Death in Patent Leather (The Inspector Felix Mysteries Book 7)

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Death in Patent Leather (The Inspector Felix Mysteries Book 7) Page 4

by R. A. Bentley


  ​‘It’s this way, sir,’ said the butler, preceding them out of the lift.

  ​‘Morning, Bowers,’ said Felix to the saluting constable at the door.

  ​The body of Nigel Cotton was lying prone on the thick pile carpet in what appeared to be a sitting room. His tail coat lay on an armchair as if flung there, but he still wore the rest of his white tie ensemble. Howard Benyson, senior forensic pathologist to Scotland Yard, was squatting by the body, making notes.

  ​‘Where exactly are we?’ Felix asked the butler. ‘Morning, Benyson.’

  ​‘This is the living room of Mr Nigel’s private suite, sir.’

  ​‘Self contained?’

  ​‘Yes sir. Bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette. The maid discovered him this morning.’ He turned to a hard-faced woman of thirty or so who was with him. ‘At six-thirty, did you say, Adams?’

  ​‘That, or just after,’ confirmed the maid. ‘The door was locked sir, which it isn’t normally.’

  ​‘You carry a duplicate key?’

  ​‘Yes sir.’

  ​‘Mr Cotton’s key wasn’t on the inside presumably? You didn’t have to push it out?’

  ​‘No, sir, and I don’t know where it went either. Can I just say, sir. There are some things missing, from the bedside cabinet. There were some diamond cufflinks and a Rolex watch.’ She glanced at the pathologist.

  ​‘Not wearing them now,’ confirmed Benyson. ‘Different cufflinks, different watch. The gentleman died almost instantly — depressed fracture of the skull. I’d hazard a table lighter, one of the heavy sort. Not much in the average sitting room makes that sort of dent, unless it’s a marble clock or some curio. No other damage, that I can see at this stage.’

  ​‘There was a table-lighter, sir,’ confirmed the maid, looking impressed. ‘And it’s quite heavy, though I can’t see it now.’

  ​‘Where does it live normally?’ said Felix.

  ​‘On the table, sir, or that sideboard.’

  ​‘What was the angle of attack, Doctor?’

  ​‘Above, behind and somewhat to his right. Victim was bending or sitting, unless the assailant was a giant.’

  ​‘How long’s he been gone?’

  ​‘Eleven hours or so. Say about nine to ten o’clock last night.’ He stood up and stretched. ‘That’s all I can do here. Pretty straightforward from my point of view. I’ll have him fetched.’

  ​‘Thanks, Howard. Sorry if I don’t seem myself. Bit under the weather this morning.’

  ​‘You look it. Drink plenty of water. The parents and sister have been in, by the way. I’ll see you later.’

  ​‘Only Sir Blaine came into the room, sir,’ said Constable Bowers from the door. ‘I advised them to keep away until you’d seen it, to avoid disturbing the evidence. Sir Blaine looked briefly at the body then left. Didn’t touch anything.’

  ​‘Did he say anything?’

  ​‘Only “Thank you, Constable.”’

  ​‘Sir Blaine is waiting for you in his own apartment sir,’ said the butler. ‘The ladies are most upset, but they indicated they would see you, if required.’

  ​‘Mr Duckworth, isn’t it? Where will we find you if we need you?’

  ​‘Just ring any service bell, sir. Are these gentleman with you?’

  ​‘Yes they are. Morning, chaps,’ said Felix as Nash and Yardley appeared. ‘All the usual please. And see if you can find a table-lighter. According to Benyson that’s what killed him. Mr Duckworth and Miss Adams, perhaps you will you kindly allow Sergeant Yardley here to take your fingerprints, for elimination purposes. After that I think we’ll see Sir Blaine, at his convenience. Do any other servants enter this room?’

  ​Miss Adams smiled sardonically. ‘No sir, never.’

  ​They found Sir Blaine pacing his sitting room. ‘I’m glad it’s you, Chief Inspector,’ he said. ‘One feels he needs to know the man he is dealing with at a time like this.’ He led the way to his study. ‘Do sit down.’ He took a while pulling his chair up and moving aside papers, perhaps while collecting his thoughts. ‘I might as well tell you gentlemen,’ he said, ‘since you will find out anyway, that my son was not universally loved or approved of. He was a man of contentious opinions and undisciplined appetites. It often got him into trouble, unfortunately.’

