The Mirror Crack'd - Agatha Christie [58]
‘In spite of taking a pot-shot at Eddie Groves some few years later?’
‘Oh, that was because we’d had an argument,’ said Lola. ‘I lost my temper.’
‘I have it on very good authority, Miss Brewster, that you said — and these are your exact words or so I’m told,’ (he read from a note-book) — “That bitch needn’t think she’ll get away with it. If I don’t shoot her now I’ll wait and get her in some other way. I don’t care how long I wait, years if need be, but I’ll get even with her in the end.” ’
‘Oh, I’m sure I never said anything of the kind,’ Lola laughed.
‘I’m sure, Miss Brewster, that you did.’
‘People exaggerate so.’ A charming smile broke over her face. ‘I was just mad at the moment, you know,’ she murmured confidentially. ‘One says all sorts of things when one’s mad with people. But you don’t really think I’d wait fourteen years and come across to England, and look up Marina and drop some deadly poison into her cocktail glass within three minutes of seeing her again?’
Dermot Craddock didn’t really think so. It seemed to him wildly improbable. He merely said:
‘I’m only pointing out to you, Miss Brewster, that there had been threats in the past and that Marina Gregg was certainly startled and frightened to see someone who came up the stairs that day. Naturally one feels that that someone must have been you.’
‘But darling Marina was delighted to see me! She kissed me and exclaimed how wonderful it was. Oh really, Inspector, I do think you’re being very, very silly.’
‘In fact, you were all one big happy family?’
‘Well, that’s really much more true than all the things you’ve been thinking.’
‘And you’ve no ideas that could help us in any way? No ideas who might have killed her?’
‘I tell you nobody would have wanted to kill Marina. She’s a very silly woman anyway. Always making terrible fusses about her health, and changing her mind and wanting this, that and the other, and when she’s got it being dissatisfied with it! I can’t think why people are as fond of her as they are. Jason’s always been absolutely mad about her. What that man has to put up with! But there it is. Everybody puts up with Marina, puts themselves out for her. Then she gives them a sad, sweet smile and thanks them! And apparently that makes them feel that all the trouble is worthwhile. I really don’t know how she does it. You’d better put the idea that somebody wanted to kill her right out of your head.’
‘I should like to,’ said Dermot Craddock. ‘Unfortunately I can’t put it out of my head because, you see, it happened.’
‘What do you mean, it happened, nobody has killed Marina, have they?’
‘No. But the attempt was made.’
‘I don’t believe it for a moment! I expect whoever it was meant to kill the other woman all the time — the one who was killed. I expect someone comes into money when she dies.’
‘She hadn’t any money, Miss Brewster.’
‘Oh well, there was some other reason. Anyway, I shouldn’t worry about Marina if I were you. Marina is always all right!’
‘Is she? She doesn’t look a very happy woman to me.’
‘Oh, that’s because she makes such a song and dance about everything. Unhappy love affairs. Not being able to have any children.’
‘She adopted some children, didn’t she?’ said Dermot with a lively remembrance of Miss Marple’s urgent voice.
‘I believe she did once. It wasn’t a great success I believe. She does these impulsive things and then wishes she hadn’t.’
‘What happened to the children she adopted?’
‘I’ve no idea. They just sort of vanished after a bit. She got tired of them, I suppose, like everything else.’
‘I see,’ said Dermot Craddock.
IV
Next — the Dorchester. Suite 190.
‘Well, Chief-Inspector —’ Ardwyck Fenn looked down at the card in his hand.
‘Craddock.’
‘What can I do for you?’
‘I hope you won’t mind if I ask you a few questions.’
‘Not at all. It’s this business at Much Benham. No — what’s the actual name, St Mary Mead?’
‘Yes. That’s right. Gossington Hall.’
‘Can’t think what Jason Rudd wanted to buy a place like that for. Plenty of good