Ordeal by Innocence - Agatha Christie [55]
I
“Don’t suppose you got anything?” said the Chief Constable.
“Nothing definite, sir,” said Huish. “And yet—the time wasn’t altogether wasted.”
“Let’s hear about it all.”
“Well, our main times and premises are the same. Mrs. Argyle was alive just before seven, talked with her husband and Gwenda Vaughan, was seen afterwards downstairs by Hester Argyle. Three people can’t be in cahoots. Jacko Argyle is now accounted for, so it means that she could have been killed by her husband, any time between five past seven and half past, by Gwenda Vaughan at five minutes past seven on her way out, by Hester just before that, by Kirsten Lindstrom when she came in later—just before half past seven, say. Durrant’s paralysis gives him an alibi, but his wife’s alibi depends on his word. She could have gone down and killed her mother if she wanted to between seven and half past if her husband was prepared to back her up. Don’t see why she should, though. In fact, as far as I can see, only two people have got a real motive for the crime. Leo Argyle and Gwenda Vaughan.”
“You think it’s one of them—or both of them together?”
“I don’t think they were in it together. As I see it, it was an impulsive crime—not a premeditated one. Mrs. Argyle comes into the library, tells them both about Jacko’s threats and demands for money. Put it that, later, Leo Argyle goes down to speak to her about Jacko, or about something else. The house is quiet, nobody about. He goes into her sitting room. There she is, her back to him, sitting at the desk. And there’s the poker, still perhaps where Jacko threw it down after threatening her with it. Those quiet, repressed men do break out sometimes. A handkerchief over his hand so as not to leave prints, up with the poker, down with it on her head and it’s done. Pull out a drawer or two to suggest a search for money. Then upstairs again till someone finds her. Or put it that Gwenda Vaughan on her way out looks into the room, and the urge comes over her. Jacko will be the perfect scapegoat, and the way to marriage with Leo Argyle is open.”
Major Finney nodded thoughtfully.
“Yes. Could be. And of course they were careful not to announce an engagement too soon. Not till that poor little devil Jacko was safely convicted of murder. Yes, that seems fair enough. Crimes are very monotonous. Husband and third party, or wife and third party—always the same old pattern. But what can we do about it, Huish, eh? What can we do about it?”
“I don’t see, sir,” said Huish slowly, “what we can do about it. We may be sure—but where’s the evidence? Nothing to stand up in court.”
“No—no. But you are sure, Huish? Sure in your own mind?”
“Not as sure as I’d like to be,” said Superintendent Huish sadly.
“Ah! Why not?”
“The kind of man he is—Mr. Argyle, I mean.”
“Not the kind to do murder?”
“It’s not that so much—not the murder part of it. It’s the boy. I don’t see him deliberately framing the boy.”
“It wasn’t his own son, remember. He may not have cared much for the boy—he may even have been resentful—of the affection his wife lavished on him.”
“That may be so. Yet he seems to have been fond of all the children. He looks fond of them.”
“Of course,” said Finney, thoughtfully. “He knew the boy wouldn’t be hanged … That might make a difference.”
“Ah, you may have something there, sir. He may have thought that ten years in prison which is what a life sentence amounts to, might have done the boy no harm.”
“What about the young woman—Gwenda Vaughan?”
“If she did it,” said Huish, “I don’t suppose she’d have any qualms about Jacko. Women are ruthless.”
“Anyway, you’re reasonably satisfied it’s between those two?”
“Reasonably satisfied, yes.”
“But no more?” the Chief Constable pressed him.
“No. There’s something going on. Undercurrents, as you might say.”
“Explain yourself, Huish.”
“What I’d really like to know is what they think themselves. About each other.”
“Oh, I see, I get you now. You’re wondering if they themselves know who it was?”
“Yes. I can’t make up my mind about it. Do they all know? And are they all agreed