  ​‘Are you saying he had enemies, sir?’

  ​‘He clearly had one enemy, Chief Inspector. Someone killed him.’

  ​‘I suppose that’s true. Can you name names?’

  ​‘I shouldn’t care to attempt it, no. You might, however, enquire to Amelia, his wife.’ He paused. ‘Will this go any further, Chief Inspector?’

  ​‘You will be asked to approve a typed copy of your witness statement before you sign it, sir, and alter anything you don’t wish to have recorded. Nothing in it will be used unless it’s relevant to the case.’

  ​Sir Blaine sighed. ‘Very well. My son and his wife were separated. She wished to divorce him; not, I regret to say, without cause. We managed to persuade her not to do so, fearing a scandal. However, that’s scarcely to be avoided now. I will, of course, cooperate fully with your investigation; as will the rest of the family.’

  ​‘Thank you sir. Had your son any particular friends — people we could talk to?’

  ​‘I know nothing of his friends. If he had any you will no doubt find them frequenting the more exclusive gambling clubs and houses of ill repute. As to business, he had his supporters; including, I regret to say, a few of my directors.’

  ​‘Was he a director himself?’

  ​‘Yes he was.’

  ​‘Can you give me the names of these supporters?’

  ​Again Sir Blaine paused. ‘I will consider that if I may and let you know.’

  ​‘Thank you. Was he living here permanently, in this house?’

  ​‘Latterly, yes. He has a house of his own where his wife and our grandchildren still reside. I can give you the address.’

  ​‘May I ask, Sir Blaine, how you got on with your son? Were you on good terms?’

  ​Sir Blaine made a little moue. ‘We were polite to each other,’ he said finally. He sat back in his chair and gazed at them. ‘Chief Inspector, my life is Cotton’s bank. I founded it when I was barely Nigel’s age. Since then it has grown to be one of the major clearing banks in the South of England. I do not claim all the credit for that. Many people have worked to make it a success. Nigel, however, would have had it become a quite different sort of organisation — something I would not countenance. There is, perhaps, a place for such buccaneering enterprises but Cotton’s is not one of them.’

  ​‘And with his death, that won’t happen?’

  ​‘I would not have allowed it to happen.’

  ​‘When did you last see him? I know, of course, that you were both at the ball.’

  ​‘It would have been at the ball that I last saw him. I’m not sure about the time. It was quite early on that we spoke but I might perhaps have seen him dancing later. My wife might be able to tell you.’

  ​‘What did you speak about? Can you remember?’

  ​‘It was just small talk. We remarked upon the great number of the press at the door.’

  ​‘Sir Blaine, I have to ask you, did you kill Mr Nigel Cotton?’

  ​‘No, Chief Inspector, I did not.’

  ​‘Doting father,’ said Rattigan as they returned to Nigel’s apartment.

  ​Felix shook his head disbelievingly. ‘Things have come to a pretty pass when you can find nothing good to say about your newly deceased son.’

  ​‘He might have done it, of course, if he was worried about the bank. Or caused it to be done.’

  ​‘That’s the problem with these monied folk,’ agreed Felix. ‘Paid assassins.’

  ​They found the other sergeants packing up their equipment.

  ​‘There’s a bureau in the bedroom,’ said Nash. ‘We did all round that. Most of the drawers are locked. No evidence of for
cing. We couldn’t find a key. There’s also a bedside cabinet. The top drawer had a few expensive-looking bits and bobs in – rings and so on – so we did that too. That one wasn’t locked.’

  ​‘The maid said some things were missing,’ said Felix. ‘Sorry, I should have told you that.’ He peered at an ornate silver and marble table lighter. ‘This wasn’t here before. Murder weapon?’

  ​‘I shouldn’t be surprised, sir,’ said Yardley. ‘It was in the toilet cistern.’

  ​‘Was it by golly! Who found it?’

  ​The sergeants looked at each other. ‘Jointly, sir,’ said Nash.

  ​‘Then well done both of you. And for noticing the cabinet.’

  ​‘Too wet for dabs, I suppose?’ said Rattigan, closely examining the lighter.

  ​‘Appears to have been wiped I’m afraid,’ said Yardley.

  ​‘Bit pointless if you ask me, said Nash. ‘Chucking it in the cistern, I mean. All they needed to do was put it back where it came from and no-one the wiser.’

