"The envelop might be in the dustbin," suggested Pearce. "We've yet to finish looking through the lockers and the kitchen generally. I feel confident both items will be found."
Lady Marmalade smiled and nodded at Pearce. She was just about to start speaking again when the Inspector looked up past her quizzically which turned into a scowl. Frances turned around. The constable was back without Spilligan.
"He's not in the house, Inspector," said the constable.
"What do you mean he's not in the house?" asked Husher, his voice clearly showing annoyance.
"The Lady says she hasn't seen him for some time. I have no idea where he might be. I searched the house. It appears he's vanished."
"Or more likely left, which makes him much more guilty," said the Inspector.
Husher turned around to address Edith.
"Where might he have gone?" he asked.
"I have no idea, Inspector."
"What do you mean you have no idea? You work with him for heaven's sake."
"Yes, but I don't know him that well. He does his job but he's not that friendly. Not with me anyway."
"Surely you know his home address?"
Edith nodded.
"Give it to the constable then."
Mrs. Edevane nodded and left the kitchen presumably to find pen and paper.
"Go with her," said Husher to the constable. "Get the address and have a man stationed at the suspect's home until he is found."
The constable nodded and left after Edith. Frances looked after him. A short time later another constable arrived and after dropping an envelop on the table by the money he stood by the doorway.
Frances noticed Vera doing dishes, trying to keep herself busy. She had been all but forgotten in the intervening minutes. Frances went up to her.
"Mrs. Breggan," said the Inspector in a commanding voice, just as Frances came upon her.
She turned around and looked at the Inspector. She gave a little startle seeing Frances so close to her. Frances smiled.
"Didn't mean to startle you, my dear," said Frances.
Vera nodded at her and then looked at the Inspector and started towards him.
"Do you know where the butler, Mr. Spilligan might have headed," demanded the Inspector.
Frances joined them again.
"No... no, Inspector," she stammered.
"But you two do seem close," said Frances.
The Inspector looked at her quizzically. Frances noticed this.
"Outside earlier, when the two of you were smoking cigarettes, you seemed quite close."
"He's not like that, my Lady," she said, looking down somewhat embarrassed.
"I'm aware of that," said Frances, "I only meant that you seemed to care for him. He might seek your confidence."
Vera looked up at her.
"Quite the opposite, my Lady," she said. "Don't get me wrong, Humphrey's very kind to me, but even after all these years I don't think I know him as much as I should. As much as I might like."
"Do you know where he lives at least?" asked the Inspector.
Vera looked over at him.
"I'm afraid I don't, Inspector. He's never me told me and I never did ask."
"You've never socialized outside of work then?" he asked.
"No sir. No, we haven't. I never been asked and I wouldn't presume to be that familiar with Humphrey," she said.
"Can you think of a reason why Mr. Spilligan might have stolen the money?" asked Lady Marmalade.
Vera couldn't help but look at the large amount of money on the table. More than she made in two months. She was sure of it. It looked awfully good to her.
"Did he take it then, my Lady?" she asked.
"It would appear that way. Are you surprised?"
"Yes ma'am. I never thought for one minute that Humphrey was unhappy with his wages. Not that I know about that, but he's always been so proper and good at his work. Like I said outside, if he thinks he deserves more then he does, but I never would've taken him for a robber."
"You mean thief," said Pearce, looking at the simple woman with neither malice nor compassion.
Vera looked at him and frowned ever so slightly, unsure of what he meant.
"No, I never did think of him as a thief, sir," she said.
"Now, listen here," said Husher getting stern in his tone. "This is serious business. There's been a murder and a theft. If you know anything at all about either, now's the time to confess. It won't get easier for you from here on out, Miss."
For a moment, Frances thought that Vera might burst into tears. But she didn't, she held onto whatever vestiges of stoicism she might have.
"But I don't know nothing, Inspector. Honest, on my mother's grave I swear to you I don't know nothing. I'd tell if I did. Honest I would."
"We'll see about that," said Husher without feeling or care. He turned to Edith. "Open her locker."
Edith did as she was told. Frances placed her hand on Vera's forearm for a moment and smiled at her. Vera smiled back shyly and then looked down at the ground. Husher took his time to look through Vera's belongings in her locker. She had an overcoat and a purse. Woolen gloves and an umbrella. There wasn't much of note in the overcoat other than bus tickets. Her purse was quite empty for a woman's. A small quantity of makeup, a mirror and some hand cream. She also had a coin purse which was light with coins.
Husher handed it to Vera who put it away with shame, though there was nothing to be ashamed about. She tried to smooth out her overcoat as best she could. She rearranged everything in her purse. She tried valiantly to put her life back to a semblance of order. Lady Marmalade felt sorry for her. Police business was an ugly business at times.
Husher waited impatiently for Vera to finish up. When she was done, Edith closed up her locker and smiled to her. It was a knowing smile, a smile of understanding. Vera stepped back and went back to the cold sink of dishes she hadn't finished. Husher nodded at the last locker. The one that had 'McCormick' on it.
"But he hasn't been in for a few days, Inspector," said Edith.
"I am certain you're not telling me how to do my job, are you?" said Husher in his authoritarian tone.
