by Laura Walker
'I’m sorry. I know it was a foolish mistake but I have never done anything like that again. I know what it must look like but I never stole the Galitzi's diamonds.' She cried tearfully.
Hadley was silent and thoughtful.
'You wanted to know why I was crying? It was because I knew I was not good enough for you and could never be Not with this secret of my guilt to bare. Even before I knew you were a police Inspector, I knew you were a good man. I’m not very good myself. You would never accept me. That is why I concealed it from you, I was ashamed. When I found out you were with the police I then gave up all hope. You would never want to have anything to do with me, I see that now.'
She had stood up and started to walk towards the door . Hadley spun around and barred her way.
'Wait, I’m trying to think. I believe you when you say you had nothing to do with stealing the Galitzi diamonds. I don’t believe you could have tried to kill me either but you know I cannot get emotionally involved with you just now. I have to keep my distance until this case is solved.' He said.
'I’m worried about you.' She cried falling into his arms.
'There is no need to be.' Hadley said gently pushing her away.
'But someone tried to kill you. What if they try again?'
'It’s all part of the job. I know how to deal with it.'
'Can I kiss you before I go? Just once?' She said longingly.
'It’s not a good idea.'
She forced her lips on his for a moment and despite his better judgement he didn’t resist.
'Can I ask you one more question, Miss Sanderson?'
'I think you can call me Aida, now.'
'I think it best if we leave it at Miss Sanderson and Inspector for now. I wanted to ask you about your brother’s gambling problem.'
'I’ve told you everything I know about that.'
'Does he still gamble?'
'Of course, he doesn’t. Why are you asking me this?' She asked a little defensively.
'Do you think he was at home the morning someone tried to kill me, as he says?'
'What exactly are you suggesting, Inspector?' She said crossly emphasising the last word.
'Nothing. I think George is still gambling, that’s all and he needs money.'
'Well, you’re wrong. George wouldn’t jeopardize our family’s reputation again. He has learnt his lesson.'
'I’m not usually wrong about things like this.'
'You are this time, I’m sure of it.'
'Alright, alright. I’ll take you at your word.'
'I should think so.'
'I just wondered. That will be all, Miss Sanderson.'
Aida looked at him in disbelief and shaking her head left the room.
CHAPTER TWELVE
As Aida walked back to her room she felt a chilling feeling on her skin as though someone was watching her.
This thief is dangerous! They are not just a common thief but they are capable of harm and they are staying in this house! She thought.
She ran the rest of the way back to her room and slammed the door, locking it behind her. She climbed into bed and tried to sleep but she was restless and sleep just wouldn’t come. She tossed and turned in her bed until giving up on sleep altogether, stepped into her slippers and walked to the window. Drawing back the curtains she looked out, the brightness of the moon allowed her to see out clearly. She started on seeing a hooded figure suddenly springing across the lawn in front of her!
*
John Dukesbury sat out on the balcony of his room an hour earlier. His face was a picture of satisfaction. Celia was in bed after the sedative she had taken knocked her out for the night.
You got what was coming to you, Galitzi. I feel no sympathy for you. I have my revenge! He thought venomously.
His hand rolled into a tight fist as he stood up to enter his room for the night. He rolled back the carpet by the patio doors and took off a piece of floor board. It slid off easily in his hand. He took up something that was lying vertical in the centre of the hole in the ground and held and kissed it before replacing it and covering up the area again. When he looked up again, there was a smug grin on his face.
*
Mrs Sanderson was also wakeful that night and she sat in a chair by the bed after getting herself a glass of water from the bathroom. She watched Mr Sanderson as he slept soundly, snoring loudly and crying out a name occasionally in his sleep. Her lips tightened into a grimace and her nostrils flared as she watched him.
I know your game. Mimi, indeed! You don’t fool me. I bet that Inspector knows. What shame you have brought upon us. Just like George. She thought angrily.
She had long guessed his secret and she wished to be a million miles away from him and their son who was just like him.
Then there’s my darling Aida. She never does anything wrong. We will go away to Brussels when this is all over. Her face softened at this thought.
*
Meanwhile, George was pacing his room in an agitated state of mind. He had a bottle of whisky to help ease his nerves. He stopped suddenly by the wall along the side of his bed and peeled away a piece of wallpaper. There was a small door leading to a hollow in the wall. He put his hand inside and pulled on something. He looked at it agitatedly.
'Hadley can never find this. I have to get rid of it. But how?' He muttered under his breath.
*
Madame Genevieve sat up with a start in her bed and felt under her pillow. She relaxed again when her hand brushed against what she was carefully concealing there and she held it to her chest in relief.
I could have sworn I felt someone lift up my pillow. Just a bad dream, again. I must rid myself of it before the police find where I am hiding it. They must not find the secret safe. If they do it must be empty.
*
Hadley awoke with a start. He could have sworn he had heard a noise in the room.
Did I dream it?
There it goes again. It wasn’t a dream. Someone is knocking at the door.
He jumped out of bed and reached for his dressing gown throwing it on. He opened the door to find it was Aida again. She was trembling.
'What’s happened?' He exclaimed.
'There is someone outside. A hooded figure in black.' She said breathlessly.
