The Spider Web (A Sherlock Holmes Uncovered Tale Book 4)

by Steven Ehrman

  “Such as?” prodded Percy.

  “Why was the door between the drawing room and the music room bolted? Why was the brandy decanter moved? Why is there broken glass on the floor? Why was the door to the library closed during the killing, and where were the members of the household during the commission of the crime? Once all of these are answered, the identity of the killer will become plain.”

  “If you are interested in the movements of the members of the household, you must suspect one of them of the crime.”

  “I have not said so, but it is the conclusion that the Chief Constable and the Inspector are surely coming to as we speak.’

  “I believe you are right, Holmes,” agreed Percy. “But wait, I have one more riddle that needs an explanation.”

  “Pray, unburden yourself,” I replied.

  “There is one oddity you have overlooked, Holmes,” cried Percy. “Indeed, something everyone has overlooked, even though Hudson made a point of mentioning it.”

  “I am all attention.”

  “It’s just this, my boy. Sir John should not have been in the music room between one and two. As a rule, he rested between those hours. Hudson said he went up from the kitchen and checked the room of his master and found him absent. He then hurried to the music room and found uncle lying dead, but he should not have been there in the first place!”

  Percy finished triumphantly, and smiled at me with more than a bit of satisfaction.

  “That is really quite well done, my lad,” I said. “I do not believe that the Inspector himself has noticed that, as of yet.”

  “And you missed it as well, Holmes,” Percy reminded me.

  “I am sorry to disappoint you, Percy, but I did not miss that item.”

  Come now, Holmes,” said Percy. “If you did not miss it than why is it not on your list of riddles that must be solved?”

  “Simply because, my friend, I already know why Sir John was not asleep. That riddle has been unraveled.”

  Percy could not decide whether to scoff or to be impressed. Whilst he was deciding, I heard the door behind us open. I arose and I saw that Chief Constable Grissom had entered the room.

  “Ah, there you are, gentlemen,” he said, with relief. “I thought you had wandered off.”

  “Does the Inspector require our presence?” I asked.

  “He requires the presence of all,” said Grissom, in his steady unflappable manner. “If you gentlemen will join the rest of the company in the library, the Inspector wishes to speak with all of you.”

  As the Constable bid, Percy and I exited the drawing room and quickly made our way into the library. The rest of the household was assembled therein and we both found seats and turned our attention to the Inspector, who stood at the head of the room near the music room door.

  “It would appear,” began the Inspector, “that the open window in the music room might be a blind and that the culprit did not leave, or indeed enter, by that method. Therefore, I wish to know the movements of all in the house between the last time that Sir John was seen alive, until just after two when he was found murdered.”

  This pronouncement was met with a storm of protest. Both Robert and George Hardwick leapt to their feet angrily, and Jane Grafton and Agatha Hardwick were no less vocal in their denunciation of the Inspector at his words. Irene Stuart alone, save Percy and myself, made no objection to the inference of what the Inspector was suggesting.

  “Really, Inspector,” said George Hardwick, making his voice heard above the rest, “I realize that you are a relative stranger to our section of the country, but Constable Grissom can tell you that there is no sense in wasting your time questioning my dear uncle’s family. The killer undoubtedly lies without, not within, this house. Grissom, please set the Inspector on the correct path and do not waste another minute in wrong headed inquiries.”

  Chief Constable Grissom looked decidedly uncomfortable as George Hardwick spoke. He was obviously reluctant to speak his conscience for fear of straining relations with the powerful Hardwick family. Inspector Grey, however, was under no such restraints, and he spoke for Grissom.

  “The Constable is not in charge of this investigation, Mr. Hardwick. I am,” said he. “And I will conduct it in the manner that I see fit, until I am no longer in charge.”

  “It all just seems to me to be a silly waste of time, not to mention a slur upon my family,” muttered George Hardwick. “Will you tell me just why you do not believe that the culprit came from outside the home?”

