The Curious Death of Henry J. Vicenzi (The Inspector Felix Mysteries Book 5)

by R. A. Bentley

  A very pretty young woman was standing a little apart from them. 'Miss Dorothy Pickles,' said Dottie. 'I've been here for the weekend and was just on the point of leaving. I expect you'll want me to stay now.'

  'If you would be so kind, just for the moment, Miss Pickles. May I ask you if you were here when the murder occurred?'

  'No we weren't. We'd been to the park – that is, Dennis Jessup and I – and must have been coming back when it happened.'

  'And you gentlemen? When did you arrive?'

  'About five minutes ago,' said Drake. 'We had a business meeting arranged for twelve.'

  'I can scarcely believe this,' said Crossland. 'I've known Henry Vicenzi for forty years. Who could have done such a terrible thing?'

  'That is what we need to find out, sir,' said Felix gently. 'Mr Jessup, I think these gentlemen would appreciate a sit down and glass of brandy.

  Mr Crossland shook his head. 'Not for me,' he said. 'I wonder, Inspector, if I might be permitted to return to the shop and convey to the staff this dreadful news? Unless there is anything you wish to ask me of course.'

  'What shop is that, sir?'

  'Were you not told, Inspector?' said Drake. 'It's Pumfreys, the department store. You know it of course? Mr Vicenzi and I are, or rather were, co-owners.'

  'Why, yes, I know it well,' said Felix, surprised. 'If that's all right with you, Mr Drake, I can see no objection to Mr Crossland leaving. It's possible I'll have to interview you at a later date, sir, but no doubt we can find you at the shop.'

  'Yes, you go, Crossland,' said Drake. 'I should have preferred to inform them myself but no doubt you have questions to ask me, Inspector. Tell them to carry on as usual, and I'll be along as soon as I'm able. If there is a problem, you can always telephone to me here.'

  'Just one thing,' said Felix. 'I'd prefer them not to know the manner of Mr Vicenzi's death, just at the moment. Tell a white lie if it makes it easier. Am I right in assuming that the sons work in the business? Mr Jessup informs me they were due at the meeting.'

  'Yes indeed, Inspector,' said Crossland. Mr Lewis Vicenzi is General Manager and Mr Andrew Vicenzi looks after the buying department.'

  'And were they at work this morning, when you left?'

  'No, but I wouldn't have expected them to be. They don't usually come in when there's a meeting here.'

  'Does anyone know where they are now?' asked Felix.

  They both shook their heads.

  'They're usually very prompt where their father is concerned,' offered Drake. 'I don't suppose they'll be long.'

  'I'll be going then,' said Crossland. 'Please accept my sincere condolences, Mr Drake, and perhaps you will convey them to the family also.'

  'Are you safe to drive, Crossland?' frowned Drake. 'This is quite a shock we've had.'

  'Yes, I'm all right,' said Mr Crossland, visibly bracing himself. 'I feel I need to do something constructive. I'll see you later, sir. Good morning, Inspector.'

  'I wonder if I might see if Dennis and Mrs Entwistle are all right?' said Dottie. 'I left them looking after each other. Oh! Here they are now. No Denny, not in the study sweetheart.'

  'Not now, Denny,' said Jessup. 'I'm busy. Go along with Miss Pickles. Is that all right Miss Pickles? I don't wish to impose on you.'

  'You're not imposing,' said Dottie. 'Come on Denny. Mrs Entwistle, you look like a lady who needs a cup of tea.'

  'Eh?' said Mrs Entwistle, taking out her hearing trumpet.

  'I said, would you like a cup of tea?' shouted Dottie.

  'First I want to see Henry,' she said, and would have marched into the study if Rattigan hadn't blocked her path.

  'I wouldn't advise it, madam,' shouted the sergeant. 'He's not a pleasant sight I'm afraid.'

  'Nonsense young man!' said Mrs Entwistle. 'I've seen things that'd make your hair stand on end, what's left of it.' She pushed her way to the desk and peered at the body from all angles. 'Is he good and dead?' she asked Benyson. 'Looks dead.'

  'Quite dead, madam,' said the surgeon, who was packing his bag.

  'Waddya say?'

  'Quite dead, madam.'

  'Excellent!' she beamed. 'Gone to the Devil, I hope. And if he hasn't, he shoulda done.'

