! So that horrid little man is dead,” said Lilian nonchalantly.

  “Why was he horrid?” asked Dermot.

  “Because he never acknowledged us in any way; it’s as if we never existed. He was nice to Doris because she paid him and held him in high regard. She even called him ‘Bertie’ affectionately. He always wanted to be the centre of attention, maybe because he was suffering from a Napoleonic complex due to his short stature,” said Lilian.

  Dermot nodded in agreement and the scene at the Meadowford Inn with the waiter came to his mind.

  “I have a hunch that these murders could be connected to the diamond mine back in South Africa. Do you know if the De Villiers have any surviving family members?”

  “His only child, a son, who was studying in Germany when the war broke out, returned to fight for the Boers and died towards the end of the war,” said Flora. “If I remember correctly, Father mentioned in passing that Mr. De Villiers had a sister in Scotland. Her name was Lady Argyle.”

  Dermot smiled. “I’m curious to know what Lady Fitzhugh thought of Richard Seymour.”

  “Hmm… she thought he was a vulgarian. Doris felt that he pretended to be something he wasn’t, even though he’s gotten a bit rich because of his paintings. He seems very unconventional with that facial hair and also his hair being longer than usual. It’s beyond me why Doris allowed Pippa to invite him for the birthday party,” said Lilian. “Doris even mentioned that Mr. Kerr once saw Pippa and Richard together in London and even he did not approve of Richard.”

  “Do you know why her Ladyship wanted to talk to Mr. Seymour and Pippa the day after the party?”

  Flora shrugged her shoulders. “Doris knew that Pippa always wanted a husband. I suppose that’s why she finally gave in and decided to accept Richard courting our Pippa. Make no mistake, Detective, Doris may have been a very kind and generous woman but, if you crossed her, she could be nasty,” said Flora.

  “Even though Pippa seems complaisant now, she was always a rebel, especially after Allan died. Maybe that’s why she’s attracted to Richard, because he looks like a rebel,” said Lilian. “She was suspended from finishing school for two weeks for having those books.”

  “Which books?” asked Dermot.

  “You know, those banned books: Fanny Hill and The Lustful Turk,” said Flora.

  Dermot managed to stifle a laugh.

  “A classmate gave them to her and, when she refused to reveal who it was, the headmistress suspended her,” explained Flora. “We didn’t know anything about sex at that age. Even when we got married, a few years after Allan was born. Mother told us about it on our wedding day and I was aghast.”

  “I know I was,” said Lilian with some disgust.

  “Even my own two daughters didn’t know anything about sex. I told them what my mother had told me.”

  “What was that?” asked Dermot.

  “She told me what all Victorian mothers told their daughters at that time. ‘Just lie there and think of England.’”

  Dermot laughed loudly and then noticed that the elderly sisters were looking at him sternly. He quickly composed himself and left after wishing the sisters a good day.

  He went out of the manor and drove to London, laughing to himself all the while.

  — — —

  After obtaining a warrant from the judge, which Detective Lloyd got expedited, Dermot went to the Bank of England and produced it to the bank manager, Mr. Herbert Perkins, whom he had met before. Mr. Perkins read the warrant and escorted him to the bank’s vaults.

  The safety deposit box in Lady Fitzhugh’s name contained a pouch and a manila envelope. They opened the pouch and counted the diamonds. There were ten uncut diamonds. Dermot wondered where the diamond they had found in Kerr’s room came from. He opened the manila envelope and found a photograph of two men. Dermot recognised Lord Fitzhugh, but he did not recognise the other man. He looked at the back of the photograph and it said ‘Pretoria 1898, De Villiers and Fitzhugh’. He requested permission to take the picture with him, citing that he required it for investigation. Mr. Perkins at first was reluctant, but when Dermot insisted he relented and gave the picture to Dermot.

  Chapter 15: Abigail’s Revelation

  The next day, Dermot was at the Meadowford Police Station bringing Inspector Enderby up-to-date on the investigation. He informed him that the diamonds that Lord Fitzhugh had brought back from South Africa were still in the vault in the Bank of England. With the discovery of the diamond in Bertram Kerr’s room, a new mystery emerged as to who else had possession of the diamonds that were supposed to be in South Africa and how was Bertram Kerr’s murder connected to the murders and the attempted murders at Fitzhugh Manor?

