by John Holt
Kendall made no comment, but continued to think for a few more minutes. Then he suddenly looked up. “What was it that Simmonds had said,” he asked nobody in particular. “He thought that Wheeler had seen someone that night, the person who had actually committed the robbery.” He thought for a few more moments. “What else did he say?”
“He said that he thought Wheeler was trying to blackmail someone,” Mollie replied.
“That’s right,” said Kendall. “He did say that. Wheeler was blackmailing someone. He was blackmailing the person who he thought had committed the robbery, the person that he had seen that night running across the lawn.”
“You mean Carl Simmonds,” Mollie said. Kendall merely nodded. At last, we are getting somewhere. But would it last, or would it all change again in a few minutes time? She decided to change the subject slightly.
“What about that blanket,” she said. “What do you make of it, just lying at the side of the road like that?” Kendall looked up, but made no reply. Mollie started to frown. “What about the blanket?” she asked again, only louder this time.
Kendall looked at her. “You know Mary’s car was seen stopped close to the wooded area that night. Just about the same spot where that blanket was found, co-incidence or what?” he asked.
Mollie looked at him. She knew that he didn’t believe in co-incidence. “I remember,” she replied. “Ann said that she thought it belonged to Mary didn’t she?”
“Yes she did,” Kendall replied. “And when asked about it, Mary denied all knowledge of it. She said that she had never seen it before.” He shook his head, and started to tap the desk. More lies, he thought, but who was lying, Mary, or Ann?
“That’s right,” Mollie said. “She did say that.” Then she looked puzzled. Here we go again, more confusion, more unknowns. Why couldn’t something be straightforward for once? “So either she was lying, or Ann was simply mistaken, what do you think?”
Kendall shook his head. “At present I’ve no idea, but the odds are slightly in Ann Wheeler’s favour.”
Mollie had no real idea of what he was talking about. But there again there was a lot about this case that she didn’t really understand. One thing that did puzzle her was the fact that information was coming out now, that really should have been said at the time, four years ago. “Why is all of this coming out now,” she asked. “I mean why didn’t Ann Wheeler mention all of this at that time anyway, why wait?”
Kendall thought for a few moments. “Ann already gave us her answer to that question, remember,” he replied. “Maybe she could not accept that her father was the culprit. Or maybe she just did not recognize the significance of what she had seen. Or thought she had seen.”
“Maybe because it was Carl Simmonds she thought she had seen, she thought that Eve herself was involved,” Mollie suggested. “And perhaps she just did not want to incriminate her.” She didn’t really know, but that was as good a reason as anything else.
Kendall said nothing. He merely nodded. It was certainly possible though. Perhaps Eve Simmonds had been the accomplice, and Ann knew it. Mr. Bradley had certainly thought so, at least for a while. “Whatever the reason,” Kendall said. “It obviously was not Mary’s boyfriend that Ann Wheeler had seen that night. It was Carl Simmonds, and that certainly seems to point the finger at Eve as being the insider.”
“Perhaps she only said it to take the suspicion away from her father,” Mollie suggested.
“Perhaps,” said Kendall, far from convinced. “Perhaps.”
* * *
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Return To Rutland Hall
The next day Kendall returned to Rutland Hall. The guard saw his car approaching and recognized him. He came out of the gatehouse just as Kendall pulled up. “Mr. Kendall,” the guard said. “It’s nice to see you again. How are you?”
“Oh I’m fine,” Kendall replied. “It’s Dave isn’t it?” The guard nodded. “Look, I know that you are a very busy man, but I was just wondering if you could spare me some time.” Suddenly he sneezed. He took out a handkerchief, and wiped his nose. “Hay fever,” he explained quite simply.
Dave looked down at the ground, and shook his head. He really did not need this. He was a busy man, a very busy man. He really couldn’t spare too much time he was due on patrol in a short while.
“Oh alright then,” he replied reluctantly. “I can spare you a few minutes I suppose, if it helps you find Miss Eve’s murderer.” He shrugged his shoulders. “What can I do for you?”
Kendall smiled. “That’s great,” he replied. “I just have a few more questions to ask, shouldn’t take too long.”
