The Statue of Three Lies

by David Cargill

  The Prof was transported back in time to those wartime childhood years and the unique experience of playing games with friends in a house that boasted of having two bathrooms! Those were the days, he thought. And what games! Monopoly and Sardines and what else...? Why, Murder, of course!

  Back to the present with a bump! Was that what the latest message was about? If it were Murder it would no longer be a game!

  Showered and shaved and dressed in dark grey slacks, blue shirt and navy sweater, Giles made his way downstairs to the kitchen.

  He knocked, opened the kitchen door and came face to face with Mrs. Doreen Gardner, the cook and housekeeper.

  ‘I just thought it might be you, Giles!’

  ‘Like one of the Bisto Kids I was drawn to the aroma like a wasp to a pot of jam!’

  ‘Flatterer! Have you had any breakfast?’

  ‘No, Mrs. Gardner, I’m not long up, as a matter of fact!’

  ‘In that case I could do you some scrambled eggs and toast!’

  ‘That would be very kind of you!’

  ‘Have you seen my husband since you arrived? He’s down at the stables! You could give him a quick visit and I’ll have your breakfast ready for you when you get back.’

  The Prof moved to the back door and, as he was leaving, turned to speak.

  ‘Er...Mrs. Gardner?’

  ‘Yes!’

  ‘I hope you don’t mind me asking but do you really know why I’ve come back to The Hall?’

  ‘Yes, I think I do! I believe we all do.’ Mrs. Gardner paused in mid sentence. ‘.You see, Mrs. Ramsden has always been suspicious about the verdict at the inquest after her husband’s death. She would dearly love to lay-to-rest all the ghosts that seem to obscure the truth of that awful night. She believes that, if anyone can get to the bottom of the whole dreadful business, you will! I understand she wishes to speak with you this morning and everyone has been warned to stay away from the lounge!’

  ’Thank you for being so frank, Mrs. Gardner! You realise, of course, that I may have to question all who were present that evening. That would include you and your husband. The more information I have the easier it will be to arrive at the truth!’

  ‘Hmm! I do hope you get the co-operation of everyone!’

  ‘We’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we? Now I think I’ll take my constitutional. If I walk down to the stables and say hello to you-know-who, that should help me work up an appetite for those scrambled eggs!’

  The Prof winked and left by the back door.

  Crunching his way down the gravel path he passed the trees to his right and came in sight of the Vauxhall Victor Estate, which was parked in the courtyard of the stable block. This had to be the car that should have met him at the railway station yesterday afternoon, with “old” George in attendance and not Laura!

  He continued towards the stable boxes. An equine head looked out of the top half of one and, from the next one, which was open, came the sound of someone mucking out.

  A small, white-haired man, who was dressed in jodhpurs and grey wool sweater, had his back towards The Prof and was brushing the floor with the energy of someone half his age.

  A discreet cough failed to distract George from the job in hand and it took two theatrically loud throat clearances before the little man turned around.

  ‘Giles! Giles Dawson, you haven’t changed a bit! A touch more distinguished, I’ll grant you that but still the same Giles!’

  The Prof pumped the extended hand.

  ‘Nor have you, old friend! But what happened yesterday? I was expecting to see you at the station!’

  ‘I was outvoted! Laura wanted to show off her new sports car and she insisted that she be the first to see you after all those years. You’ve just missed her. She’s out riding with Sam!’

  The Prof looked a little taken aback; a tinge of jealousy showing.

  ‘Who is Sam?’

  ‘Sam? Short for Samson! You must’ve met Delilah next door! They’re our two hunters!’

  ‘Ah, yes! Well that explains, doesn’t it!’

  ’I hope so!’ The little man said, with a broad grin.

  ‘So do I!’

  ‘You used to ride a bit, Giles; would you fancy taking Delilah out tomorrow? It would be company for Samson - and Laura!’

  ‘Why not! I used to ride out with a friend. That is, until her accident! Water under the bridge, I’m afraid!’

  ‘That’s settled then!’