He ran passed her down the hallway, running down two flights of stairs and reaching the front door. He suddenly remembered that Mrs Hutchington had the keys. Just as he was about to turn around and find the servant's quarters however, he noticed the door was slightly ajar and when he pulled it open the key was in the lock. He sprung forwards down the lawn. He saw the figure retreating between the trees. He ran along the path and reached the gateway before the figure got there. He jumped over the wall and crouched down so as not to be seen. As the figure passed the wall he sprung out knocking them to the ground and landing on top of them, holding their hands behind their back. He pulled the hood from over their head.
It was Madame Genevieve!
'I have done nothing wrong, Inspector.' She cried as he got her to her feet, still restraining her hands.
'Then where were you off to in such a hurry?' Hadley said sternly.
'It’s a personal matter.'
'Nothing is personal in cases such as these. Let’s get you inside where we can talk.'
When they had reached the house again, Hadley questioned the sergeant on the lookout but he said he hadn’t seen anything. She must have sneaked passed him in the shadows. The guests and staff were all standing in the hallway, having been disturbed by the commotion.
'Madam Genevieve? What on earth have you been doing?' Lady Chalem cried.
'I know what she’s been doing, she’s been following me that’s what and now she’s stolen my diamonds.' Galitzi cried springing towards her. Lady Amelia pulled on his sleeve to stop him.
'Calm down, Galitzi. You don’t want to give yourself a heart attack.' She cried.
Hadley led Madame Genevieve to the dining room to interview her. Leaving
her with Lady Chalem while he called Scallop. Scallop arrived half an hour later bleary eyed and yawning wildly.
'What have we got?' He asked.
'Madame Genevieve was caught running towards the gateway. I have searched her and found this.' He held up an envelope and tipping out the contents on the table revealed a small chain with a locket. It was engraved with the initials L.G. and opening it up he showed the pictures inside to Scallop.
Scallop nodded.
One picture was of a young girl appearing to be in servants attire and the other a gentleman.
'This locket belongs to Galitzi, doesn’t it? Did you steal it from him?' Hadley asked
Madame Genevieve who kept her head down remained silent.
'You must answer the Inspector’s questions.' Scallop said.
'No, I didn’t steal it. It was given to me, many years ago.' She cried.
'It was a gift?'
'That is correct, yes.'
'Then why were you trying to hide it?'
'I was not trying to hide it, I didn’t want it to be found but I was not trying to hide it.'
'Same thing, isn’t it?'
'No, Inspector, It is not. There is a big difference between not wanting something that belongs to you to be found and trying to hide it guiltily because it does not belong to you.'
'Forgive me but I don’t see the difference. If it belonged to you, why would you run away in the night to try and dispose of it?'
'Because I didn’t want anyone to know about it, it is personal.'
'I am afraid I am going to have to ask you to explain, Madame Genevieve.'
'And if I choose not to be forthcoming?'
'Well, then we will have to continue this discussion at the station but if you have nothing to hide, as you say, then you will not object.'
She was silent and seemed to be deliberating in her mind.
'Did you steal the Galitzi diamonds, for a start?'
'No, Inspector. I did not.'
'Have you been following him?'
'Yes, I have.'
'Who gave you this as a gift? Was it Lord Galitzi himself?' He asked holding up the necklace.
'Not the current one. His father.'
'His father.' Hadley said thoughtfully.
He opened the locket and examined the picture of the servant girl again.
'Are you the girl in the picture?'
'I am not. She was my mother.'
'Let me see if I’ve got this right. You are not French, are you? I noticed when I first heard you at Galitzi’s party. There was something wrong about your accent. It was mixed. You originated in Italy? Am I right, so far?'
'You are, Inspector.'
'Your mother met Galitzi’s father while working as a nursery maid and they fell in love?'
Madame Genevieve nodded.
'He had come back to Italy to stay with a friend and that friend happened to be my mother’s employer.' She said.
'You are Galitzi’s sister?'
'His half-sister. Galitzi’s Mother was not my Mother.'
'I had spent some time in France and picked up the accent. I got a job as a governess at a boarding school for girls. I came here to be near him as my only remaining relative. I don’t want this to get out, Inspector. It would mean a scandal so immense that the Galitzi name could not survive. That is why I had to hide this necklace. I was afraid, you see. I don’t want to do that to Lord Galitzi.' She said bursting into tears.
'It’s alright, I will keep your secret, as much for Galitzi’s sake as your own. He has been a good friend to me.' Hadley said softly.
'I thank you, kindly.'
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
'So, the hooded figure was Galitzi’s half-sister and has nothing to do with the diamonds. The black saloon car however, does. Whoever stole the diamonds has been wanting to get their hands on them for months, that is still the case but we can forget the hooded figure. Let us set the cards on the table, Scallop.' Hadley explained when the guests had all retired again for what was left of the night and they were alone in the dining room.
'What have we got on the remaining guests?' Hadley asked.
'None of them have alibis, Sir, except Alan Sanderson whose alibi for the Starling Bridge incident has now been confirmed by Mimi Haim.'
'Right.'
'The diamonds have not been discovered in any of their rooms.'
