“I did realize, of course, that by asking Mrs. Meakin to bring the spectacles here, I was exposing her to the possible risk of Potman’s revenge. But there seemed no possibility of them being alone together. You can imagine my horror when I found that he had so maneuvered matters as to get her up onto that terrible gallery. Thank goodness Pudge and I were there.
“Well.” Henry looked around the office. “That’s about all. Mr. Potman lost his footing and fell to his death. Some of you have behaved stupidly and some reprehensibly, but a rough sort of justice has been done, and I don’t think we can hope for anything better. As far as I am concerned, the various cases are closed.”
It was some time later, when the others had gone, that I had the chance of a word alone with Henry. There were a few points I still wanted to clear up.
“About the insurance, Henry,” I said, tentatively.
He grinned. “I shall have to ask you to make a complete report to the company, of course,” he said, “but there’s one point in your favor that you may have overlooked. The spectacles were switched by Miss Fettini, and she is not a member of the Northburn Film unit. Just bear that in mind.”
“You should have been a lawyer, not a policeman,” I said. There was a pause. Then I added, on impulse, “Henry, up there on the gallery—what actually happened?”
Henry looked at me sadly. “He jumped, of course,” he said. “As soon as he saw me, he realized…” There was a pause, and then he added, “He was a great man, in his own way. I admired him deeply. I’m glad he was able to finish the film after all.”
“All except the last shot,” I said. “There’s still the retake to be done.”
“No, there isn’t,” said Henry. “I’m afraid I persuaded Mountjoy to deliver a false message about the earlier takes being spoiled. No, the film is safely in the can.” He looked at me steadily for a moment, and then he said, “I believe it is a great film, Pudge. I just wish…”
“What?”
“I wish,” said Henry, “that I had even a rudimentary understanding of what makes people what they are.”
EPILOGUE
THERE’S VERY LITTLE to add. I made a clean breast of Fiametta’s prank to our insurance company, but the lawyers plugged the point about La Fettini not being a member of the unit, and the claim was allowed to stand. I need hardly remind you of the fantastic success of Street Scene. I sent Henry seats for the premiere, for which he seemed suitably grateful.
Without Sam, there seemed little point in continuing Northburn Films, but of course Keith has gone from strength to strength, and Biddy’s new book came out a few weeks ago. I haven’t read it yet, but I suppose I must. Sonia tells me it is remarkable.
Fiametta is currently in Hollywood, and currently involved in a tempestuous love affair with her new leading man. I presume that Palladio and Peppi are with her. I can’t say I care.
As for myself, I have decided that it is really more in my line to settle down quietly and manage the family estates, rather than to get involved with the highly colored personalities of the film world. And Sonia agrees with me.
Which reminds me. In case you missed it, there was a small, discreet announcement in the Times last week in the “Marriages” column:
Croombe-Peters: Meakin. On Saturday, November 30th, very quietly, in London. Anthony, only son of Baron Northburn of Hocking and the late Lady Northburn, to Mrs. Sonia Meakin (nee Marchmont).
For more “Inspector Tibbett” and other “Vintage” titles from Felony & Mayhem Press, including the “Inspector Alleyn” series by Ngaio Marsh, please visit our website: FelonyAndMayhem.com
All the characters and events portrayed in this work are fictitious.
FALLING STAR
A Felony & Mayhem mystery
PUBLISHING HISTORY
First UK print edition (Collins): 1964
First US print edition (Holt, Rinehart and Winston): 1964
Felony & Mayhem print and digital editions: 2018
Copyright © The Estate of Patricia Moyes 1964
All rights reserved
E-book ISBN: 978-1-63194-158-0
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Moyes, Patricia.
Title: Falling star / Patricia Moyes.
Description: Felony & Mayhem edition. | New York : Felony & Mayhem Press, 2018. | “A Felony & Mayhem mystery.”
Identifiers: LCCN 2018006847| ISBN 9781631941429 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781631941580 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Tibbett, Henry (Fictitious character)--Fiction. | Tibbett, Emmy (Fictitious character)--Fiction. | Married people--Fiction. | Police spouses--Fiction. | Police--England--Fiction. | GSAFD: Mystery fiction.
Classification: LCC PR6063.O9 F34 2018 | DDC 823/.914--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018006847
Falling Star Page 29