Dave was far from convinced. He knew that these things could go on and on, but if it helped then he would put up with it. Anyway he had agreed hadn’t he, and he didn’t start his patrol for another forty-five minutes or so. So he had the time, and nothing much else to do did he. He really had no choice except to just get on with it. “What about a cup of coffee,” he asked. “I was just about to get one myself.”
“That sounds good to me, Dave,” Kendall replied. For a few moments he wondered if there were any chocolate biscuits on offer, but thought it was probably best not to ask. He opened the car door and got out. He started to walk towards the gatehouse, over his arm he carried a tartan blanket.
The guard saw the blanket, and smiled. He looked up at the cloudless blue sky. “Expecting cold weather are you, Mr. Kendall?” Kendall looked puzzled. The guard pointed. “The blanket,” he said. “I wondered if you were expecting a change in the weather.”
Kendall looked at the blanket, and smiled. “Oh I see what you mean,” he said, and started to laugh. “No, this isn’t mine. I’ll explain inside.” He walked over to Dave, and the two men walked into the gatehouse.
Dave went over to the side of the room, and poured out two coffees, and brought them back to his desk. “Have a seat, Mr. Kendall,” he said, as he pointed to Charlie’s chair. “Charlie is on patrol. He won’t be back for three quarters of an hour, then it’s my turn.”
Kendall thanked him. There were no sign of any chocolate biscuits. He placed the blanket on to the desk, and sat down. “Have you ever seen that before?” he asked. Dave gave it a casual glance and shook his head. He had never seen it before. “Are you sure?” Kendall asked. “Absolutely sure?”
Once again Dave shook his head. “No I don’t believe I’ve ever seen that blanket before,” he replied. “Not as far as I am aware.”
Somehow that was exactly the kind of response that Kendall had expected. “You’re sure,” he repeated. “One hundred percent sure?”
He took a drink of coffee. It tasted okay, but it would have been so much better with a chocolate biscuit or two. “That blanket was found on the driveway, just over there by the woods,” he continued. “The day after the big party; the day after the robbery.”
Dave looked up surprised. He picked up the blanket and examined it a little closer. He shook his head, and a frown appeared on his forehead. It looked just like any other tartan blanket. It was nothing special. They were fairly common. In fact he had a similar one at home. And yet there was something about it, something vaguely familiar. He held it up. He turned it over. He held it up once again. Suddenly he nodded his head. He did recognize it, or at least it reminded him of something. He tried hard to remember what it was, but it just would not come.
“I’m told that it actually belongs to Mary,” Kendall said helpfully.
“Mary,” repeated Dave. “Do you mean Mary Dwyer?” Kendall nodded. Dave looked at the blanket once again. It was then that he noticed the oil staining to the edge. He suddenly remembered, and nodded his head. “Yes, yes, you’re quite right, it is Mary’s, or at least she had one similar,” he said. “I remember it now, I have seen it before, but it was a long time ago. Where did you get it from?”
“Ann Wheeler gave it to me the other day,” Kendall replied. “She had found it lying on the driveway the day after the robbery.” Dave made no
response. “What can you tell me about it?”
Dave took a drink of his coffee. “Sorry I’ve no biscuits or anything,” he said. “I meant to get some, but, well you know how it is.”
No, Kendall didn’t know how it was. You’re sorry, but not half as sorry as I am. “That’s all right, Dave, no problem,” he said. “Anyway, you were going to tell me about the blanket.”
“That’s right,” said Dave. “So I was.” He placed the blanket back on to the counter. “The last time I saw that blanket was the night of the robbery. You are absolutely right.” He paused staring into the distance. “It was in Mary’s car, right there on the passenger seat. She always had with her. Wherever she went, that blanket went with her. She used to say she needed it just in case the car broke down. Then at least she would have something to keep her warm while she waited for help to arrive.”
Kendall knew the feeling well. “I was exactly the same,” he said. “My old car was always breaking down. You could be miles from anywhere, out in freezing weather. Suddenly it would stall, and wouldn’t re-start. A blanket like that would be very useful.”
