Black Coffee - Agatha Christie [50]
‘Blackmail!’ gasped Richard, moving to her.
Lucia turned to Richard. There was an urgency in her tone as she spoke. ‘He threatened to tell you about my mother unless I got the formula for him, but I didn’t do it. I think he must have stolen it. He had the chance. He was alone in there – in the study. And I see now that he wanted me to take the hyoscine and kill myself, so that everyone would think that it was I who had stolen the formula. He almost hypnotized me into –’ She broke down and sobbed on Richard’s shoulder.
With a cry of ‘Lucia, my darling!’ Richard embraced her. Then, passing his wife over to Miss Amory, who had risen and who now embraced the distressed young woman consolingly, Richard addressed Japp. ‘Inspector, I want to speak to you alone.’
Japp looked at Richard Amory for a moment, and then gave a brief nod to Johnson. ‘Very well,’ he agreed, as the constable opened the door for Miss Amory and Lucia. Barbara and Hastings took the opportunity of returning to the garden through the french windows, while Edward Raynor, as he left, murmured to Richard, ‘I’m sorry, Mr Amory, very sorry.’
As Carelli picked up his suitcase and followed Raynor out, Japp instructed his constable, ‘Keep your eye on Mrs Amory – and also on Dr Carelli.’ Carelli turned at the door, and Japp continued, to the constable, ‘There’s to be no funny business from anyone, you understand?’
‘I understand, sir,’ replied Johnson as he followed Carelli out of the room.
‘I’m sorry, Mr Amory,’ said Japp to Richard Amory, ‘but after what Mr Raynor has told us, I’m bound to take every precaution. And I want Mr Poirot to remain here, as a witness to whatever you tell me.’
Richard approached Japp with the air of a man who has come to a momentous decision. Taking a deep breath, he spoke with determination. ‘Inspector!’
‘Well, sir, what is it?’ asked Japp.
Very deliberately and slowly, Richard replied, ‘I think it’s time I confessed. I killed my father.’
Japp smiled. ‘I’m afraid that won’t wash, sir.’
Richard looked astonished. ‘What do you mean?’
‘No, sir,’ Japp continued. ‘Or, to put it differently, that cat won’t jump. You’re very set on your good lady, I realize. Newly married and all that. But, to speak plainly to you, it’s no manner of use putting your neck in a halter for the sake of a bad woman. Though she’s a good looker, and no mistake, I’ll admit.’
‘Inspector Japp!’ exclaimed Richard, angrily.
‘There’s no point in getting upset with me, sir,’ Japp continued imperturbably. ‘I’ve told you the plain truth without beating about the bush, and I’ve no doubt that Mr Poirot here will tell you the same. I’m sorry, sir, but duty is duty, and murder is murder. That’s all there is to it.’ Japp nodded decisively, and left the room.
Turning to Poirot, who had been observing the scene from the settee, Richard asked coldly, ‘Well, are you going to tell me the same, Monsieur Poirot?’
Rising, Poirot took a cigarette-case from his pocket and extracted a cigarette. Instead of answering Richard’s question, he posed one of his own. ‘Monsieur Amory, when did you first suspect your wife?’ he asked.
‘I never –’ Richard began, but Poirot interrupted him, picking up a box of matches from the table as he spoke.
‘Please, I beg of you, Monsieur Amory, nothing but the truth! You did suspect her, I know it. You suspected her before I arrived. That is why you were so anxious to get me away from this house. Do not deny it. It is impossible to deceive Hercule Poirot.’ He lit his cigarette, replaced the box of matches on the table, and smiled up at the much taller man who towered over him. They made a ridiculous contrast.
‘You are mistaken,’ Richard told Poirot stiffly. ‘Utterly mistaken. How could I suspect Lucia?’
‘And yet, of course, there is an equally good case to be made against you,’ Poirot continued reflectively,