  ​‘If they were prepared to hang around to do that,’ said Yardley, ‘it suggests they didn’t expect to be disturbed.’

  ​‘One assumes they’d locked the door,’ said Rattigan. ‘It was also probably them that locked it from the outside and took away the key; no doubt to stop the body being discovered for a while.’

  ​‘See those scuffs on the carpet?’ said Nash. They were clearer when I photographed them. Looks to me like he was dragged off the sofa. If he was sitting on it, someone could have crept in and clocked him one from behind. That would fit.’

  ​‘They’d have needed the table lighter, first.’

  ​‘On the sideboard perhaps?’

  ​‘If that’s what happened he’s the wrong way up,’ Rattigan pointed out, ‘and why bother to move him at all? What would it have achieved?’

  ​‘To put us off the scent? Or maybe he was bending to pick something up.’

  ​‘Or they pushed him over first and then belted him.’

  ​‘They still dragged him though,’ persisted Nash. ‘At least a foot or two.’

  ​‘They might have been in the room already, of course,’ said Rattigan. The murderer or an accomplis is talking to him, murderer strolls behind him, picks up the lighter and wallops him.’

  ​‘All those things are possible,’ said Felix. ‘But first we need a suspect or two; then it might start to make sense.’ He picked up his case. ‘Everyone got everything? Bowers, we’re leaving you for a while. They’ll be along for the body shortly. Don’t let anyone else in.’

  ​They paused on the landing to review the layout of the house.

  ​‘There are three main floors, plus basement and attic,’ said Felix. Public rooms on the piano nobile — ballroom, state dining room, smoking room, and so on. As long as those folding doors remain open, the ballroom is essentially continuous with the hall and main staircase. No doubt they’ll be closing them when they’ve cleared up. The next floor has a gallery overlooking the ballroom, and probably the library, billiard room and so on. Possibly, also, the guest rooms. Up here we have corridors to the left and right of the stairs with, so it appears, the various family members’ rooms or apartments opening off them. It’s a big place but all quite straightforward.’

  ​‘So you wouldn’t particularly expect people to wander up here uninvited? Ball guests and so on,’ said Yardley. ‘If it’s a family floor.’

  ​‘I suppose that’s true. Equally there would be nothing to stop them. They would have the main staircase, the lift, and possibly the back stairs to chose from. Conceivably even a fire escape. However, it’s entirely possible, as Teddy suggested, that he was killed by someone he’d invited or allowed in, and perhaps trusted.’ He turned around. ‘Let’s see, we have Sir and Lady Cotton’s apartment at the end of the left-hand arm as one comes off the stairs, and Nigel’s before it. No other doors that side except for the lift. There are several, however, in the right-hand arm, one of them possibly Betty Cotton’s. I don’t know if there’s anyone else living here. We’ll have to check. Do you two want to do below stairs? I expect they were mostly involved with the ball but you might discover something useful. Then you might as well process those dabs. We’d best see the maid and butler again, Teddy.’

  ​Chapter Seven

  ​

  ‘Now then, Mr Duckworth,’ said Felix ‘Can you tell me what time Miss Adams came to you this morning?’

  ​The butler, a faded and bent little man of sixty or so, briefly considered. ‘It must have been about six-forty, Chief Inspector. She came straight to me from finding Mr Nigel.’

  ​‘What did she tell you exactly?’

  ​‘That he was lying dead, face down on the floor of his sitting room and was still dressed for the ball. He’d been hit over the head. I immediately called for Sykes, one of my footmen, and together we made sure there was nothing else untoward in the apartment. Then I telephoned to the police station.’

  ​‘Before alerting the family?’

  ​‘I felt that time was of the essence, sir.’

  ​‘Quite right. But then you did alert them, presumably?’

  ​‘Yes I did, sir.’

  ​‘Does anyone else live here apart from the son and daughter?’

  ​‘No sir. There are rooms for visiting family members but they are not occupied at present.’

  ​‘Are those rooms normally kept locked?’

  ​‘Yes they are sir.’

  ​‘Did you personally see anyone on that floor last night especially between nine and ten o’clock? Any suspicious persons?’