  *

  'She didn't have to say that about my hair,' grumbled Rattigan when they were alone.

  'She also called you "young man,"' said Nash. 'That doesn't happen every day.'

  'Quite a crop of dabs in here, sir,' grinned Yardley. 'Shall we start photographing?'

  'Yes, all the usual, Paul, especially the doors.'

  'I'm away,' said Benyson. 'I'll telephone on the way out and have him collected. Fancy his owning Pumfreys. Half of it anyway.'

  'Presumably Polly didn't know either,' said Felix. 'Those sorts of places tend to change hands rather quietly, though, unless they're making a virtue out of new management.' He glanced at his watch. 'You know, I'm becoming a little concerned about the sons, given they're supposed to be so punctual. I wonder where the wife has got to?'

  As if on cue, Jessup appeared, together with Mary. 'It would seem that Mrs Andrew Vicenzi has packed a suitcase, sir.'

  'Still no sign of her?'

  'No, sir.'

  'It's her nice new one that's missing, sir,' volunteered Mary. 'And there's lots of clothes gone and toiletries, as if she was going away. And Mr Andrew has taken some clothes and his shaving things and so on.'

  'Scarpered,' said Felix resignedly. 'Get their descriptions, Rattigan. Probably best if we telephone them to Polly. It'll be quicker. Then we'd best search their rooms. What about Mr Lewis Vicenzi?'

  'Nothing gone of his, sir, that I noticed.'

  'Well don't do anything else up there for the moment. Just leave the rooms as they are. When might they have left, Mr Jessop? Any idea?'

  'I really can't say, Inspector. The last time I saw any of them was at about twelve last night. There was a party here, and that's the time it broke up. Both our cars are in the garage so I can only suppose they took a taxi, or walked. I wouldn't necessarily have heard them go, if it was very early.

  'The door was locked?'

  'Yes, sir. They must have locked it behind them. Not bolted, of course.'

  'Would you have heard a car go and come back, perhaps having dropped them off somewhere?'

  'I couldn't fail to, sir. We live over the garage. No car did.'

  *

  Rattigan looked critically around the large bed-sitting room. 'Someone spends a lot of time in here. Got their own bathroom too. Reminds you of one of those studio flats. Bit of a mess now though. Clothes and things everywhere.'

  'Someone packed in a hurry,' said Felix, searching briskly through the drawers. 'This looks like their financial stuff. Hmm, no chequebooks, no currency notes, just some small change. No bank book or statements either.'

  'Photos, love letters?' suggested Rattigan.

  'Not that I can see. The girl might know. At any rate, they've pretty clearly done a bunk. We'll bring 'em in and find out why. Better interview Drake now and let him get back to his shop.'

  'You don't suspect him then? It's possible he had a motive and he could have been here earlier for aught we know.'

  'If he tries to abscond as well he won't get far. I'm not too worried about that. Anyone could have walked in, of course, once the garden door was open. As for before that, it does rather rely on Jessup doing his job properly. What do you think of him?'

  'All right on the face of it: intelligent, capable. Seems pretty cut up about it.'

  Felix nodded. 'I agree. Also his having a family inspires confidence. She's the cook I expect.'

  'Possibly. I suspect he's a widower.'

  'What makes you think that?'

  'Why else would he ask Miss Pickles to look after the boy? He'd have told him to go to his mother.'

  'She may be busy.'

  'I don't think so. There was something about his manner. He seems rather at ease with her I thought, for a servant.'

  'He need
n't get too at ease. You know who she is, I suppose?'

  'Not the aeroplane fellow's daughter? I did wonder.'

  'That's the chap, Johnny Pickles. One of the unsung heroes, as they say. I got to know a bit about him through my father. He dented himself rather badly in the war, trying out a design, and Dad patched him up. Both parents gone now.'

  'And left her wealthy?'

  'Can't be short of a few bob. Hello, Paul. How are you getting on?'

  'Just to say we've finished the study, sir,' said Yardley. 'And they've taken the body. Nothing under him but a sheet of figures and this, which was on top.' He handed him a folded half-sheet of newspaper.

  'Let's have a look,' said Felix spreading it on a table. 'Hmm adverts. Is this as you found it?'

  'I thought you'd ask that, sir. Yes it is, adverts uppermost.'