  ‘Oh, I nearly forgot. Mrs. Gardner’s expecting.. ’

  ’What! I hope not!’ The little man spluttered an interruption.

  ‘What I was about to say was that your wife is expecting me back for breakfast. Scrambled eggs, no less!’

  ‘You’d better go then; you know how she hates to be kept waiting. We can talk later. I’ll get this job finished before Laura gets back.’

  The Prof approached the door to the lounge and checked his watch; it was 11 o’clock. He owed cook a big vote of thanks for it was she who had alerted him out of his comfortable lethargy as he’d relaxed in the warmth of her kitchen. With breakfast over, her prophetic words, “Time for your meeting, Giles! You know how the old lady hates to be kept waiting!” reminded him of his immediate engagement. Strange how her words were almost identical to those her husband had used at the stables.

  He knocked and went in. It was Laura he saw, not her mother! She was dressed in smart jodhpurs and boots, with black riding jacket and lots of colour in her cheeks either from her outing with Sam or from the fire she was preparing. The Prof wasn’t sure which.

  ‘I’m sorry, I thought I’d be meeting....’

  ‘That’s quite all right, Giles. Mother won’t be long! Well, speak of the devil!’

  Isabella Ramsden entered, nodded to her daughter who left, without uttering another word, and closed the door behind her.

  ‘Please sit down, Giles. Did you sleep well?’

  The Prof nodded. ‘It was a long day yesterday and I needed no rocking!’

  ‘Good! That discussion, at dinner last night, was most illuminating. I hope we might continue the subject again quite soon but, now that we’re alone, I wish to give you a first hand account of everything that took place on my birthday fourteen years ago and before you have the opportunity to ask any of the others for their version of events. Isn’t that what usually happens in the whodunits?’

  He smiled and relaxed as he waited for the matriarch of Maskelyne Hall to continue.

  Isabella Ramsden went over to the writing desk, produced a notebook and pencil and brought them over to him.

  ‘I wasn’t sure you’d want to take notes this morning. My little message was a trifle on the cryptic side, I’m afraid, but there must be many questions you want answered. The truth is what I want but I am aware that it may not be that simple. Memory fades in the fullness of time. No one knows that better than I do, but what happened that night, fourteen years ago, is as vivid as if it had happened yesterday. Yet, what took place didn’t make too much sense; I’m certain we all missed something! Got things in the wrong order and jumped to the wrong conclusions. The longer we wait and the more the years go by, the harder it is to come to terms with it. We need to know the truth and you can help!’

  Mrs. Ramsden started to sob quietly.

  The Prof was genuinely moved but, as he watched her dab her eyes with her handkerchief, he couldn’t help feeling that every mannerism, gesture and look were part of a calculated performance; a performance designed by Magicians, the world over, and known as The Art of Misdirection; the Conjuror’s stock-in-trade!

  ‘Why don’t we just start at the beginning? Try and tell me everything that led to the tragedy. Leave nothing out, no matter how insignificant. If I need clarification about anything .. .I will ask.’

  Mrs. Ramsden clasped her hands in her lap and took a deep breath.

  ‘Every year, on the 31st October - the night of my birthday and, as you well know, the anniversary of the death of Harry Houdini, my hus
band Jack entertained the household with his latest version of an old illusion. This annual event started when the Second World War was finally over. It had become a sort of family milestone. Jack worked tirelessly, from one year to the next, to improve ideas of some of the wonderful masters of illusion, past and present, in order to add a new dimension to a classic of magic. He staged the premiere before his captive audience and it was always held in the library, prior to dinner, when the family gathered to celebrate my birthday.’

  Isabella Ramsden again dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief.

  ‘Jack was a methodical and meticulous man who left little to chance. He had already performed two variations at previous annual occasions; one, of David Devant’s The Artist’s Dream and the other, an unusual treatment of Le Roy’s Levitation Act.’

  Isabella Ramsden paused as The Prof scribbled some notes. Before she could elaborate any further he decided to intervene.

