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Karno’s Casebook, Volume One

Here are extracts from the three short stories. I hope they whet your appetites, and that you want to find out what happened next.

The Curious Case of the Solitary Surfer

The police motorcycle puttered slowly up the narrow coble-stoned hill. Its rider, one Constable Leon Karno, goggles pushed up on his helmet, looked intently at the house numbers. Karno, newly appointed to the traffic division had secretly hoped that he would be patrolling the highways and byways of Cornishire mounted on a speedy Triumph six-fifty Police special. To his chagrin, he found himself carrying out his duties on an elderly LE Velocette. Known to all and sundry as a Noddy bike Karno was personally convinced that Noddy wouldn’t be seen dead on one but consoled himself with the thought that the police issue motorcycle boots made him look taller.

Number seventy-five, Hill Street. Karno brought the bike to a halt by the simple expedient of rolling-off the throttle and gravity did the rest. Having dismounted he was approaching the front door in the act of undoing his helmet when he heard a crash. Sighing inwardly, he turned and picked up the bike. It didn’t appear to be any more battered than previously, so after double-checking that the stand was actually down he turned and was mortified to see an attractive young woman framed in the doorway.

“Good afternoon, Miss. Would you by any chance be, err…” he fumbled for his notebook.

“Elowen Pascoe?” The young woman’s voice was suggestive of a warm and sunny afternoon. Karno was instantly captivated

“Right, right.” Karno smiled at her.

“Nah. I’m Tamara Dinnis, her best friend, Elowen’s inside. Come in.”

Karno felt slightly disappointed.

***********

“You telephoned the Police Station this morning Miss Pascoe. You reported that a man had been following you, I believe? I got a call over the radio so I don’t have any details.” He took out his notebook, crossed his legs and looked expectantly at Elowen Pascoe.

“It all sounds a bit silly really…”

“No it doesn’t El. Just tell him the way you told me. Would you like a cup of tea constable err…”

“Karno, Miss. Yes please, milk and three sugars if it’s not too much trouble.” He smiled ingratiatingly, wishing that he had more hair and was just a couple of inches taller, and then turned his attention back to Miss Pascoe. In contrast to her blonde friend, she had long black hair and a faintly ethereal quality. More dark and mysterious than warm and sunny, he thought. Pretty though, in a slightly spooky sort of way.

“Well, I first noticed this man about two weeks ago. I was cycling to work and I noticed one of those beach buggy things behind me. The road was a bit twisty and narrow so I didn’t think anything of it when it stayed behind me for a while. I actually thought the driver was being quite considerate. Anyway, we got to a straightish bit, and he overtook me…”

“Sorry to interrupt Miss but just so I’ve got all the details. You left this house to cycle to work?”

“Tha’s right.”

“What time would that be?”

“I usually leave about quarter past seven. Takes me about three-quarters of an hour to cycle to work and I have breakfast when I get there.”

“Right, right. And where do you work Miss?”

“Oh sorry, I should have said. The Beach View Happy Camper site, on the cliffs overlooking Rozen Beach. I clean out the chalets, there’s about six of them, and generally tidy up around the campsite. The Tiddys, the owners of the campsite, had built a café last winter, when the site was closed. Since Missus Tiddy died at the beginning of the season, I’ve started doing some cooking. Well, most of it to be honest. Mister Tiddy can make tea and boil an egg, but that’s about his limit.”

“How long have you worked there?”

“This is my second season.”

“Right, right. So on this particular morning a beach buggy followed you for a while by. What made you think there was something fishy going on?”

“Well I didn’t at the time really. It was only afterwards when I got to thinking about it. See, after the buggy passed me it pulled into a passing place just round the corner and stopped. The driver was fiddling around with something and once I’d gone past him, he pulled out of the passing place. He couldn’t overtake again for a while, so he had to follow me. What struck me as a bit strange afterwards was that he hadn’t waved or said anything to me. You know, boys quite often get a bit cheeky and try to chat you up like. This one didn’t say anything, in fact he didn’t really seem to be looking at me at all.”

“What was he doing, fiddling with the engine or something?”

“Err, no. He was in the driver’s seat but he was bent over.”

“You didn’t see his face then?”

“Not then, no.”

“You’ve seen it since though.”

“Not really. Not clearly at any rate.”

“Right, right. Did you get the registration?”

“Didn’t think to, to be honest.”

“Right, right. But you’ve noticed the beach buggy on other occasions thought?”

“Yeah, coupla times. Too far away to read the number though.”

“But you have been followed again?”

“Not quite as obviously as that first time but yes. A couple of times he’s been in the same passing place and I’ve seen him surfing at Rozen beach. He doesn’t hang around with the usual surfer crowd there and he’s never come into the cafe so I’m not even too certain that I could give a description of him. Typical surfer really, straggly hair, straggly beard. Skinny, wears cut-off jean shorts and a tie-dye tee-shirt. Usually the same one by the looks of him.”

“What about the beach buggy?”

“Looks like most of them. Noisy exhaust, metallic paint job. Mainly red paint, not very well done though and the engine hasn’t been chromed I don’t think. Reckon I would have noticed that. Thinking about it, I reckon there might have been mud on the number plates.”

