Dead Man's Folly - Agatha Christie [58]
‘Rather unsatisfactory,’ said Major Merrall. ‘No motive or anything of that kind to tie him in?’
‘He might have been having an affair with Lady Stubbs,’ said Bland doubtfully, ‘and she might have been threatening to tell his wife, and he might have done her in, and the girl might have seen it happen –’
‘And he concealed Lady Stubbs’ body somewhere?’
‘Yes. But I’m blessed if I know how or where. My men have searched that sixty-five acres and there’s no trace anywhere of disturbed earth, and I should say that by now we’ve rooted under every bush there is. Still, say he did manage to hide the body, he could have thrown her hat into the river as a blind. And Marlene Tucker saw him and so he disposed of her? That part of it’s always the same.’ Inspector Bland paused, then said, ‘And, of course, there’s Mrs Legge –’
‘What have we got on her?’
‘She wasn’t in the tea tent from four to half past as she says she was,’ said Inspector Bland slowly. ‘I spotted that as soon as I’d talked to her and to Mrs Folliat. Evidence supports Mrs Folliat’s statement. And that’s the particular, vital half-hour.’ Again he paused. ‘Then there’s the architect, young Michael Weyman. It’s difficult to tie him up with it in any way, but he’s what I should call a likely murderer – one of those cocky, nervy young fellows. Would kill anyone and not turn a hair about it. In with a loose set, I shouldn’t wonder.’
‘You’re so damned respectable, Bland,’ said Major Merrall. ‘How does he account for his movements?’
‘Very vague, sir. Very vague indeed.’
‘That proves he’s a genuine architect,’ said Major Merrall with feeling. He had recently built himself a house near the sea coast. ‘They’re so vague, I wonder they’re alive at all sometimes.’
‘Doesn’t know where he was or when and there’s nobody who seems to have seen him. There is some evidence that Lady Stubbs was keen on him.’
‘I suppose you’re hinting at one of these sex murders?’
‘I’m only looking about for what I can find, sir,’ said Inspector Bland with dignity. ‘And then there’s Miss Brewis…’ He paused. It was a long pause.
‘That’s the secretary, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, sir. Very efficient woman.’
Again there was a pause. Major Merrall eyed his subordinate keenly.
‘You’ve got something on your mind about her, haven’t you?’ he said.
‘Yes, I have, sir. You see, she admits quite openly that she was in the boathouse at about the time the murder must have been committed.’
‘Would she do that if she was guilty?’
‘She might,’ said Inspector Bland slowly. ‘Actually, it’s the best thing she could do. You see, if she picks up a tray with cake and a fruit drink and tells everyone she’s taking that for the child down there – well, then, her presence is accounted for. She goes there and comes back and says the girl was alive at that time. We’ve taken her word for it. But if you remember, sir, and look again at the medical evidence, Dr Cook’s time of death is between four o’clock and quarter to five. We’ve only Miss Brewis’ word for it that Marlene was alive at a quarter past four. And there’s one curious point that came up about her testimony. She told me that it was Lady Stubbs who told her to take the cakes and fruit drink to Marlene. But another witness said quite definitely that that wasn’t the sort of thing that Lady Stubbs would think about. And I think, you know, that they’re right there. It’s not like Lady Stubbs. Lady Stubbs was a dumb beauty wrapped up in herself and her own appearance. She never seems to have ordered meals or taken an interest in household management or thought of anybody at all except her own handsome self. The more I think of it, the more it seems most unlikely that she should have told Miss Brewis to take anything to the Girl Guide.’
‘You know, Bland,’ said Merrall, ‘you’ve got something there. But what’s her motive, if so?’
‘No motive for killing the girl,’ said Bland; ‘but I do think, you know, that she might have a motive for killing Lady Stubbs. According to M. Poirot, whom