The Statue of Three Lies

by David Cargill

  Freddie looked over at Giles and both men nodded in silent approval before the explanation continued.

  ’On the day of Mrs. Ramsden’s birthday Sally accompanied Edgar to Maskelyne Hall and, for the first time, was introduced to all members of the family except Jack. Having been Jack’s assistant she was well aware that he would be totally engrossed in his preparations for his spectacular illusion and would rarely leave the library except for emergencies such as calls of nature. She’d become quite adept at concealing herself in this large house because of previous visits as the magician’s assistant and now she didn’t have to hide her identity except from her previous employer.’

  Giles shuffled his feet as he positioned himself in front of his audience before expanding his theory.

  ‘When the time approached for everyone to congregate at the library for Jack’s briefing and the inspection of the room, to ensure that, apart from the magician, the library was empty, she stayed out of sight at the back, well away from the gaze of Jack Ramsden, without creating anything abnormal as Jack was not expecting anyone to be with Edgar.’

  ‘Before final preparations were complete Sally made it clear in the presence of Laura that she intended to wash her hair. That was when Laura warned Edgar to tell his fiancee not to use the larger of the two bathrooms, her reason being that she wished the main bathroom kept free so that she could gain access to the dumb-waiter and play her part in the illusion.’

  All eyes were on Giles as the gathering awaited the remainder of his explanation.

  ‘When Sally went upstairs she most likely went into the smaller bathroom, turned on the shower then came out and shut the door. She then had to cross to the main bathroom, quickly put on her cloak and hood that she’d probably have had hidden on her person or somewhere in the first bathroom, unlock the cabinet from the wall, climb into the chimney then close and lock the cabinet behind her. She had practised that routine many times before being dismissed.’

  ‘But wouldn’t the whole plan have been ruined if Laura had reached the bathroom before...?’ Mabel’s interruption trailed to a whisper.

  ‘Yes, that’s true,’ said Giles ‘but downstairs Edgar opted to remain with Isabella outside the library door, which was then locked. He probably was fully prepared to delay Laura to allow time for Sally to conceal herself in the shaft’.

  ‘On her way to the larger bathroom Laura noticed that the door to the other bathroom was shut and she could hear the shower running. Believing all was well she went into the room with access to the chimney, locked the door, put on her cloak and hood which was probably hidden in the cabinet then tried to move the cabinet away from the wall only to find it wouldn’t budge. Puzzled and bemused she eventually had to accept the inevitable and abandon the idea of assisting her father. To ensure future legitimacy of her intentions and avoid any suggestion that going to the main bathroom had an ulterior motive she decided to take a bath.’

  It was now Conrad’s turn to intervene. ‘Wouldn’t Laura have heard the gun being fired?’ he asked.

  ‘It would almost be impossible for her not to hear the rifle shot but as the annual spectaculars at Halloween invariably were accompanied by strange sounds she probably treated the noise as not entirely unexpected.’

  Giles cleared his throat before continuing.

  ‘When Isabella finally opened the library door and saw her husband on the floor Edgar dashed upstairs as had been agreed between himself and Sally. You see he had to enter the smaller bathroom and turn off the shower, bang on the door and shout his warning, leave the door open as if Sally had just left and gone downstairs, then dash to where Laura was, hammer on her door and announce there had been an accident. By doing so he knew that Laura would rush from the room and allow Sally, who was still inside the chimney, to unlock the cabinet from inside, climb out, remove her cloak and hood and hide them in the other bathroom, cover her head in a towel then go downstairs and join the others, at the same time keeping in the background and well covered, just in case Jack would see and recognize her.’

  Giles took a deep breath.

  ‘In her evidence to me Isabella said she overheard Sally ask Edgar “if he was dead?” I should have had some suspicion then as most people might have asked what’s happened and not.! Anyway when Laura left the bathroom, wrapped in a robe, she noticed the other bathroom door was open and there was no sound from the shower. She presumed Sally had already gone downstairs little knowing that she was still behind her. In all the confusion at the library there was not much chance of Laura figuring out that she ended up downstairs before Sally did and so Jack died believing his daughter had accidentally shot him and was never, at any time, aware that his previous assistant had substituted herself aided and abetted by his young nephew and, as it turned out, had carried out a revengeful assassination! I have no doubt that since the murder Sally has always seemed to be a stabilising influence on young Edgar. Yet all the time she was the opposite! She used Edgar and, because of their mutual plan, always had a strong hold over him - right to the end!’

  You could hear a pin drop in the comparative silence except for the subdued crackle of logs in the fire. Nobody spoke until Laura rose and came over to Giles.

  ‘Can I get you something to drink?’ she asked. ‘I feel we could all do with a little something; it’s been quite a marathon! What about you Mr. Oldsworth?’

  ‘No, nothing for me, but thanks all the same. I have a long drive ahead of me tonight. And please call me Freddie. I’m beginning to feel part of the family.’

  ‘Yes I’m afraid we have to go shortly. Freddie wants to have a day or two at home with his family. And talking about family...I’m so sorry about...you know! As your dad said. I didn’t mean it to end like this!’

  Giles could see the look of disappointment that suddenly clouded Laura’s face and he desperately wanted to take her in his arms and stay a bit longer.

  ‘Look Giles I’m so sorry for being such a bloody fool and doubting your veracity since you returned to the Hall. I hope you’ll forgive me!’ Victor came across and held out his hand. ‘There’s still something I’m not quite clear about. Perhaps you can explain.’

