Allgood questioned him for another ten minutes about himself and the other guests. But he learnt nothing new and let him go.
* * *
'How about it?' Paul said.
'Daddy's right in one way. Normally I would want to stick this out to the end. Or I would if I hadn't been through it all before. In a way it's exciting, as it was last time. Naturally I want to know who did it. But the end of it all last time was rather horrid. I certainly don't want to see anyone arrested for murder again. I'd just as soon find out afterwards who it was. So, OK, I'll come.'
'Oh, that's absolutely topping!' He gave her a kiss.
'Where shall we go?'
'Oh, anywhere. Let's talk about that later.' He looked at his watch. 'It's a bit too late to get away today now. First thing in the morning, all right?'
'Fine.'
He thought. 'I suppose I ought to clear it with the police first, just as a formality. I'll slip in and have a word with Allgood now.'
He made his way to the small music room. He arrived just as Haggermeir was leaving, tapped at the door, and went in. Allgood looked somewhat surprised to see him. Paul explained his mission.
'As far as I'm concerned,' Allgood said, 'you can both clear off whenever you like, though I'm sure Lady Burford's fears are quite groundless. It's no maniac we're dealing with.'
Paul smiled. 'Don't tell her, for heavens sake. She might change her mind.' He went out.
Allgood yawned and stretched. 'All right,' he said to Leather, 'that'll be all for today. I'm going to your police station shortly to send some telegrams and make some phone calls to various sources in London and elsewhere, have some inquiries set in motion. How long it'll take to get results I don't know, but certainly not before midday tomorrow. So you needn't return until then.'
'Very well, sir. Thank you.' Leather stood up and gathered his things together. 'Good night, sir,' he said as he went out.
Allgood raised an arm in a dismissive move but didn't speak.
* * *
Allgood returned to Alderley at eight o'clock and again had dinner served in his room. Then he slept for a couple of hours on his bed. At ten forty-five Chalky arrived with coffee and awoke him.
'Well, I've 'ad a kip, guv, as you suggested,' he said. 'What's the program?'
'I want you to take up position on the corner of the main corridor and the east wing,' Allgood told him. 'From there you can keep an eye on all the rooms except those in this corridor. There's a cupboard there you can slip into if you need to hide.'
'What about this corridor, guv?'
'I'll watch it from just inside the door. Move that chair across there, will you?'
Chalky complied. 'Expecting chummy to try something else, are you, guv?'
'I wouldn't be at all surprised, Chalky. We're reaching a crucial point in the investigation, and somebody - other than the killer - hasn't told us the full truth, I'm sure of it. It's probably for a quite innocent reason. But it could be vital, and they could come out with it any time. If the murderer knows this, tonight could be his last chance to stop that person talking.'
* * *
That night when they went upstairs Paul again took Gerry to the door of her room. They stood discussing their plans for the next day, then he kissed her good night. He waited until she'd gone in and he heard her talking to Marie, then made his way thoughtfully to his own room.
He was worried. Things had really worked out incredibly well, far better than he had ever hoped two nights ago. So in fact he oughtn't to have a care in the world. Nonetheless, something was wrong. The trouble was he couldn't put a finger on what it was. There was just this nagging sense of unease. If only he could think what was causing it.
He reached his room, opened the door and stepped inside, pushing it behind him and stretching out the other hand for the light switch at the same time. He pressed it down. But the room remained in darkness.
Paul swore mildly. The bulb must have blown. Now, where would they keep the spares?
At that second he gave a slight start, as immediately behind him he heard a tiny sound. The next moment the room was dimly bathed in the cold glow of a flashlight.
Paul started to swing round, but be was too late. With a blaze of light, his head seemed to explode. He felt his legs turn to jelly under him. The floor lurched crazily beneath his feet. Then he was vaguely aware that his face was pressing against the carpet.
After this he knew no more.