'But they must be here. Somewhere.' Hadley exclaimed.
'Yes, Sir.'
'What else have we got?'
'We know Madame Genevieve’s secret. George Sanderson had links and possibly still has links to gambling and Alan Sanderson likes to frequent dodgy clubs. Both expensive pursuits. John Dukesbury however, was blackmailing Lord G and needed money. Possibly Mrs Duskebury found out they needed money and acted herself. That just leaves Mrs and Miss Sanderson and possibly Lady Chalem.'
'Lady Chalem has an alibi for the time I was fired at on the bridge. The others don’t have an alibi for either occurrence. I think we can safely rule out Lady Chalem.'
'We are left with four possible suspects, Sir.'
'So it would seem. We have to go back to the drawing board, Scallop. I think we need to start by seeking out George’s club. I need to find out if he is still gambling and owes some money.'
The next morning, Hadley set off in the car with Scallop, who had stayed the night at the hall and they trudged around the local clubs looking for someone who recognised George Sanderson’s photograph. It wasn’t until they reached the final club on their list and had just about given up hope, when he was recognised by the bar tender.
'Yeah, I recognise him. Right trouble maker that one. Is usually drunk that’s what gets him into trouble at the gaming table.' Said the burly man with a bald head and a huge tattoo across the back of his neck and a strong cockney accent.
'The gaming table? Does he gamble?' Hadley asked.
'Does he gamble? Too right he does. Can’t get enough of it.'
'Does he owe money to anyone here at the club?'
'Yeah. There is one man keeps asking after him but he is elusive at the right moment. Escapes out the back whenever he appears.'
'Can you give me a description of the man?'
'He has grey hair and a ruff beard. Blue eyes.'
Hadley and Scallop looked at each other.
'Thank you. Let me know when he shows up again, here’s my card.'
'Right you are.'
'I cannot believe it, Scallop. I was so focused on Galitzi that I didn’t notice George. I remember George was stood in eyeshot of the man at the party but he was further into the back ground. And again, during the walk George was side by side with Galitzi.'
'I think we can now definitely rule this man out.' Scallop said.
'As the thief, yes, but we still need an interview with him to find out the amount of money George owes him.'
*
'It certainly lends some happiness to this terrible situation, Madame Genevieve. Doesn’t it, my love?' Said Lady Amelia back in the drawing room with Lord Galitzi and Madame Genevieve. They were at last left alone after her confession and could express freely how they felt.
'It does, my love. I never knew I had family left.' Lord Galitzi exclaimed.
'Please, call me Maria Cassanetti.'
'We will, Maria. Most earnestly and gratefully.' Cried Galitzi.
'Please, I am the one who ought to be grateful for such a welcoming family.'
They embraced and kissed each other as exuberantly as Italian’s did and they could not have been happier, despite the great loss that was still looming over their heads.
*
When Hadley and Scallop got back to Sewsbury Hall, the guests were becoming tiresome and wanted to be gone. There was a flurry of complaints hailed at him when he walked through the door.
'No one leaves until I say so.' Hadley roared.
'Oh, come on Inspector.' Alan Sanderson cried.
'Be quiet, Alan.' Mrs Sanderson said a note of disgust in h
er voice.
'Mr Dukesbury, I really must speak with your wife now, I cannot wait any longer.' Hadley cried coming to the end of his tether with the woman.
'Celia is ill, Inspector.' John Dukesbury said.
Aida, who had been languishing by the window with her head tilted back to catch the sun streaking in, turned her head and snorted.
'I don’t care. She is still a suspect. We can interview her down at the station if you would prefer it?'
Aida giggled at the thought of Celia Dukesbury being dragged to the police station.
'Alright. You can interview her in her room then.' John Dukesbury said.
'I suppose that will have to do.'
Hadley and Scallop followed him upstairs and waited on the landing outside her room, until Dukesbury gave them the all clear. There was a lot of shuffling about and screaming coming from inside the room before Dukesbury appeared again with wild hair and a red face.
'You can try her but be warned, she does not like to be disturbed when she is in a nervous state like this.' Dukesbury said disappearing quickly along the corridor.
Celia Dukesbury was sitting at her dresser by the window in nothing but a flimsy nightdress. She looked pale and her eyes were swollen.
'See what a state you have got me in, Inspector, with this nonsense about diamonds.' She said quietly. She did not move but continued to face the mirror.
'This is not nonsense, Mrs Dukesbury. This is a crime that someone needs to be punished for and the diamonds restored to their rightful owner.' Hadley said struggling to keep his composure.
'So, you accuse a frail woman while in her nightdress, I call that harassment.'
'Will you look at me while I’m questioning you, Mrs Dukesbury.' He cried ignoring her last remark.
She turned around quickly and Hadley was struck by how fearful she looked. Her eyes were staring vacantly at him.
'Mrs Dukesbury, I know you like diamonds, every woman does. Did you take the Galitzi diamonds?'
She shook her head.
'Did you know your husband was blackmailing Lord Galitzi?'
She nodded.
'Did you know why?'
'No, he said he’d got some dirt on him.'
'Did your husband steal the diamonds to get the money he so obviously needed?'