He was becoming belligerent if not downright surly. Most likely because Spilligan had run off. Lady Marmalade didn't know him extremely well, but what she did know of him was of a man who was disciplined and used to orderly investigations. A suspect running off, well that just put a spanner in the works.
"No, not at all, Inspector. I meant no disrespect. I was just trying to help," said Edith.
"You can help by opening up the locker."
Edith's cheeks burned hot. She looked away from Husher and opened up the locker. Pearce took his turn to look inside. There was nothing there except for a dirty pair of gardening gloves and an empty tin of chewing tobacco. Pearce stepped back.
"Nothing here of note, Inspector," he said.
Husher nodded at him and looked down at the floor, rubbing his chin in thought. Pearce folded his hands in front of him and twirled absentmindedly on his mustache.
"Right," said the Inspector at last, "time to find this key and envelope before we leave."
"I'll start with the dustbin," said Pearce and he walked over towards it.
"I'll help you with the cupboards if you'd like, Inspector," said Frances.
"That would be helpful," he said without smiling at her.
Frances started at the cupboards closest to her. Edith stood around watching them investigate.
"Who has access to the cupboards?" asked Frances of Edith.
"Well, they're not locked, my Lady, so we all have access to them, though they're really Vera's domain. I can't say the last time that I've seen Humphrey in the cupboards. As for me, I'll take a look on a weekly basis for anything that needs to be replenished, and I'll access them as needed, though that's quite infrequent. Vera's in them on a daily basis."
Frances nodded and looked at the cupboard at eye level. It was filled with a variety of jars fille
d with flour and tins of other things. Biscuits and spices. It was quite messy, flour was spilled on the shelf.
"Is it usually this messy?" asked Frances.
Edith came around from the cupboard door to have a look. Her eyebrows knitted in frustration.
"Certainly not, my Lady, I apologize. We keep a tidier house than that."
She looked over at Vera who was finishing up dishes.
"Vera," she said sternly.
Vera turned and looked at her.
"Would you come here at once."
Vera dried off her hands on a towel and walked over to where Lady Marmalade and Edith were standing.
"Yes ma'am," said Vera.
"Why is this cupboard so filthy? You know we keep a tidy home and a tidy kitchen for the Baron and the Lady," said Edith.
"Yes ma'am," said Vera. "Sorry, ma'am, I'll clean it right away."
Vera was just about to turn to leave when Lady Marmalade stopped her.
"That's not necessary," said Frances.
Edith frowned again, prematurely aging herself with the frequency of her knitted brows. Vera went back to the dishes.
"I didn't think things were so messy here. They weren't in the other cupboards I've looked at."
Frances took down one jar of flour, the one closest, and the one that looked to be the main culprit of the mess. Through the glass it looked to be white pastry flour. Frances turned it around slowly and when she got to the side that was facing away from her she saw what she had imagined.
"Inspector," she said. "We've found what we were looking for."
Husher looked up from what he was doing while Pearce rustled around in the dustbin for a little while longer.
"What is it?" asked Husher.
"The flour, Inspector," said Frances, "it contains the key."
Pearce had found what he was looking for and joined them. Frances put the jar of flour down and opened up the lid.
"If you'd like to do the honors, Inspector," said Frances.
Husher nodded and put his meaty hand into the jar's mouth and with some difficulty with his fat fingers he pulled out the brass key. He tapped it against the side of the glass jar and it gave a dull tinkling sound. More muted than one would have suspected. Either because of the thickness of the glass or the density of the flour in it.
"Do any of you know about this?" said Husher to the room, holding up the key like a mummified worm.
He was speaking to Vera and Edith primarily though Vera was still at the sink. Edith shook her head.
"That's the first I've seen that key, Inspector. Cross my heart."
And Edith did just that, even though she still held onto the ring of keys that opened up the lockers they had just recently looked into. Husher looked at Edith through squinty eyes for some time without saying anything. Then he turned around.
"Mrs. Breggan," he said with the same authority he had been using all day.
Vera turned around and offered him a small smile. Her hands were wet with water which she wiped across her apron.
"Yes, Inspector."
"Do you know anything about this," he asked as he waved the brass key around like a conductor.
"It is a key, Inspector," said Vera, "but I have not seen it before."
Vera was sweet if naive. Husher pointed at her with the key and then brought it in towards himself, as if he were reeling in a fish caught on the end of a line. Vera moved towards him as if attached by an invisible thread.
"Take a look at this, Mrs. Breggan. I have here a key with still some flour on it, and I have here the jar of flour within which said key was found. Found by Lady Marmalade, I might add, who happened to ask Mrs. Edevane who uses this cupboard most, and not to my surprise she indicated you do."
Vera looked at the key and then at the jar of flour on the wooden table in the middle of the kitchen. It was upon the butcher's block which was clean and unblemished by any mark of death. Vera then looked at the open cupboard.
"I don't understand, Inspector," she said, looking quite confused. "That's not my key."
"I know it's not your key," said the Inspector. "It is the key that opened up the drawer from which Mr. Spilligan stole the money. Did you help him, Mrs. Breggan? Did you help Mr. Spilligan steal the money with the intent to take a portion for yourself?"