  Grey related the testimony of the outside staff of the hall. As he did, I saw relief pass over the face of both of the male cousins, as well as Agatha Hardwick.

  “Is that all that is troubling you, Inspector?” she asked. “Surely, the staff was merely attendant to their duties and did not notice a stranger.”

  “Madam, that simply will not do,” said the Inspector, shaking his head as if talking with a child. “The hall is relatively isolated. A stranger is just what they would have noticed. Therefore, we must look elsewhere.”

  Upon reflection of the Inspector’s words, I could see that those collected in the room gradually became aware that the Inspector might have a point. The growing realization that a killer might be present cast a pall over the room. Agatha Hardwick broke the silence.

  “Very well, Inspector,” she said, with great dignity. “If this must be done, then let it be done quickly.”

  I smiled a bit at her paraphrasing the great bard.

  “We were all together for the noon meal,” she continued, “save for Percy and his friend Mr. Holmes. John excused himself for from the table at about ten till the hour, I should say, and went to his room as is his normal custom.”

  “Did he explicitly state that that was his intention?” asked Inspector Grey.

  “No, he did not,” said Miss Hardwick hesitantly. “But he did not have to. It was his routine.”

  “I see, and then what happened?” asked Grey

  “The rest of us remained at the table for some time talking. Jane, Miss Stuart, and I discussed plans for the party tomorrow. The boys were arguing, as usual, about their precious chess match. I should say that we all remained together until fifteen minutes after the hour, or so, and then we all arose together.”

  “Hudson, did you remain as well all that time?” asked Grey sharply.

  “No, sir,” said Hudson. “When the meal was finished, I went about my other duties.”

  “But it is my understanding that servants did not enter the living quarters during that one hour of the day.”

  “That is correct, sir. I meant that I went about my duties in the kitchen, as well as checking the wine cellar in preparation for the party.”

  “Very good,” said the Inspector. “Continue, Miss Hardwick.”

  “Well, as I recall we all went into the great hall. Jane announced that she was going to tend to the flower gardens on the west side of the house. The boys took the chess set to the conservatory and Irene went to the study to work on John’s memoirs. I remained in the hall and read, as is my want.”

  “Is that the way that you remember it, Miss Stuart?”

  “Why, yes, “she said softly. “We all left, save Miss Hardwick, at just about the same time. I accidentally bumped into Robert as I left the room and sent the chess pieces flying. George, Robert, and I picked them back up, and I left. Only I went to the secretary’s room and not the study, if that is important.”

  “Everything may be important, Miss Stuart,” said the Inspector, with a slightly superior air. “Now Miss Grafton, you tended to the flowers. Is that not a job for the gardening staff?”

  “I do it for my own pleasure, Inspector. It is an hour a day that I have to myself.”

  “I see. Now, as to you two gentlemen,” said the Inspector, gesturing towards George and Robert Hardwick. “I understand that you engaged in a game of chess. Were you playing in the conservatory the entire time in question until Hudson alerted the house to the crime?”

  �
�I can answer that for the both of us,” said George Hardwick.

  “George, I do not need you to speak for me,” interjected his cousin firmly.

  “Robert, can you refrain from jibes for a single minute?” demanded George. “I was simply going to say that Robert and I were together for the entire time. In addition, I heard Jane working in the garden, as well, Inspector.”

  “In that my cousin can speak for the both us,” said Robert. “I as well heard Jane outside the window of the conservatory.”

  “And, Inspector, I heard Robert and George arguing for the entire time,” volunteered Jane Grafton. “Their games are quite voluble, and I heard each man distinctly.”

  “I can testify to that as well, Inspector,” said Agatha Hardwick. “The boys arguing was easily heard by me, as well. They simply cannot abide each other’s company without bickering.”

  “Aunt Agatha, you know that I am merely defending myself,” cried George.

  I saw Robert Hardwick cover a smirk with his hand, as George made his plaintive statement.

  “This is all rather beside the point,” said Inspector Grey. “What I need now are answers to the pressing questions of this case.”