  'Corsetry, posture braces, nose straighteners,' frowned Rattigan. 'Someone must buy them I suppose.'

  'Worth checking, I think,' said Felix, putting it carefully in his case. 'What about the dabs?'

  'Mostly Vicenzi's own and one other, probably a woman,' said Yardley. 'Jessop says it'll be the daughter, Esme. She looked after him apparently. He wouldn't have a nurse or valet. There are a few others dotted about, mostly on the upright chairs. That'll be the sons, I expect, and any visitors. I've taken Jessup's and Mrs Entwistle's so I just need to do Miss Pickles, Mr Drake and the maids, and I'm finished for now. We've based ourselves in the breakfast room.'

  'No trouble with the old lady?'

  Yardley rolled his eyes. 'We got there eventually.'

  'All right, I think we'll use the study for interviews. It might put the willies up the murderer, having to talk to us there. Assuming he or she is one of them, that is. And when you've had the pleasure of the maids, you and John can go for a nice walk.'

  'Sir?'

  'I want witnesses to the morning strollers: the delightful Mrs Entwistle and young Dorothy. Someone will have seen them.'

  'She said to call her Dottie,' said Nash, appearing behind them. 'We had a little chat. She's a nice girl; very friendly and straightforward. Smashing-looking too.'

  'I thought you'd notice that. Any other info?'

  'Not really. She was surprised about the brothers but couldn't offer any clue as to where they might be.'

  'Surprised but not concerned?'

  'She didn't seem concerned, no. I think she's more bothered about the effect of all this on the Jessup boy. Seems to have rather taken to him.'

  'Well, find out where they went and see if you can get a witness or two. If necessary retrace their steps and ask around. She mentioned the park.'

  'Do we really walk?' asked Nash. 'It could take all morning.'

  'All right, take my car.'

  Chapter Four

  They settled themselves in the study, Felix in the dead man's chair, Rattigan and Drake pulling up two more.

  Felix waited while Rattigan went through the usual catechism: name, age, address. 'Can I first ask you, Mr Drake,' he began, 'where you were between ten and eleven this morning?' He opened his cigarette case. 'Smoke?'

  Drake took out a cheroot. 'May I?'

  'Please do.'

  'I would have been at home, getting ready to return here. I say return, because I was here last night, celebrating Esme Vicenzi's birthday. We had a little party for her. May I ask if you've heard from her at all? With everyone else disappearing I'm a little worried about her.'

  Felix shook his head. 'I'm afraid not, but it's only been a couple of hours since she left; and she, at least, has not packed a suitcase. We are, of course, eager to find her ourselves to tell her about her father. She may also know where her brothers have gone. Have you any idea where she might be?'

  'You could try her friend, the Reverend Cedric Curry. Jessup may have his address but if not he's curate at St Edwold's. They will presumably know where to find him. I was thinking of enquiring myself.'

  'Thank you. And what was this morning's meeting about?'

  'No particular thing. We often have one. My partner seldom went to the shop. He effectively ran the business from here, through his sons.'

  'Did you not participate in that, as co-owner?'

  Mr Drake smiled modestly. 'I try not to interfere too much, Inspector, just give a little steer once in a while. The boys are coming on quite well but I sometimes have to discourage their wilder flights of fancy. An escalator was mooted recently.' Here he shook his head, making his heavy jowls wobble. 'Not a good idea in the present climate.'

  'I see. And can you hazard a guess as to why your protégés might have left so precipitately?'

  'No, I'm sorry. I wish I could. They were absent from the party for quite a while last night, I noticed. Otherwise all seemed as normal.'

  'Absent together?'

  'It would appear so.'

  'Did you think that strange?'

  'I thought it discourteous, no more than that.'

  'Speaking of the party. Wouldn't it have been easier to stay overnight?'

  'I wasn't asked, Inspector. I have very occasionally stayed here, but not often.'

  'Many here?'

  'No, it was quite intimate. Ten to dinner and maybe twenty altogether. Not everyone stayed for very long.'

  'Anyone else stay overnight?'

  'Not to my knowledge. You'll have to ask Jessup.'

  'Were there any witnesses to your being at home this morning?'

  'Not that I'm aware of, I'm afraid. I'm unmarried, as I have said, and live alone.'

  'No servants?'

  'Only my daily. She hadn't come in when I left.'

  'Did your partner have any enemies, do you know?'