  ‘I’ll try.’

  ‘When father was shot he was only wounded - fatally as it turned out - but what if he had survived? Surely Sally would’ve been exposed when they eventually met?’

  ‘I doubt it! If your father had recovered I believe Sally would just have broken off the engagement and disappeared...that is why she was so anxious to know if he was dead. Edgar would’ve been left with egg on his face, would probably have shut up and retained his silence for eternity.’

  ‘I see, well once again let me say how sorry I am. I could’ve ruined everything!’

  ‘There were times I wanted to shake you warmly by the throat, but I accept your apologies and knowing you of old this comes as rather a surprise. Coming from you an apology isn’t the easiest gesture to make but life’s too short and I for one would dearly love to be counted as a close friend of the family. Like old times!’

  As he spoke he found himself looking straight into the eyes of Laura who was now handing him a glass of whisky. She was half smiling with a wistful look and as he took the glass there was a definite moment when he felt she was reluctant to take her hand away.

  ‘Two questions I’d like to ask you, Giles?’ Conrad said. ‘Seeing as we’re tying up the loose ends, when you were apparently attacked in the cellar do you now think that was something to do with Edgar and Sally?’

  ‘I think it was probably Sally for although Edgar had been inextricably involved from the day the supposed jest was planned I very much doubt if he had the stomach for murder. Remember they had only arrived before the incident in the cellar and had just been told about my being here and the probable reason for my visit and it presented an opportunity to end any awkward investigation. You must consider that even after Jack died Sally probably convinced him that it had after all been a horrid accident. Edgar was stuck with tha
t until he reached the end of his tether and decided to spill the beans; a decision that cost him his own life!’

  ‘And what about the seance?’

  ‘I think they were trying to frighten Laura who was in a confused state after her riding accident...you know, it almost worked!’

  ‘Do you also think it was Sally who tampered with the stirrup leathers on the saddle you were supposed to use but which resulted in Laura’s accident?’

  Giles thought for a moment before answering. He raised his glass and looked across to Laura who was administering drinks to the others.

  ‘Unquestionably!’ he said. ‘At the start of the ride I thought I detected someone using binoculars at an upstairs window but I couldn’t be sure who it was. I can’t even be sure whether it was Laura or I who was meant to fall. Either way a fatality could have been well worthwhile, as Laura’s death would have prevented me from finding out the truth about her sojourn to the bathroom on the night of Jack’s demise and I shudder to think how this would have turned out if.!’

  He never finished the sentence.

  Isabella, who had seemingly recovered her composure, broke into his suggestion of morbidity.

  ‘Look here, Giles, you mustn’t leave us without something in your stomach and I’m sure cook will conjure up some appetising leftovers!’

  ‘I will indeed,’ Doreen Gardner replied, ‘there’s enough of everything to go round and I’ll set about getting things ready right now.’

  ‘That’s settled then.’ The matriarch of Maskelyne Hall almost shouted with relief ‘Now I won’t take no for an answer!’

  ‘As you wish, Isabella!

  A light buffet supper later Giles and Freddie went upstairs to pack their belongings just as two senior police officers arrived and confirmed that Giles would be required at a Fatal Accident Inquiry regarding the deaths of Edgar and Sally. Giles left a contact address with the police and prepared to leave. He loathed goodbyes and was determined to avoid prolonging events.

  When he finally managed his farewells to the family Freddie had already brought the red Spitfire round to the front of the Hall and George was helping him to load the bags.

  Giles went forward and put his arms round the likeable retainer before turning to look back at the house. Laura was standing at the top of the steps backlit by the light spilling out from the hallway. She came down the steps as he approached.

  ‘When will you come back and see us, Giles?’ The appeal in her voice was a warm contrast to the chill night air.

  ‘Are you going to send me another conundrum or can I take that as an invitation?’

  ‘Of course silly, you’ll always be welcome here. You know that. You don’t need an invitation but please don’t leave it quite so long next time!’

  ’I promise!’

  ‘Look, I intend riding Samson at the point-to-point in April; will you come and bring us both luck?’

  ‘I’d love to do that! On one condition mind...you promise not to fall off. I’ve too many bad memories of another girl of mine in similar circumstances!’

  ‘Cross my heart!’

  Then she was in his arms. He kissed her long and passionately on the lips and the fresh smell of her hair was something he’d not forget in a long time.

  Freddie drove towards the lodge and the main gate and, at the turn of the driveway, Giles looked back at the house. Laura was silhouetted in the doorway with an arm raised.

  He waved back and vowed...that in the spring.

  NOTES FOR CURIOUS MINDS

  1. The “Good Taste” incident in Chapter 2 happened in the author’s household exactly as described. The author’s mother, Isabella by name, who was born on the 31’st October, made the uncanny prediction that was met with disbelief.

  2. The strange co-incidence of the girls’ names in sequence in Chapter 14 happened in the life of the author with the only change being the substitution of the name Linda, for that of the author’s fiancee, Sheila, for the purpose of the story.

  QUOTATIONS

  “The Mourning Bride” by William Congreve (1697)

  “Haunted Houses” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1858)

  “A Dream within a Dream” by Edgar Allan Poe (1827)

  “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” Song by George Gershwin

  “Reveille,A Shropshire Lad” by Alfred Edward Housman

  “Silver Blaze” (The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1894)