Chapter Twenty
It was eleven a.m. on Monday when Wilkins alighted from his little car outside Alderley. It was considerably colder again this morning, and all around the slush of the previous day had been transformed into treacherous patches of ice.
Wilkins was admitted to the house and went in search of Allgood. He found him, pale and weary-eyed, poring over his notes in the music room.
Ah, Wilkins,' he said. 'Decided to give us the benefit of your cooperation today, have you? I trust you enjoyed your day of rest?' Then before Wilkins could answer he went on. 'They told you what happened here last night?'
'No details, sir. Just that Mr Carter's been attacked. How is he?'
'He's come round and he's going to be all right, though he'll have a nasty headache for a while yet. The doctor insists he stay in bed for a few more hours yet.'
'Do you have any clues, sir?'
'As yet, none. Strictly speaking, the only people in the whole house we can clear are Lady Geraldine and her maid. Carter had just left them in Lady Geraldine's room.'
'Might I know exactly what happened, sir?'
'You may well ask, Wilkins. I put Chalky on guard of the corner of the main corridor and the east wing. When he got to his post he noticed the door of Carter's room was open a little. He didn't think anything of it for a while, but after about fifteen minutes he decided to investigate. He found Carter unconscious on the floor. He fetched me, we sent for the doctor, roused the household, searched the place. But nothing. I must admit I never expected our friend to try anything so early in the night. I thought he'd wait until everybody had settled down. It was a very bold stroke that meant he was able to get back to his own room before Chalky or I had started our watches.'
'Any idea why Carter was the victim, sir?'
'Either he's been keeping something back — probably quite innocently, something of which he doesn't realise the full significance — or someone was searching his room and wanted a chance to search his person. But I went through his things while he was unconscious and it got me nowhere. I'm waiting to have another word with him as soon as he's up to it.'
A minute or two later a footman arrived to tell them they could see Paul. They went upstairs. Chalky White was seated on a chair outside Paul's bedroom. 'I'm taking no chances, you see,' Allgood said.
They went in. Paul was sitting up in bed. He looked pale but he summoned up a smile as they entered. 'Hullo, Allgood - Wilkins. Listen, tell this stubborn young lady there's no earthly reason why we can't start off on our trip this afternoon.' He indicated Geraldine, who was standing at the other side of the bed.
'There's every reason,' she said firmly. 'You're very lucky. The doctor said that if that blow had been a fraction harder or in a slightly different position you could be dead now.'
'But I'm not dead. I feel top-hole, apart from a bit of a headache.'
'Listen, you pig-headed chump, you are not leaving this house today. Tomorrow, if the doctor says so. And you're staying in bed until after lunch at least.'
'Feel up to answering a few questions?' Allgood asked.
'Sure,' Paul said, 'but I can't tell you anything. I've explained I didn't get a glimpse of the bloke.'
'Not about that. What I want to know is whether you've told me everything you can tell me about this whole business. Has there been anything you've seen or heard that's made you slightly puzzled? Anything, or any face, that's momentarily struck a chord in your memory?'
'I swear, nothing.'
'Very well. And are you absolutely
certain you know nothing that I don't know about any of the other guests here? If so, I appreciate you may have had an honourable reason for not speaking out, and I won't hold it against you. Well?'
Paul looked at him. For a second it seemed to Allgood that his eyes flickered. Then he took a deep breath. 'I'm quite certain.'
Allgood made a gesture of resignation. 'All right. I won't press the point.'
'Is there anything else?'
'No.'
Gerry said, 'Good. In that case, I can start my reading?'
'Gerry, there's really no need for you to read to me.'
'It is my duty, Paul, and I intend to fulfil it. Now I have some detective stories, which I know you lap up. Ariadne Oliver's Death of a Debutante, The Screaming Bone by Annette de la Tour, Richard Eliot's The Spider Bites Back.'
'I've had enough of crime to last me a lifetime.'
'Then,' she said, 'it will have to be Eric, or Little by Little. Are you ready?'
Paul groaned.