  ‘Pardon me for interrupting at this stage, Mrs. Ramsden, but you’ve just mentioned two of your husband’s earlier performances and I’d like you to clarify something for me. You see it could be vital!’

  ‘Isabella, if you please, Giles. I think we can drop the formality!’

  ‘If that is what you wish! It might be in both our interests, Mrs...er...Isabella! Now where was I? Ah yes, I wanted to ask you about those previous performances. You mentioned The Artist’s Dream and it is another interesting co-incidence that this illusion was credited to Chung Ling Soo when he worked with Herrmann. But to get back to the point, you see if I were not mistaken, Jack would normally have used an assistant for The Artist’s Dream and the Levitation Act. Am I right?’

  ‘Why, of course you are. I should have mentioned that. He always had his assistant for the birthday performance, including several practices beforehand.’

  ‘I have one further question to ask, at this stage. Were you always aware of the identity of your husband’s assistant?’

  ‘How very strange that you should ask!’

  Mrs. Isabella Ramsden paused for several seconds before continuing her reply.

  ‘Now that I come to think of it, the answer to your question would have to be no! Jack was always careful to make sure that his assistant was in some form of disguise. The face would be covered, or she would be kept entirely out of sight during rehearsals! He believed it all added to the mystery. She never stayed for dinner.’

  ‘You refer to his assistant as...she. Was his assistant always female?’

  ‘Yes, as a matter of fact she was.’

  ‘Thank you .That’s very helpful. Please go on.’

  ’For most of 1952 Jack had made no secret of the fact that he was going to try and recreate the Bullet Catching Trick of Chung Ling Soo using a different kind of rifle. He made a trip to America at the end of May and his mood changed entirely when he returned. He told me he was almost ready to perform the most amazing illusion ever shown in this part of the world. It was to be something that closely resembled The Substitution Trunk but with the library acting as the Trunk and displaying a transformation scene of earth shattering dimension using Robert Louis Stevenson’s characters Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Those were the words he used to describe his intended treat for my birthday. Before I carry on can I now ask you a question?’

  ‘Please do, Isabella.’

  ‘You opened the safe yesterday, didn’t you?’

  ‘Yes I did, but only after a little hiccup with numbers!’

  ‘Whatever you discovered somehow contained the clue to Jack’s change of mood. You will decide how best to unravel the puzzle but can you give me a hint about your observations and any possible ideas you may have at this stage?’

  ‘The obvious items that interest me are Jack’s diary containing entries for the month of May and June and, in particular the dates May 29, 30, 31 and June 1. I also believe the words Golden Anniversary Convention, SAM, The Hotel Statler and the initials K.A. are of special importance. There was a map of Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A, notes on new variations of special illusions, a brochure of Hotel Statler and a long thin bladed stiletto dagger!’

  ‘Yes, I thought that might intrigue you.’

  ‘There was one other entry in the diary. How a bottle opener can open more than bottles! Now that is a puzzle! “Solve that, my boy", I can hear Jack say, “and you’re in business!” I have a hunch, as my American friends might say, that a trip to The States could provide many answers! Now you were telling me about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and how Jack was...you said his mood changed. In what way?’

  ‘Jack was forever the eternal schoolboy...especially when it concerned a new treatment of the impossible. He showed a fervour and enthusiasm I’d rarely seen before. The cloak and dagger visits by his assistant became more frequent until one day, in September I think, I overheard Jack having an almighty row with her, in the library, during a rehearsal. I couldn’t hear what they were saying but it sounded like...she was threatening...blackmail! Anyway the next thing I knew was Jack told me she had gone for good and he was altering his act to suit. We never saw her again!’

  ‘Can we get back to the night of your birthday?’

  ‘Jack had spent most of the day, in the library, arranging props and other equipment then, at about 7 o’clock, he called everyone to the library to examine the room.’

  ‘At this stage I want you to be very specific and list everyone who was at Maskelyne Hall when your husband called on them to come to the library.’