  'Drake firmly shook his head. 'I cannot believe so. Due to his affliction, he seldom went out of this house. Neither, I might say, did he have many visitors, and certainly none unknown to him. No commercial travellers or anyone like that. In any case, they would have had to get past Jessup or one of the maids. He had become somewhat cantankerous of late, being in constant pain, but no one actively hated him that I'm aware of.'

  'Mrs Entwistle seems to have done.'

  Drake pulled a face. 'Mrs Entwistle is a very elderly lady and, I regret to say, no longer to be relied upon. She is as likely to be singing his praises when you see her next. I really wouldn't set much store by anything she says.'

  Felix nodded. 'What about commercial rivalries? It can be a cut-throat business, or was.'

  'In your grandfather's time, do you mean?'

  'You know about that?'

  'A shot in the dark. I'm just old enough to remember him and it's an unusual name. Gone from the High Street now of course.'

  'They're purely wholesalers these days, I believe, though my family no longer has a connection with them.'

  'Very wise in these times. And no, we have no serious rivals now. Is there anything else you wish to ask me, Inspector? As you can imagine, I'm very eager to get to the shop.'

  'Mr Drake, did you kill Henry Vicenzi?'

  Drake looked startled, then smiled. 'No I did not. Do you ask everyone that?'

  'Only the suspects.'

  'Am I one, then?'

  'Until we find the murderer or you can prove where you were at the time, I'm afraid you are.'

  'I only wish I could,' said Drake, standing up. 'I'll try to find you a witness. I live in a flat so it's not out of the question that someone saw me leave. I wonder, when Miss Vicenzi returns, could someone let me know?'

  'Yes of course, sir. I'll tell her you were asking after her. Oh, and while I think of it, do you have a key to this house?'

  'No, Inspector, I do not.'

  'Not borrowed?'

  'No, never.' At the door, he turned back. 'There is one thing. You have met Miss Pickles, a charming and intelligent young woman. She is friendly with the younger brother, Lewis. This is rather ungallant of me but I noticed they had a little tiff last night and she flounced off. I didn't see her again. She may possibly be able to cast some light on where he
has gone, if nothing else.'

  'Carries a torch for Esme Vicenzi,' said Rattigan after seeing Drake out.

  'She must be much younger. Interest purely avuncular perhaps?'

  'No, he fancies her. Bet you a shilling.'

  'He'll have to displace the curate first. I wonder what the meeting was about. He didn't seem very keen to discuss it.'

  'And was it why the sons bunked off like that?'

  'One of them anyway. It's a bit of a coincidence isn't it? But so is leaving just before the murder of their father. Hello you two, how did you get on?'

  'Turns out Mrs Entwistle called on a friend, a Mrs Radcliffe,' said Nash. 'About the same age, I should imagine. She'd given us the wrong house number but we found her eventually. I'm not sure which of them is daftest but we established that she asked her in for a cup of tea. She couldn't remember the exact times – she had trouble remembering if it was this morning! – but it seems she was there between about nine-thirty and ten, so it ties up nicely with her coming up the garden. She could've just about done it theoretically but it doesn't seem very likely, does it?'

  'Miss Pickles was the easiest,' said Yardley. She'd taken the boy to the park to fly his model aeroplane. It went into someone's garden and they had to ask for it back. The woman remembered them of course. That was at about ten, she thinks, and the park is about ten minutes walk away. Again, she might just have got back in time, but she had the boy in tow, and she was outside with Mrs Entwistle a minute or two after.'

  'Well that's a relief anyway.' said Felix. 'We might as well have her in now, I think. Go and fetch her will you, Teddy? You two, I want you to check and dab all the entry-points in the building; anything anyone could conceivably have got in through, or out of.'

  'Upstairs, sir?'

  'Yes, upstairs too, especially any weak points: skylight, ladders, garage roof, ivy, the usual.'

  *

  'You're aged twenty-four, unmarried, of independent means and live alone,' reiterated Felix, as Rattigan caught up with his notes. 'Miss Pickles, my apologies. Do you smoke?'

  'I don't live quite alone,' said Dottie. 'I've got Mrs Marsh, my lovely housekeeper. I inherited her from my father with the family silver. No I don't, thanks. I tried it once but I came over queer and was sick. Feel free to indulge though. Do you smoke a pipe?'