Dave looked at Kendall. “And her car was always letting her down,” he said. “It would shake so much you would think that it would just fall apart.” He started to laugh. “And it rattles so loud you could hear it coming long before you saw it.” Kendall nodded. It was just like his old car. Dave looked back out of the window over to the woods. “You know it never dawned on me at the time, but it was odd.”
Kendall looked at him. “Odd,” he repeated. “What was odd?” he asked.
Dave shook his head. “The blanket,” he replied. “She had it with her when she went out, but it wasn’t on the front seat when she came back. Of course she could have just thrown it on to the back seat I suppose.” Dave shook his head once again. “But you said that it was found at the side of the driveway, so it must have fallen out of the car.”
Kendall looked at Dave, and nodded his head slightly. He stood up, and picked up the blanket. “Thank you Dave,” he said. “You have been extremely helpful.” He walked towards the door. “I won’t take anymore of your time. Thanks once again.”
He walked out of the door. “Time to speak to Mary Dwyer, I think,” he muttered to himself, as he made his way back to his car.
* * *
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Mary Dwyer
The following morning Kendall placed a telephone call to Rutland Hall. “Could I speak to Miss Mary Dwyer?” he asked when the call had been answered.
There was a sharp intake of breath, and then a rather haughty voice responded. “May I tell her who is calling, sir?” it asked. Kendall gave the necessary information. “Please hold the line, sir,” the voice continued. “I’ll see if she is available, sir.” The line went silent.
A few minutes later Mary came on the line. “Hello,” she said. “This is Mary, Mary Dwyer. What can I do for you?”
“Oh Miss Dwyer,” Kendall replied. “My name is Kendall, and I am a private detective.” There was no reaction. “I have been asked to investigate the death of Mrs. Simmonds. I was wondering if you might be able to help me.”
“Oh I see,” she replied, hesitantly. “Such a dreadful thing to happen, sir.” She took a deep breath. “She was such a lovely lady,” she continued. “But I know nothing about her death, so I really don’t see how I can help you sir.”
It never ceased to amaze him, but the immediate reaction to a call for help, was always the same. “I don’t see how I can help you.” “Oh I really know nothing at all about it.” Nobody wanted to offer any assistance, the less involved they were, the better. “Let me be the judge of that,” Kendall replied quite simply.
Mary shrugged her shoulders. “If you think so, sir,” she replied. “I’ll do whatever I can, but I really think it will be a waste of time.”
Kendall heaved a sigh. Here we go once again. “That’s very good of you Miss Dwyer,” he said. “I wonder if you could come to my office this afternoon. Shall we say at about three o’clock, if that is convenient for you?” Mary reluctantly agreed that it would be all right, and that she would be there. Kendall gave her the details of where the office was located. “I look forward to seeing you, then, at three,” he said.
* * *
It was ten minutes to three when Mary Dwyer arrived at the door of Kendall’s office. She knocked nervously on the door. Mollie opened the door, and let her in. She kept her head down low, and fidgeted constantly.
“Now don’t be nervous, Miss Dwyer,” Mollie said. “There’s absolutely nothing to be worried about. Just a few simple questions that’s all.” She took her arm and gently led her into the room. “Can I take your coat Miss Dwyer?” Mollie asked.
Mary shook her head, and pulled the coat tightly around herself.
Mollie smiled. “I’m sure that you’ll be more comfortable,” she coaxed.
Mary looked up and Mollie, and slowly unbuckled the belt. She then slowly undid the buttons. She took off her coat and handed it to Mollie.
“There that’s much better isn’t it?” Mollie said. “Come over here and sit down.”
Mary slowly followed behind, and took the seat that had been offered.
Kendall watched her, and smiled at her as she looked up. “It’s all right Mary,” he said. “As Mollie said, a few simple questions that’s all, nothing to be alarmed about.” Mary relaxed slightly and the beginnings of a smile started to form. “All right Mary, let’s see if you can help me,” Kendall continued. “Firstly how long have you worked for the Bradley family?
Mary was now fully relaxed. “Oh it’s a few years now, sir,” she replied. “I was originally employed as a maid for Mrs. Bradley. That was about eight years ago. It was my first job after coming to America. Then I gradually became Miss Evie’s maid.”
