Towards Zero - Agatha Christie [49]
There was a long pause while the Chief Constable looked at Battle. “You may be right,” he said at last. “Dash it all, there’s something funny about this business. What’s your idea, now, of our plan of campaign?”
Battle stroked his square jaw.
“Well, sir,” he said. “I’m always in favour of going about things the obvious way. Everything’s been set to make us suspicious of Mr. Nevile Strange. Let’s go on being suspicious of him. Needn’t go so far as actually to arrest him, but hint at it, question him, put the wind up him—and observe everybody’s reaction generally. Verify his statements, go over his movements that night with a toothcomb. In fact, show our hand as plainly as may be.”
“Quite Machiavellian,” said Major Mitchell with a twinkle. “Imitation of a heavy-handed policeman by star actor Battle.”
The Superintendent smiled.
“I always like doing what’s expected of me, sir. This time I mean to be a bit slow about it—take my time. I want to do some nosing about. Being suspicious of Mr. Nevile Strange is a very good excuse for nosing about. I’ve an idea, you know, that something rather odd has been going on in that house.”
“Looking for the sex angle?”
“If you like to put it that way, sir.”
“Handle it your own way, Battle. You and Leach carry on between you.”
“Thank you, sir.” Battle stood up. “Nothing suggestive from the solicitors?”
“No, I rang them up. I know Trelawny fairly well. He’s sending me a copy of Sir Matthew’s will and also of Lady Tressilian’s. She had about five hundred a year of her own—invested in gilt-edged securities. She left a legacy to Barrett and a small one to Hurstall, the rest to Mary Aldin.”
“That’s three we might keep an eye on,” said Battle.
Mitchell looked amused.
“Suspicious fellow, aren’t you?”
“No use letting oneself be hypnotized by fifty thousand pounds,” said Battle stolidly. “Many a murder has been done for less than fifty pounds. It depends on how much you want the money. Barrett got a legacy—and maybe she took the precaution to dope herself so as to avert suspicion.”
“She very nearly passed out. Lazenby hasn’t let us question her yet.”
“Overdid it out of ignorance, perhaps. Then Hurstall may have been in bad need of cash for all we know. And Miss Aldin, if she’s no money of her own, might have fancied a bit of life on a nice little income before she’s too old to enjoy it.”
The Chief Constable looked doubtful.
“Well,” he said, “it’s up to you two. Get on with the job.”
V
Back at Gull’s Point, the two police officers received Williams’ and Jones’ reports.
Nothing of a suspicious nature had been found in any of the bedrooms. The servants were clamouring to be allowed to get on with the housework. Should he give them the word?
“Might as well, I suppose,” said Battle. “I’ll just have a stroll myself first through the two upper floors. Rooms that haven’t been done very often tell you something about their occupants that’s useful to know.”
Sergeant Jones put down a small cardboard box on the table.
“From Mr. Nevile Strange’s dark blue coat,” he announced. “The red hairs were on the cuff, blonde hairs on the inside of the collar and the right shoulder.”
Battle took out the two long red hairs and the half-dozen blonde ones and looked at them. He said, with a faint twinkle in his eye:
“Convenient. One blonde, one red head and one brunette in this house. So we know where we are at once. Red hair on the cuff, blonde on the collar? Mr. Nevile Strange does seem to be a bit of a Bluebeard. His arm round one wife and the other one’s head on his shoulder.”
“The blood on the sleeve has gone for analysis, sir. They’ll ring us up as soon as they get the result.”
Leach nodded.
“What about the servants?”
“I followed your instructions, sir. None of them is under notice to leave, or seems likely to have borne a grudge against the old lady. She was strict, but well liked. In any case the management of the servants lay with Miss Aldin. She seems to have been popular with them.”
“Thought she was an efficient woman the moment I laid eyes on her,” said Battle. “If she’s