Spider's Web - Agatha Christie [28]
‘What kind of things?’ the Inspector asked quickly.
Clarissa was ready for this question. ‘Nothing very important,’ she said with a smile. Picking up the small silver cigarette-box from a table by the sofa, she held it out to the Inspector. ‘This was one of them,’ she told him. ‘It belonged to my husband’s mother, and he values it for sentimental reasons.’
The Inspector looked at Clarissa reflectively for a moment, before asking her, ‘How long did Mr Costello remain here when he came at six-thirty?’
‘Oh, a very short time,’ she replied as she replaced the cigarette box on the table. ‘He said he was in a hurry. About ten minutes, I should think. No longer than that.’
‘And your interview was quite amicable?’ the Inspector enquired.
‘Oh, yes,’ Clarissa assured him. ‘I thought it was very kind of him to take the trouble to return the things.’
The Inspector thought for a moment, before asking, ‘Did he mention where he was going when he left here?’
‘No,’ Clarissa replied. ‘Actually, he went out by that window,’ she continued, gesturing towards the French windows. ‘As a matter of fact, my lady gardener, Miss Peake, was here, and she offered to show him out through the garden.’
‘Your gardener–does she live on the premises?’ the Inspector wanted to know.
‘Well, yes. But not in the house. She lives in the cottage.’
‘I think I should like a word with her,’ the Inspector decided. He turned to the Constable. ‘Jones, go and get her.’
‘There’s a telephone connection through to the cottage. Shall I call her for you, Inspector?’ Clarissa offered.
‘If you would be so kind, Mrs Hailsham-Brown,’ the Inspector replied.
‘Not at all. I don’t suppose she’ll have gone to bed yet,’ Clarissa said, pressing a button on the telephone. She flashed a smile at the Inspector, who responded by looking bashful. Jeremy smiled to himself and took another sandwich.
Clarissa spoke into the telephone. ‘Hello, Miss Peake. This is Mrs Hailsham-Brown…I wonder, would you mind coming over? Something rather important has happened…Oh yes, of course that will be all right. Thank you.’
She replaced the receiver and turned to the Inspector. ‘Miss Peake has been washing her hair, but she’ll get dressed and come right over.’
‘Thank you,’ said the Inspector. ‘After all, Costello may have mentioned to her where he was going.’
‘Yes, indeed, he may have,’ Clarissa agreed.
The Inspector looked puzzled. ‘The question that bothers me,’ he announced to the room in general, ‘is why Mr Costello’s car is still here, and where is Mr Costello?’
Clarissa gave an involuntary glance towards the bookshelves and the panel, then walked across to the French windows to watch for Miss Peake. Jeremy, noticing her glance, sat back innocently and crossed his legs as the Inspector continued, ‘Apparently this Miss Peake was the last person to see him. He left, you say, by that window. Did you lock it after him?’
‘No,’ Clarissa replied, standing at the window with her back to the Inspector.
‘Oh?’ the Inspector queried.
Something in his tone made Clarissa turn to face him. ‘Well, I–I don’t think so,’ she said, hesitantly.
‘So he might have re-entered that way,’ the Inspector observed. He took a deep breath and announced importantly, ‘I think, Mrs Hailsham-Brown, that, with your permission, I should like to search the house.’
‘Of course,’ Clarissa replied with a friendly smile. ‘Well, you’ve seen this room. Nobody could be hidden here.’ She held the window curtains open for a moment, as though awaiting Miss Peake, and then exclaimed, ‘Look! Through here is the library.’ Going to the library door and opening it, she suggested, ‘Would you like to go in there?’
‘Thank you,’ said the Inspector. ‘Jones!’ As the two police officers went into the library, the Inspector added, ‘Just see where that door leads to, Jones,’ gesturing towards another door immediately inside the library.
‘Very good,