Allgood and Wilkins went downstairs again. In the hall Allgood said, 'Oh, by the way, that telegram which supposedly brought Laura here. In the post office they think it was handed in by a small boy. Didn't know him. Probably given sixpence to do so. Now I must—'
He broke off as he saw a figure hurrying towards them.
It was Lord Burford and his face was excited. He said, 'Ah, I've been looking for you chaps. Got some information.' He looked round conspiratorially. 'Come into my study.'
When they were all seated in the study the Earl said, 'I know how the bounder got hold of the combination of the safe.'
Allgood sat up. 'Do you, by Jove?'
'I do. Ten minutes ago I had a telephone call.'
'Your phone's working again then?'
'Yes, just this morning. Seems a line was down near the edge of the estate. Anyway, the first call I got was from the manager of the company who made and installed the safe. Now, it seems that late Friday afternoon, after he'd left the office, they had a call from someone who claimed to be my secretary, and who said I'd lost the number of my safe and could they remind me of it.'
'They surely didn't just give it over the phone?'
'Hang on. He told me they've got a system in such cases, because they realise it's just the sort of trick a burglar might try. So what they do is hang up, look up the customer's number in the directory and call it themselves. If the customer answers and confirms that he has in fact just telephoned them—'
Allgood interrupted. '—they know the call was genuine and happily give him the combination of the safe.'
Lord Burford looked a little disgruntled at not being allowed to finish the story himself. 'Precisely.'
'And that's what happened in this case?'
'Yes. Same voice answered, confirmed the original query, took down the number and hung up.'
Allgood nodded admiringly. 'Very smart. Why did the manager phone you today, though?'
'He doesn't work Saturday mornings, and the first he knew about the incident was when his assistant told him about it this morning. Now the manager knew what the assistant didn't: that I have the family birthdays as the combination. He didn't see how I could forget those, so he called me up to check that everything was all right. Of course, I told him it was, but that we'd had a practical joker playing a few tricks lately and we'd like to find out who it was, so could his assistant describe the voice.'
'And?'
'All he could say was that the caller was an educated-soundin' type, but spoke very softly, almost in a whisper. Couldn't even be quite sure of the sex. He thought it was a man, but it could have been a woman disguising her voice.'
'Did they say exactly what time the call was put through?'
'Near enough to five-fifteen.'
Allgood turned to Wilkins. 'Right. There's your job for the next few hours: find out if anybody was seen using the phone at that time.'
'My job, sir?'
'Yes. I'm going down to your station again for a while. I'm hoping for a number of important messages and I've arranged to receive them there. I should be back by mid-afternoon.' He started for the door.
Wilkins said, 'Sir, please, before you go, there is something I ought to say. You see, thinking about the case last night and having spoken to Leather on the phone and learnt much of what happened here yesterday, I came to the conclusion—'
'Wilkins, please.' Allgood raised both hands. 'I've told you repeatedly that I don't want to know. Your conclusions would just cloud the issue for me. Now, carry on with your assignment, there's a good fellow.'
Allgood hurried from the house.
* * *
Allgood arrived back at Alderley at three o'clock. He had a word with Chalky — who, with Paul now up and about, had been able to abandon his guard duty - and then went to the small music room. Here he found Wilkins, who'd been joined by Leather, waiting for him.
'Oh, there you are, sir,' Wilkins said wearily. 'No luck, I'm afraid. I've questioned everybody in the house. Nobody saw, or at least will admit to seeing, anyone on the phone at five-fifteen on Friday.'
'Oh, you needn't have bothered,' Allgood said airily. 'The case is solved.'
'You mean you know who did it sir?'
'I do. Took a bit longer than I expected, thanks to those nitwits in the criminal records office at the Yard, but I'm almost ready to make an arrest.'
'May we know of whom, sir?'
'You may.' He told them.
Wilkins listened, his eyes growing wider and wider. When Allgood had finished he said slowly, 'That's remarkable, sir. An amazing piece of deduction, if I may make so bold.'