  “There is a question that occurs to me, Inspector,” said Irene Stuart softly. “Why was John even in the music room?”

  “Pardon me, miss?” asked the Inspector.

  “It was his invariable habit to retire for that one hour per day. Why was he not in his room when Hudson called for him?”

  “That’s right,” cried Jane. “He should not have been where he was found.”

  All agreed that it was quite peculiar for Sir John to not have retired to his chambers, as was his normal habit. I felt Percy’s eyes upon me as the question was batted about.

  “Does anyone have an idea why Sir John did not retire to his chambers?” asked Inspector Grey. “I suppose, as he has been killed we may never know.”

  A jab into the ribs from Percy finally caused me to speak.

  “I believe that I know why Sir John was not asleep during the hour in question,” I said.

  Chapter Thirteen

  All eyes flew to me at once.

  “What’s that, Mr. Holmes?” asked the Inspector. “Do you mean to tell me that you know why Sir John was up and about?”

  “It is really quite simple, Inspector,” I replied. “We actually all heard the reason from Sir John’s own lips.”

  “What the devil are you talking about?” demanded Grey.

  “Simply this, Inspector,” said I. “At breakfast this morning, Sir John called particular attention to the coffee.”

  “The coffee,” repeated Chief Constable Grissom woodenly.

  “Yes, the coffee,” I continued. “It was a new blend from India that the household cook had purchased, especially for Sir John. It was an extremely strong blend. Sir John casually mentioned that he enjoyed it, but that it was very potent. This undoubtedly explains the fact that Sir John was unable to retire during the afternoon, as was his habit.”

  As I finished I saw doubt in the eyes of some and admiration in the eyes of others, but the Inspector rubbed his chin in thought.

  “It is an idea, Mr. Holmes,” he said. “Yes, it is an idea. It would explain much.”

  Inspector Grey motioned for Chief Constable Grissom and they retired from the room to the great hall for private discussions. I took this opportunity to stroll into the conservatory. Percy was at my heels as I entered the room.

  “Well, you certainly showed them that you have the gift, Holmes,” he said, clapping me on the back.

  “It was a trivial observation,” said I. “And one, I would remind you, that we all heard.”

  “Why, that’s just the point, my dear Holmes,” exclaimed Percy. “We all heard it, but you alone connected it with the crime. It seemed so absurdly simple when you explained it.”

  I nodded absentmindedly and observed the abandoned chess match between George and Robert Hardwick. The game was well begun, and in fact, was close to the end. White was on the attack and black was in a very bad position. The pieces that had been taken from the board were piled in a heap to one side. It appeared that white was again employing the Rasmussen Gambit; whist black was repeating the Saperstein Defense. Robert Hardwick strolled in as I was dissecting the game in my mind.

  “I had poor George on the run before this awful business,” he said.

  “Then you were playing white?”

  “Indeed, I was, Mr. Holmes.”

  “I observe that you are a devotee of the Rasmussen Gambit.”

  “That’s right,” he said, with a chuckle. “It is deliciously effective against my cousin. He never quite realizes what I am doing, until it is too late. I sacrificed both bishops, as the gambit calls for, but I gained his king’s rook. It prevented him from castling and I gained that file.”

  “As I read the moves it must have taken the entire time period before the murder was discovered to reach this point of the game.”

  “That is so. I must admit that though George is a plodder he can come up with some ingenious moves on the fly. We never get in more than one game at a time.”

  “Why, Robert, was that an actual compliment from you about George?” asked Percy, with as smile.

  “It is like this, Percy, George may be a sanctimonious twit, but he is my cousin so he must have inherited some of my blood,” returned Robert slyly.

  At that moment, Chief Constable Grissom entered the conservatory.

  “Gentlemen,” he said, “the Inspector wishes to see Mr. Holmes and Percy Hardwick in the great hall.”