“You have only been in America for eight years,” Kendall said. “I didn’t know that.” He looked at Mollie. Mollie smiled and nodded her head. He turned back to face his visitor. “Where are you from Mary?” he asked.
She smiled broadly. “Oh sir, as if you couldn’t guess by my accent,” she replied. Kendall shook his head and looked puzzled. “I’m from County Dublin, sir,” she explained, her Irish accent still strong even after so many years. “A little place called Blackrock. It’s about five miles south of Dublin, on the coast.” She looked at Mollie. “Dublin Bay,” she continued. Then she looked back at Kendall. “Surely you knew, sir.”
Kendall shook his head again. “I would never have guessed,” he replied. “Do you miss Ireland?”
Mary started to smile, and a sparkle came to her eye. “Oh I do, sir,” she replied. “But I like it fine over here. There’s no one left in Ireland, not now. My father died about four years ago, and my mother was taken six months after, there’s no other family.”
Kendall looked down. “I’m very sorry to hear that,” he said. “That must have been quite a blow to you.”
She gave a deep sigh. “That’s very kind of you, sir,” she said. “If it hadn’t been for Mr. and Mrs. Bradley, I just don’t know what I would have done.” She brushed a tear away from her cheek. “They were very helpful to me at a very bad time.”
“So you must be quite fond of Mr. and Mrs. Bradley, then?” said Kendall.
She nodded her head enthusiastically. “Oh yes sir, indeed I am. They were like another mother and father to me.” She paused, and brushed another tear away from her cheek. “Sadly Mrs. Bradley passed away, and now my poor Miss Evie has gone.” She started to cry.
Mollie leant forward and placed her hand on Mary’s arm. “There, there,” she said. “It’s alright.”
Kendall waited for a few moments. “You must have been at the anniversary party? What was it, their fortieth?”
“Thirtieth, sir, it was their thirtieth wedding anniversary,” Mary corrected him. “Oh yes I was there. Mr. Bradley had given me the evening off but I wouldn’t hear of it.” She started to smile. “I wanted to be there. You know to he
lp out with the arrangements, that sort of thing. I just wanted to be part of it. It was the least that I could do after all they had been so kind to me when my parents died.” She started to cry once again.
Kendall placed his hand on her arm. “I can well understand that,” he said. He took a deep breath. “What do you remember about that night?” he asked gently. “And I’m specifically talking about the robbery.”
Mary started to rub the side of her head. She looked at Mollie, and then looked back at Kendall. “Well it is four years ago,” she replied. “But I do remember sometime after the party finished, I was lying in my bed. I was wide-awake, I just couldn’t sleep, sir. I was tired, but the sleep just would not come.” She shrugged her shoulders. “That sometimes happens. Anyway it had been a very busy day, what with the party and everything. I was very late getting to bed. I wasn’t feeling very well, headache, you know, and I felt quite hot.” She took a deep breath. “I decided that I would take a tablet, and then go downstairs for a hot toddy, that usually worked.”
Kendall nodded. He was a great believer in hot toddies. “Go on,” he gently coaxed.
Mary nodded her head, and smiled. “I got up and went over to my dressing table. I opened the drawer and took out a packet of panadol tablets. I took two, and washed them down with some water,” she said. “Then I decided that I would leave the hot toddy, and just go back to bed, and try to get to sleep. As I turned around, I heard a loud noise.”
“What kind of a noise?” Kendall asked.
Mary looked down and shook her head. “Somebody was outside, on the landing, going past my room,” she replied. “It sounded just like Miss Evie, I would know her step anywhere. Anyway, I opened the door slightly and peered out. I was right, it was her. She was going along the landing towards the staircase. I wondered if she wanted something, and perhaps I could help. I quickly put on my dressing gown, and opened the door. By this time she was on the stairs going down. I went over to the balustrade and looked over. I saw her go over to the front door. She pulled back the bolts, and unlocked the door. She then turned around and headed back up the stairs. I quickly turned around and ran back into my room, quietly closing the door after me.”