  They decided that Charles was a possible suspect because he was the last person to handle Hector’s saddle. However, there was nothing connecting him to the other murders. Was he just an accomplice following orders? If so, why would he and Pippa join forces to commit these heinous crimes? They had three suspects so far and although they all had clear motives, there was no proof that any of them had committed all of the murders.

  Inspector Enderby had found out that none of the three suspects were near the Carlton Inn on the day that Bertram Kerr was murdered. Arthur and Charles were at Fitzhugh Manor and Pippa had gone to London the previous day, catching the early morning train, and had then come back to Meadowford the evening after Kerr’s body was discovered.

  After talking to Inspector Enderby, Dermot drove to Fitzhugh Manor. He needed to ask Pippa about the missing torch from the library. She hadn’t mentioned the torch to him when Dermot had questioned her about the events leading up to Hector’s accident. He greeted Jenkins as he walked past him towards the front door. Miss Carter opened the door and he asked to see Pippa. She asked Dermot to wait in the living room and she went to call Pippa.

  Dermot entered the living room and sat on the armchair facing away from the door. A few minutes later, he felt like he was being watched. He turned around and saw Abigail standing at the door, looking at him.

  “Oh, Abigail, you gave me a fright,” said Dermot, relieved as he got up.

  “Can I talk to you, Detective?”

  “Sure.”

  Abigail entered the room and stood in front of Dermot. “The day Master Hector ’ad his accident… strange things happened that don’t make sense.”

  Dermot looked perplexed. “Such as?”

  “For instance, a person sayin’ that they were at a place when they weren’t.”

  Dermot was puzzled by the reply. “Please, tell me more.”

  “On the day of the accident, before they went horse ridin’, I was about to air the laundry outside when Miss Carter told me to take a glass of lemonade to Constable Jenkins guarding the front door. She took one to Constable Barnaby as he came towards the kitchen while making his rounds. As I passed by the library, I heard the clock inside strike four-thirty and the door was closed. However, she weren’t there.”
>
  “Who wasn’t there?”

  “When I came to the library while you were interviewing Miss Fitzhugh about the accident, Miss Fitzhugh said that she ’eard the clock strike four-thirty when she knocked on the library door. But that ain’t right.”

  Dermot chuckled. “Sorry, Abigail, you must be mistaken. Constable Barnaby, and even Mr. Seymour, told me that Miss Fitzhugh knocked on the door when the clock struck four-thirty.”

  “It’s impossible. I know I wear spectacles and I ain’t bright, but I’m sure she weren’t there. And another strange thing… when I was in the laundry yard after, I heard the clock…”

  All of a sudden, Dermot looked beyond Abigail and she turned and saw Pippa and Miss Carter standing at the door.

  “Come along now, Abigail, you mustn’t keep the detective with your idle talk. There’s work to be done,” said Miss Carter firmly.

  “Yes, Miss Carter.”

  Abigail turned to Dermot and apologised for wasting his time and then walked out. Miss Carter sighed. “Sorry, Detective, I’ll see that she does not waste your time any more.”

  Dermot nodded; Miss Carter turned and followed Abigail.

  Pippa came towards Dermot, smiling, and asked why he wanted to talk to her. Dermot noticed that she had a very flirtatious demeanour about her. Even her gait was sensual and seductive. When he had first interviewed her, she had insisted that he call her Pippa rather than Miss Fitzhugh. It seemed like Pippa was attracted to him. Whilst she wasn’t particularly pretty, she had a nice figure and was far from unattractive.

  He asked her about the missing torch from the library and added that her aunts had happened to bring it to his attention. Pippa looked perplexed and then her eyes brightened. She told Dermot that Richard took the torch and put it in the saddle bag on Hector’s saddle. He wanted them to explore the caves near the stream. The torch could still be in the vicinity where the saddle fell off the horse. Dermot realised that could be true because Inspector Enderby had made no mention of a torch.