‘You never know,’ Vicky murmured.
‘In any case, it won’t be necessary for you to shove your oar in,’ said Hugh. ‘The police are naturally suspicious of everyone who was in any way connected with your stepfather.’
‘Yes,’ said Mary. ‘And what the Inspector won’t know of the cross-currents in this house after his heart-to-heart talk with Peake, won’t be worth knowing!’
Eight
Inspector Cook, who had had no very wide experience of murder cases, and who had been thrown badly out of his stride by his interview with the members of Wally Carter’s family, was discovering in Peake, the butler, the first witness who gave his evidence fully, and to the point. Mrs Peake, and the young housemaid he had soon dismissed, for the housemaid was too frightened to stop sobbing, and Mrs Peake, a comfortably shaped woman who had, she informed him, been in the best service all her life, declined knowing anything beyond the realm of her kitchen.
But Peake gave the Inspector no trouble at all. He
had been in his pantry, he said, at the time of Wally’s death, but he admitted without any hesitation that he could produce no proof of this statement. When he was asked if he knew of anyone having a grudge against Wally, he looked down his thin nose, and replied primly that he believed a young man calling himself Baker had considerable cause to bear Wally a grudge.
‘Yes, I want to know more about that young fellow,’ said the Inspector. ‘I understand he came up to the house to see Mr Carter?’
‘He came twice,’ said Peake. ‘Upon the first occasion, which was early yesterday afternoon, Miss Vicky interviewed him. I could not say what took place between them, I’m sure. He returned about half past nine in the evening, and although I informed him that Mr Carter was engaged with guests, he refused to withdraw. He came upon a motor bicycle on both occasions. He appeared to me to be a very violent young man.’
‘Ah, violent, was he? What makes you think that?’
‘He uttered threats of a mysterious nature, and when I told him to be off he put his foot down so that I was unable to shut the door.’
‘What sort of threats?’
‘I should not like to say,’ replied Peake. ‘I paid very little heed to him, seeing that he was quite a common person, and wearing one of those red ties. I recall that he said Mr Carter would be sorry if he refused to see him, besides ranting a great deal about his sister’s honour, in a very vulgar way.’
‘Oh! Did Mr Carter see him?’
‘Mr Carter was with him in the library for about half an hour.’
‘Did you happen to hear what was said?’ asked the Inspector.
‘Certainly not,’ replied Peake frigidly.
‘Any sounds of altercation?’
‘Upon my way through the hall, I noticed that Baker’s voice was unbecomingly raised,’ admitted Peake.
‘What about today? Has he been here again?’
‘He has not been here to my knowledge.’
‘And is he the only person you know of who might have wanted to murder Mr Carter?’
‘Oh no, Inspector!’ said Peake calmly.
The Inspector looked narrowly at him. ‘Come on, then: out with it! What other enemies had he got?’
‘There is Mr Steel, for one,’ answered Peake.
‘Do you mean Mr Steel of Oaklands Farm?’
‘That’s right, Inspector.’
‘What had he got against Mr Carter?’
‘It is common knowledge that Mr Steel is greatly attached to Mrs Carter.’
‘Do you mean he’s in love with her?’