CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER FIVE

The girl who entered the room looked a bit dirty in spite of being tall and smartly dressed in a dark red uniform. She said at once, anxiously, ‘I didn’t do anything. I didn’t really. I don’t know anything about it.’

‘That’s all right, Gladys,’ said Neele in a comforting voice. ‘Sit down here. I just want to know about breakfast this morning.’

He learnt little from her that he did not know already. Neele questioned her about herself and discovered that she had been in a private house first and after that had worked in various cafes. She had come to Yewtree Lodge in September. She had been there two months.

‘Tell me about Mr Fortescue’s clothes - his suits. Who took care of them?’

Gladys looked slightly annoyed. ‘Mr Crump’s supposed to. But half the time he makes me do it.’

‘Have you ever found grain in the pocket of one of his suits? Rye, to be exact. There was some in the pocket of your master’s jacket. Do you know how it got there?’

‘I couldn’t say. I never saw any.’

He could get no more information from her. She certainly seemed uneasy - but that was probably a natural fear of the police.

Inspector Neele went down to the kitchen where a very fat woman stepped towards him in a threatening way. ‘Police!’ she said. ‘Any food that I’ve sent into the dining room has been just what it should be. How dare you come here and say that I poisoned the master! No bad food has ever been served in this house.’

It was some time before Neele could reassure Mrs Crump that no one was accusing her of poisoning Rex Fortescue, then their conversation was ended by the ringing of the telephone.

Neele went out into the hall to find Mary Dove taking the call. She was writing down a message on a notepad. Turning her head she said, ‘It’s a telegram. The post office can’t send anyone so they called instead…’

She handed the notepad to the Inspector. The telegram had come from Paris and the message, addressed to Rex Fortescue, said:

I’m sorry but your letter to me was delayed. We will be with you tomorrow about teatime. I will expect roast beef for dinner. Lance.

‘So the Bad Boy son had been asked to come home,’ Inspector Neele said.