  ‘Let’s see! There were Doreen and George, our longstanding cook and groom, my eldest son Victor and my daughter Laura, and me, of course. That makes five! Conrad was there with his wife Mabel. That’s seven! Finally, my youngest son Edgar and his fiancee Sally make a total of nine!’ Isabella declared, as she counted everyone present on her fingers.

  ‘Haven’t you forgotten someone?’ The Prof was still making notes on his pad as he asked the question.

  ‘I don’t think so....’

  ‘What about Jack, your husband?’ He looked up from his writing as he spoke. ‘A grand total of ten, I’d say! Wouldn’t you?’

  ‘I’m sorry, I just didn’t think to include Jack, yet you’re absolutely correct as you were asking about everyone who was at Maskelyne Hall on that night. Yes, yes, I agree. A grand total of ten!’

  ‘I have to be accurate, Isabella. After all he was a central figure in the whole affair.’The Prof smiled reassuringly before inviting Isabella to continue.

  ‘Did everyone go into the library?’

  ‘No, I don’t think so! Sally stayed well outside; she hadn’t yet been introduced to her intended father-in-law. Edgar was going to do that after the birthday performance but I did hear him say that his fiancee might wash her hair before meeting Jack. That was when I overheard Laura telling Edgar to get her to use the bathroom opposite the main one as she was going to take a bath.’

  ‘What about the others?’

  ‘Mrs. Gardner was to carry on with her normal chores. She was to check that the windows were locked and curtains drawn and then retire to her kitchen and lock the back door. Her husband, George, said he would go outside and guard the windows, making sure “there was no jiggery pokery “ there. Everyone laughed. All the time Jack was urging us to ensure that the library was entirely empty, except for himself, and that no one was left hiding in the room and that the room was locked with no place for anyone to enter. Conrad and Mabel checked behind the Japanese screen then they announced that they were going for a short walk in the grounds until they were called back for the performance. Victor made sure the safe was locked before hurrying off to the lounge. Edgar was next to leave but said he would wait with me in the hall in case there was any skulduggery/’

  ‘You were left in the room, alone with Jack?’

  ‘Yes I was!’

  Isabella Ramsden’s eyes misted over at this point and The Prof waited patiently for her composure to return.

  ‘Please continue, but, before you do, can you tell me if the gun was in
the library before you left?’

  ‘Yes it was! It was on its stand in front of the Chung Ling Soo poster. I should have mentioned that Victor spent some moments examining the gun just after he’d checked the safe.’

  A puzzled frown appeared as The Prof made his next comment.

  ‘And then he went off to the lounge?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘What made you think he was going there?’ ‘Because he said so!’

  ‘Aah.! Did you make a final check of the room before leaving?’

  ‘Yes. Jack asked me to look around, to satisfy myself that nobody was hiding. Then he told me I could go out and lock the door.’

  ‘So you were definitely the last to leave the room and Jack was alone when you went out and closed the door?’

  ‘Yes!’

  ‘You’re absolutely positive of that?’

  ‘Yes! No doubts at all!’

  ‘You then locked the door on the outside?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Where did you put the key?’

  ‘I kept it in my hand and Edgar was with me all the time.’

  ’To make sure there was no skulduggery!’ The Prof smiled as he read from his notes.

  ‘So what happened after the door was locked?’

  ‘Nothing! There was silence and then the sound of footsteps on the wood floor. You may have noticed that it isn’t easy to be aware of noises coming from the library, what with the walls and door being thick, most noise is muffled!’

  ‘Could you identify any sound that came from the library?’

  ‘The first noise I heard clearly was Jack’s voice. I heard him say, "Leave that alone/” There was no reply to that. Then Jack said, "Put your mask on/” and this was followed by "No, no...don’t touch that...it might be....” A shot rang out followed by a dull thump.’

  The Prof raised a hand to stop Mrs. Ramsden from continuing and hurriedly made notes as he sat on the edge of his seat listening to what was almost a running commentary of events that took place fourteen years ago. He nodded to her to continue.

  ‘Jack’s voice could be heard again after a short silence. He said, "Good God, what have you done, Hyde? We must keep the secret...so go now/’