  Percy shot me a glance, but spoke no words as we followed the Chief Inspector out of the room. Robert Hardwick trailed us as far as the library, and I noticed him sit by Miss Stuart before we had crossed into the great hall. Inspector Grey was pacing before the fireplace and motioned for the two of us to sit. Percy took one of the chairs and I seated myself in one of the two sofas that faced one another. The Inspector drew a long breath before he spoke.

  “Gentlemen, I do not mind telling you that this case puzzles me greatly,” he began. “As a relative outsider, I am in need of allies within the house that can be trusted.”

  He looked hard at each of us before continuing.

  “Now, it is my practice to trust no one in an investigation, but as you two were out of the area of the crime during its commission, it is obvious that you are not suspects. As such, Mr. Hardwick,” he nodded towards Percy, “I would like you to be present as we question the members of the household. Your perspective may be invaluable.”

  “Of course, Inspector,” replied Percy. “Though I cannot see how any member of the family can be responsible.”

  “We shall see. Now, Mr. Holmes, I wish for you to be present, as well. You have impressed me with your observations and while you are an intimate of the house, you are not a member, if you follow my thinking.”

  “Certainly, Inspector Grey. Any succor I can provide is yours for the asking.”

  “You have a shrewd countenance, Mr. Holmes,” said the Inspector. “May I ask if you have a idea of the identity of the culprit we seek?”

  “I do have a theory that fits the known facts Inspector, but it is yet not proof.”

  “Indeed?” Grey said. “Well, I will not crowd you, Mr. Holmes. I suppose we had better get on with the interviews. Grissom, will you ask Miss Hardwick to join us?”

  Grissom exited the room and soon returned with Miss Agatha Hardwick. The Inspector thanked her for her indulgence and motioned her into a seat. She sat primly with her legs crossed at her ankles and her hands clasped upon her knees. She cast her eyes expectantly on the Inspector. He cleared his throat and began his questioning.

  “Now, Miss Hardwick, I realize that you have previously answered some of these questions, but I wish to go through everything that happened today thoroughly.

  “I understand completely, Inspector,” she replied calmly.

  “That is well. Your testimony is, I believ
e, that Sir John left the dining room at approximately ten minutes till one and that you, and the rest of the household, remained in the dining room until some fifteen minutes after one. Is that correct?”

  “It is. At that time we all left the dining room together. Irene went to the study to work on John’s memoir after a short time.”

  “She was the first to leave then?”

  “Yes, she was I believe.”

  “Inspector, may I?” I asked.

  “Of course, Mr. Holmes,” he replied, casting a look at me.

  “Miss Hardwick,” I said. “Did not Miss Stuart leave at the same time as Robert and George Hardwick?”

  “Oh, yes. Now that you put it precisely, they did all arise at the same time. The boys carried the chess set from the room and went into the conservatory and Irene left for the study.”

  “That is very clear,” said Grey. “Now, what of Miss Grafton.”

  “Oh, I should say that she left within a minute of the others. She walked out the front entrance to tend to the garden on the west side of the manor.”

  “And you actually saw her leave?” asked Grey.

  “I did, Inspector.”

  “And then you remained in the great hall until the alarm was raised. Is that correct?”

  “It is. Indeed I never left my seat.”

  “Where were you seated, madam,” asked Grey, as if it had just occurred to him.

  “I sat in my usual chair, Inspector. It is the one that Percy occupies at this moment.”

  “I see,” said the Inspector. He walked over to Percy, and motioned for him to rise. Percy did so, and the Inspector seated himself. “So, from here you have a vantage point in which you can observe the entrance to the home and the door to the drawing room.”

  “Exactly, Inspector, and that is why I believe that you are on the wrong track, focusing upon the occupants of the house. No one could have crossed from the drawing room into the music room without my seeing them, and no one could have entered the library from the east side of the house without my seeing them.”

  I had a quick private word with Percy and he excused himself in order to retrieve his cigarettes from his room. He left the hall and climbed the staircase. Grey glanced me an irritated look and continued with Miss Hardwick.