  ​‘No, sir. I was much occupied with the ball, as you may imagine, so didn’t go upstairs at all. I should not have been too surprised to find someone there, in any case. People frequently go up to visit the family. Normally, of course, they will ring to be admitted to the house and in the case of strangers taken up, but last night anyone could simply have taken themselves.’

  ​‘It could even have been a guest who did this thing?’

  ​‘Indeed it could, sir.’

  ​‘Do you possess a guest list?’

  ​‘I do, sir, but with each of them encouraged to bring some friends I fear that checking it would be a Herculean task.’

  ​‘In other words, it was open house?’

  ​‘I regret to say it was.’

  ​‘Did Mr Nigel have any regular visitors?’

  ​Mr Duckworth considered. ‘I don’t recall any, sir. They tended to come only once or twice, and not many of them. One gained the impression it was on business.’

  ​‘No ladies?’

  ​‘Not to my knowledge, sir.’

  ​‘You’re not just being discreet?’

  ​The butler smiled. ‘No, sir. No ladies. None that I saw personally anyway.’

  ​‘Did you like Nigel Cotton, Mr Duckworth?’

  ​The butler’s smile continued to linger as he absorbed this question, then was gone. He glanced towards the door of his pantry, where they sat. ‘Will this be included in my statement, sir?’

  ​‘It won’t go any further,’ said Felix, as Rattigan pointedly put his notebook away.

  ​‘Then I must tell you that we cordially disliked him, sir. He was rude and peremptory to the male servants and a holy terror to the maids. None of them would go near him.’

  ​‘What about Miss Adams?’

  ​‘It would be a brave man, sir, that behaved improperly towards Adams.’

  ​Felix turned to Rattigan. It looks as though we shall have to include the servants in our list of suspects, eh Sergeant?’

  ​Mr Duckworth looked disconcerted. ‘Oh no, sir, I shouldn’t wish to imply anything like that. We had our opinion of him but that is all.’

  ​‘Then you will, of course, be asking the other servants if they saw or heard anything last night that might help us. Murder is murder, no matter how likeable or otherwise the victim.’

  ​‘Yes, sir, of course, I shall be putting that
in hand immediately.’

  ​‘Tell me, Miss Adams,’ said Felix, ‘did you attempt to move Mr Nigel’s body at all?’

  ​‘Goodness, no, sir,’ said the maid. ‘I wouldn’t have done that. He was lying just as you found him, on his face with his arms above his head.’

  ​‘Did you happen to notice any scuffs on the carpet, as if he’d been dragged?’

  ​‘I can’t say I did, sir, no. Not to say there weren’t any.’

  ​‘What were your particular duties regarding that apartment?’

  ​‘I did it all sir. I drew the curtains night and morning, cleaned and tidied the rooms – not that they needed much tidying – made the bed, and in the winter I did the fires. That’s how I knew where everything was. The first thing I thought of was a burglar so I checked that drawer. It being the ball last night, anyone might have gone up there.’

  ​‘Was the apartment always left unlocked, then, that anyone could walk in?’

  ​‘Why yes, sir, it was. I suppose it should have been locked last night but it was for Mr Nigel to do that. Or lock the bedroom door anyway. Not me.’

  ​‘Fair enough. You say it didn’t need much tidying. I noticed that with the living room. No personal items, no clutter. Was it always like that?’

  ​‘Yes it was sir. He could scarcely be said to live in the place really, except the bedroom, and the bathroom of course. He used to do his paperwork in the bedroom. Spread it all over the bed, he did, and he’d get cross if you moved it. But he never used the kitchen, that I can recall. He’d send down for toast and coffee for breakfast and the rest of the time he’d eat out.’

  ​‘Any overnight visitors?’

  ​‘Never. Or if there were any, they were gone before I got there, and I expect the night footman would have told us if he had. He often didn’t sleep there though.’

  ​‘I’m told that no-one else would work for him. May I ask what your secret was?’

  ​Miss Adams smiled. ‘I just won’t take any nonsense, sir. He couldn’t seem to keep his hands off any woman or girl. He did try it with me, once, but I’m quite strong built and I’ve got five brothers so I know how to take care of myself. The funny thing was that after that we got along quite well. Not to say friendly exactly but we’d talk sometimes. I got the impression, sir, that he was a bit troubled. He often seemed in low spirits, and once he said, “I know I’m not a nice man, Adams, but I can’t seem to help myself.”

 

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