They Found Him Dead Read online

  ‘You don’t know of any private quarrel Mr Kane may have had?’

  ‘N-no,’ Rosemary answered. ‘Not exactly a quarrel. Of course, I know his great-aunt resented his inheriting all Silas Kane’s property, and loathed us being here, but they didn’t quarrel. I simply hate having to tell you this, but I do feel it’s my duty not to keep anything back. And actually it’s no secret that his great-aunt hated Clement. Everyone knows that James Kane is the one she’d like to have here.’

  Miss Allison fixed her gaze upon the prospect outside, and thought of all the painful ways there might be of killing Mrs Clement Kane. Rosemary’s voice flowed on, but at last the Inspector went away, and Miss Allison was able to favour Rosemary with a pithy résumé of her own character as seen through the eyes of Mr James Kane’s affianced wife.

  Her remarks, however, glanced off the armour of Rosemary’s superb egotism. Rosemary was grieved to think that anyone could so misjudge the purity of her motives. She explained earnestly that she had gone through the familiar process known to her as Asking Herself What she Ought to Do. Miss Allison, who knew that Rosemary’s mysterious Self, so often appealed to, so invariably in agreement with Rosemary, was divinely guided, at this point abandoned the argument, and left the room.

  The Inspector, meanwhile, encountering James Kane in the hall, had requested him to accompany him to the study, whence Clement’s body had by this time been removed, for the purpose of answering a few questions on his own movements during the course of the afternoon.

  ‘You state that you were seated on the terrace in the company of the elder Mrs Kane until about half-past three, when the shot was fired?’

  ‘Yes,’ agreed Jim.

  ‘When you left Mrs Kane, where did you go, sir?’

  ‘Up to her rooms on the first floor. She wanted her garden-rug, and I went to ask her personal maid for it.’

  ‘I understand the maid was not in Mrs Kane’s rooms at the time?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘So what did you do, sir?’

  ‘I looked round for the rug, but couldn’t see it. I then came downstairs again, and went into the garden-hall, thinking it might be kept there.’

  ‘The garden-hall? That is the room on the same side of the house as this?’

  ‘Correct.’

  ‘With a way into the garden, I think?’

  ‘Of course. I’ll show you.’

  ‘You were, I think you said, in this garden-room when you heard the shot fired?’

  ‘I was, yes.’

  ‘Did you form any idea of the direction from which the sound came?’

  ‘I thought it came from just outside.’

  ‘What did you do, sir?’

  ‘I went out at once through the door on to the path that runs down the side of the house, and looked round.’

  ‘And you saw no one, Mr Kane?’

  ‘Not a sign of anyone.’

  The Inspector moved to the window and looked out. Then he drew his head in again. ‘You stated a little while ago that you went out immediately you heard the shot. If that is so, it seems very strange that you should not have caught a glimpse of anyone on this side of the house. There does not seem to be any room for doubt that your cousin was shot from the window.’

  Jim frowned a little. ‘Yes, it does,’ he admitted. ‘Damned odd. I can only suppose that whoever it was must have managed to get to cover in the shrubbery before I came out. I shouldn’t have thought he had time. He must have been darned nippy.’

  The Inspector’s eyes measured the distance from the path to the shrubbery. Then he looked at Jim again, and said: ‘When you failed to see anyone, did you make any sort of search in the shrubbery, sir?’

  ‘No. I waited for a moment or two, and then came into the house again. Then I saw this door standing open, and heard the butler and Miss Allison talking.’

  ‘You waited for a moment or two? Why did you do that, sir?’

  Jim smiled. ‘Well, to tell you the truth, I thought it might be my young half-brother up to mischief. I shouted at him, but he answered me from quite some way off, and I realised it couldn’t have had anything to do with him.’

  The Inspector made a lengthy note in his book, and after an appreciable pause said: ‘Mr Clement Kane had recently inherited a considerable property. I understand you are the present heir, are you not, sir?’

  ‘I?’ said Jim. ‘No, you’ve been misinformed there. I belong to the youngest branch of the family. After my cousin Clement, it would go to the Australian branch.’

  ‘Indeed, sir, is that so?’ The Inspector seemed interested. ‘Would you mind giving me the name of the present heir?’

  ‘Sorry; I’m afraid I can’t. My great-aunt would probably know, though. I think it’s a female – but I’m not entirely sure. Perhaps you’d like to see Mrs Kane yourself?’

  ‘If you please, sir,’ said the Inspector, standing aside for Jim to go before him out of the room.

  In the hall Jim stopped, for Pritchard was standing by the open front door, speaking in a low voice to Joseph Mansell.

  Joseph caught sight of Jim, and came forward at once.

  ‘Jim! This – this appalling – Upon my word, I don’t know what to say! I came round to pay a call on Mrs Kane, and was met by this shocking news. I – really, I’m so overwhelmed by it – so upset – ! Good God, it’s incredible, utterly incredible!’ He wiped his face with his handkerchief as he spoke, and Jim saw that his hand was shaking a little. ‘Pritchard tells me he was shot in his study. I suppose you have no idea who can have done such a dastardly thing?’

  ‘None at all, sir.’

  ‘No, no, naturally not!’ Joe said. ‘It’s inexplicable! I shouldn’t have said he had an enemy in the world. Poor fellow, poor fellow!’ He became aware of Inspector Carlton at Jim’s elbow, and gave him a nod of recognition. ‘This is a terrible business, Inspector. It doesn’t bear thinking of. The loss to the firm, too! A most able fellow, a splendid man to work with, just like his cousin before him! What a tragedy!’ He shook his head, and fetching one of his gusty sighs said: ‘I had better go now. I wouldn’t dream of worrying Mrs Kane at such a moment.’ He glanced uncertainly at Carlton, and added: ‘If there’s anything I can do, or – or if you want me, Inspector, you know where you can find me, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes, sir. I shall be wanting to ask you one or two questions.’

  ‘Certainly, certainly! Anything I can tell you – only too anxious to be of assistance!’ Joe assured him.

  ‘If you’ll wait a minute, I’ll find out if my great-aunt can see you, Inspector,’ said Jim.

  The Inspector bowed, and walked over to study a somewhat gloomy seascape hanging by the front door. Jim went into the drawing-room, where he found not only Emily, but Oscar Roberts, and Timothy, and Miss Allison as well.

  Emily, having said that she saw no reason why tea should not be served as usual, was seated in her particular chair, eating a slice of bread and butter. Miss Allison, behind the tea-table, did not seem to be hungry, but Timothy and Mr Roberts were following Emily’s example.

  ‘Well?’ said Emily, glancing up at her favourite great-nephew. ‘Have they done yet? Your tea will be cold.’

  ‘Just a moment, aunt. The Inspector wants to ask you a question. May I show him in?’

  Emily said, in her most disagreeable voice: ‘I don’t know what he thinks I can tell him. You can show him in if you want to.’

  ‘It’s only about the Australian cousin,’ explained Jim. ‘He wants to know her name. It is a she, isn’t it?’

  ‘What’s that Australian lot got to do with him?’ said Emily, opening her eyes to their widest extent.

  ‘I suppose he feels he must check up on everybody,’ replied Jim. He opened the door again, and turned. ‘Will you come in, Inspector? Mrs Kane wi