Vera looked down at her shoes and shook her head.
"No, Inspector. I didn't. Honest I didn't. I've never seen the key before in my life. I don't know how it got there."
Vera was on the verge of tears.
"Are you suggesting that you aren't the one who regularly uses these cupboards in this kitchen, including the cupboard where this flour was found?"
Vera looked up at him nervously. She fiddled with the apron strings that were tied in the front of her.
"Yes, Inspector. I use those cupboards. It's part of my job, but I didn't take that key. I swear to you, I've never seen it before in my life."
Lady Marmalade didn't know what to say. She wasn't sure whether Vera had any knowledge of the key or not. She was a simple lass, but that didn't mean she was innocent. She might very well have been manipulated into doing something she wouldn't normally do.
"I'm afraid it doesn't look very good for you," said Husher. "You're going to have to come down to the station with me and answer some questions."
"But I didn't do it, I swear to you I didn't."
Vera started to sob. She was visibly upset. Pearce took her by the elbow and guided her towards the living room.
"Please let me know when you find Mr. Spilligan, Inspector. I'd like to talk with him too."
Husher nodded.
"Also, I'll let my husband know that Pearce wants to speak with him."
Husher bent down over the table and picked up the money and placed it in an envelope that another constable has brought in just recently.
"That won't be necessary," he said. "The evidence is not leading us there Frances."
Frances smiled at that.
"I will be seeking to speak with Lord Loughty about his disagreement with the Baron at some point."
"I'll be happy to arrange that for you, Inspector, if you'd like." said Frances.
Husher stood up, paused and looked at Lady Marmalade. He nodded.
"That would be fine," he said as he walked off following Pearce and Breggan. "Keep the scene undisturbed," he said while passing the constable in the doorway. The young man nodded.
Frances walked up to Edith and smiled at her.
"Quite the trying day so far."
Edith nodded.
"Why don't you sit down with me for a moment," said Frances, gesturing towards the table at the back of the kitchen where the staff sat. Edith made her way down there and sat at the table. Sitting exactly where she had sat eating an apple when Frances had first met her. Edith didn't say anything. She looked at Frances shyly and smiled at her.
"It's a lot to take in," said Frances, "but I'd like to get your take on things."
Edith shook her head slowly and clutched her hands in her lap.
"I don't know what to say really. It's an awful lot to take in."
She smiled again, thinly.
"Yes, it is. Let me ask you some bold questions then. Do you think Vera helped in stealing the money?"
Edith shrugged.
"I wouldn't have thought so. But then you see the key in the flour and she's the one who accesses the cupboards most of all. Perhaps Humphrey inspired her to do it. They spend a lot of time together smoking and chatting at the back. I think she thinks of him as a father figure."
"He was late arriving today, wasn't he?"
Edith nodded.
"He came in just after eight thirty in quite the state."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, he's usually quite well put together, but today he was distraught. Not that he'd share anything with me, he just seemed more harried than he is."
"I see. Do you think he took the money?"
Edith looked at Frances and gave a sli
ght frown.
"It sure looks like it."
"It does look like it," said Frances, "but are you surprised? Would you be surprised to find out he did in fact take the money."
Edith shook her head.
"No. It's no secret to anyone here who takes a moment to notice that he's dissatisfied with his salary. Now, I don't know what he gets, but I'm sure he's paid the most of the three of us. You know how it is with the hierarchy of household staff."
Frances nodded encouragingly.
"But if I can speak from my own experience, and in confidence..."
Edith looked at Lady Marmalade. Lady Marmalade nodded.
"In confidence," Frances said.
"Well, the Baron and Lady Marphallow might pay the going rate, but it's certainly at the bottom end, and they don't have half the staff they need. At least not in the city here. There's an awful lot of work and expectation put upon us. And an increased salary would help."
Lady Marmalade nodded. She did find it odd that such a great house had so few staff. But then again, she was not one herself to rely on many when few would work. And of course, Lady Marmalade preferred to be self reliant. Eric would be happy to employ as many staff as she liked. But her butler and housekeeper were quite sufficient for the time being. However, they were paid at the top end, that she made sure of.
"Why do you think that is, Edith?" asked Frances.
"Why they don't pay as much as we'd like?"
Frances nodded. Edith looked down at her lap.
"I'd not wish to speak unwell of my employer," she said, looking down.
"It is not speaking poorly, Edith, if it helps us to get to the bottom of this tragedy."
Edith nodded and then looked up at Frances.
"Well, the Lady spends a lot of money, and the Baron has a gambling problem. I don't think their finances are as good as perhaps their titles and outwardly looking lifestyle might suggest."
Frances nodded.
"What sort of gambling?"
"Horses mostly. But anything that might be legal... or not. I just know he likes to gamble my Lady."
Frances had known such men before, and the women they married. If marriage was a ship, the marriage between two such as these was a ship taking on more water than it could hold.
"You've been very helpful, Edith," said Frances, smiling at her. "One more question though. If you can consider Humphrey for stealing the money, could you also consider him for the murder?"
The Baron at Bishops Avenue Page 11