The Affair of the Mutilated Mink (26 page)

'You say she gave the impression she was doing you a favour by signing with you. Yet she came from London especially to see you. And I understand you didn't send that telegram yourself.'

'I sure didn't. She sent it, or had someone send it for her.'

'But why?'

'So she could come and talk turkey without seeming to be offering herself, make it look like she thought I'd made the first move.'

'Which would indicate that she was in fact eager to work for you. Again, why? If she was so much in demand, she didn't need to resort to such subterfuge.'

Haggermeir shrugged his beefy shoulders, 'I was available, and in England the same time as her. She'd said nix to most of the other studios in the past. I guess she figured that I'd be so hot to sign her I'd be a pushover when it came to the contract.'

'And you weren't?'

'Listen, pal, Cyrus S. Haggermeir wasn't born yesterday. No one hustles me into giving a contract I don't like. If Garbo herself was available I'd only sign her up on my terms.'

'You were eager to sign Laura up, though, at first.'

'Sure, tickled pink.
At first
. Then I got to thinking perhaps it wasn't such a lulu of an idea, after all. Oh, I hadn't turned her down. We were still talking. But there'd been no firm agreement, even a verbal one. Don't get to thinking the chick had gotten me tied into something I couldn't get out of without bumping her off.'

'Then why do you think she was killed?'

'When a good-looking dame gets croaked, ninety per cent of the time it's sex.'

'A crime of passion? It has none of the signs of that.'

'Well, you're the cop.'

'Then let me begin talking like one. Your movements on the night of the murder, please.'

'Got in about one, took Gilbert upstairs and left him at the door of his room. Went to my own room. In bed by about one-fifteen. Couldn't sleep. Read for a bit. Just dropping off and heard the shot. Went outside and saw the Earl and Countess hurrying towards the east wing. Followed them.'

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.'