'Elementary, my dear Wilkins.' Allgood rubbed his hands together. 'Now, I want everyone gathered on the landing at the top of the stairs right away. Arrange it, will you?'
Allgood looked round the ring of faces. They gazed back, some anxious, some curious, some impassive. Paul looked quite fit and remarkably cheerful, perhaps because Gerry was standing next to him, holding his hand.
Allgood said, 'I'm glad to say that the ordeal, for most of you, is almost over. But first I need everybody's help in conducting a little experiment. When the shot was fired on Friday night, you all, except Lady Geraldine - and Carter, of course - stated that you were in your rooms. I'd like you to go to them now, shut the door and do whatever you were doing at that time. If you were in bed, lie down on the bed. In a few minutes you will again hear a gunshot. Then I want you to re-enact what you did that night. Allow as much time as you think you took for getting out of bed, putting on dressing-gowns, slippers and so on. Then come out and make your way to the scene of the murder at the same speed as the other night. Will you all do that?'
There was a general nodding of heads. 'Go now then, please,' Allgood said, 'and be sure to close your doors.'
All those present except Gerry, Paul, Wilkins, Leather, and Allgood himself moved in the direction of their rooms. When they'd gone, Allgood said, 'Lady Geraldine, if you would kindly go and stand in the bathroom and when you hear the shot run as you did the other night.'
She nodded and walked away. Allgood went on, 'Wilkins, you wait here. Leather, you go to the corner of the main corridor and the west wing and remain there. Both make a mental note of everything you see.'
Leather moved off.
Paul said, 'What about me?'
'You come with me.' He strode in the direction of the east wing with Paul following meekly behind.
Allgood turned on the light in the east corridor and at the far end he drew the curtains across the window. Then he opened the door of Laura Lorenzo's room, turned on the light, and drew the curtains in there, too. 'Must get the lighting conditions as identical as possible,' he said.
'Do you want me to do what I did the other night?' Paul asked.
'That won't be necessary. I want you to play the part of the person who pushed you.'
He opened the bathroom door and looked inside. 'Good, the window is open.' He unbuttoned his jacket to reveal a shoulder holster
, holding a 38-caliber revolver. He drew it and passed it to Paul. 'When I nod, stand in the middle of the corridor and fire that through the open bathroom door and out of the window. Then immediately step into the bathroom, close it all but a crack, and peer through. Whenever you think you can slip out without being noticed, do so, and join the crowd jostling in the doorway.'
'OK.'
Allgood took from one pocket his notebook and pencil, and from another pocket a stopwatch. Then he gave Paul a nod. Paul raised the pistol, took careful aim for the bathroom window, and squeezed the trigger. The report rang out, echoing through the corridor. Paul hastily stepped into the bathroom and pushed the door nearly to. At the same moment Allgood started the watch.
Within ten seconds Gerry appeared round the corner at the far end. She sprinted along the corridor. As she arrived Allgood said, 'All right, look into the room, see Carter and the body.' He glanced at the watch and made a jotting in the notebook.
Only a few seconds passed before Hugh's door opened and he joined Gerry, followed almost immediately by Maude Fry. Rex was the next to arrive; then the Earl and Countess, Sebastian and Cecily together, and Haggermeir. Allgood continued to make notes, all the while urging them into the doorway.
It was after Haggermeir's arrival that Paul opened the bathroom door wide, took a quick glance along the corridor and then, obviously unnoticed by the others, joined the gathering. It was a further thirty seconds before Gilbert arrived, followed at last by Jemima Dove.
Allgood stopped the watch and drew back the curtains. 'Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Now, can anyone—' He broke off. 'No, we can't talk here; it's too crowded.' He addressed the Earl: 'Burford, do you think we might move into the gallery for a while? I don't want to go all the way downstairs again. There may be one or two other points I want to demonstrate up here at the scene of the crime.'
2 The Affair of the Mutilated Mink Page 22