“Right. Has he approached you at all? Said anything or done anything to alarm you?”

Tamara interrupted Karno as she brought in the tea.

“There you go Constable Karno, milk and three sugars. Like a chocolate biccie to go with it?”

“Why not, about time for elevenses.”

“You don’t tell the story very convincingly El. It sounded quite harmless whilst I was making the tea. The point is constable, this creep is always there. Whenever El goes out, there he is, like a sort of faithful dog. Creepy I say.”

“Nah tha’s not right Tam. I only see him hanging around when I cycle to work. Never seen him out and about in the evenins.”

“Not at all. Sure about that?”

“Definitely. Ey, you gotta first name or did your mum call you Constable?” She giggled.

Karno briefly toyed with the idea of claiming to be called something manly, Rowdy, Harry or maybe Butch.

“Leon,” he said. “But my mates call me Fred.”

“Why’s that then, Fred?”

“You know, Fred Karno…” Obviously neither of them did.

“Well, it’s a long story.”

“I bet it’s really interestin. Tam would love to hear it, wouldn’t you, moi luvver?”

“Shut up you! Just because you’re fixed up doesn’t mean we’re all man mad.”

Karno gave a gentle cough.

“So this chap only follows you in the mornings when you go to work and hangs around on the beach during the day. What about when you go home in the evenings?”

“Sometimes. It’s almost like…nah.”

“Almost like what Miss?”

“Sounds sort of stupid, but it’s almost like he’s escorting me, like. Keepin’ an eye on me kind of, y’know?”

“Right, right. Well I’ll keep a look out for him and have a quiet word. See what he’s up to. In the meantime, if anything else happens you can reach me via the station.  I’ll contact you once I’ve spoken to him, you might well see me on your way to work tomorrow morning. Happy with that?”

“Yeah, thanks. I feel a bit silly about all this.”

Karno stood.

“Thanks for the tea, ladies.” They both giggled. “Don’t feel silly, we’re here to make sure that people stay safe and feel safe.”

“Yeah, guess so. Thanks Leon.”

“Yeah, bye Fred. You can always contact me via Miss Pascoe here.”

“Just one last question Miss. This wouldn’t be an old boyfriend acting up would it?”

“Nah.”

“Maybe somebody with a crush on you. Somebody you were at school with maybe?”

“Reckon I’d have recognised him if it was.”

“Right, right. Well, I’ll be off then.”

************

The Oggie of the Olgivies

For those who may be unfamiliar with the term, a Oggie is a Cornish pastie. Traditionally it was a two-course meal in one. One end of the pastry case would be filled with meat and potato, the other with fruit, usually an apple filling. These days the pasties are made with a variety of filling, all equally delicious.

Dear Reader, do not confuse Cornish pasties, or Oggies, with Cornishire Oggies. These are truly dangerous things to eat, the risks almost equal to those braved when partaking of the famed Japanese Puffer fish or Fugu. To discover why, you will have to read the first book in the Karno series, Kittie Cracks Case.

*****************

The seasonal southwesterly near gale hurled rain against the window with the enthusiasm of a youthful fire fighter trying out a new high-pressure hose for the first time. Chewing reflectively on his pen, Detective Sergeant Leon Karno was glad he was up to his neck in paperwork and not still in uniform, up to his neck in leaky wet-weather gear and pounding the beat on the mean streets of Paignmouth, or on traffic patrol astride the frequently temperamental and somewhat underpowered LE Velocette motorcycle.

Detective Inspector Miniver Vanne opened her office door.

“Karno. In.” She returned to her desk leaving the door invitingly open. Having no option, Karno took up the invitation with all the enthusiasm of an Ancient Greek philosopher accepting a drink from visiting friends.

“Bad business, Karno.”

She tapped a folder on her desk. Karno suspected that she was right. Anything that brought him to the attention of She Who Would be Chief Constable usually was. At a loss for anything constructive to say, he opted for silence. A lifted eyebrow told him this was not a career-enhancing choice.

“Right, right,” he ventured.

“For God’s sake Karno will you stop saying ‘right, right’. I can’t tell you how much it annoys me.”

“Ri…really sorry about that Guv, er ma’am.” This was not a promising start. And it was still raining. Karno took a bet with himself that he would shortly be getting wet, and was not surprised to find that he had won the jackpot.

**********

The Old manor House on the Sodden Moor council estate distinguished itself by not having a dismantled motorcycle in the front garden, nor were there any broken windows lovingly repaired by thick cardboard. It was still raining, so Karno zipped up his tweed anorak, donned his deerstalker and with a resigned air stepped out of the unmarked police car and into a deep puddle. He carefully locked the door then had a brief but urgent struggle to unlock it as the vehicle began to gently roll down the street. Having put the hand brake on, and left the car in gear for good measure, he scanned the area for any spotty youths with wheel-removing implements. Reassured by the empty streets, he strode purposefully to the wrought-iron gate, carefully skirting the deep puddle that he noticed was the only one in the immediate vicinity.

The front doorbell emitted an impressive single ‘dong’ when pressed, and standing under the leaking porch, Karno was unable to resist using the brass doorknocker. It was shaped like a gargoyle ,and the door visibly shook when he raised it to its full extension and let it drop. The wind howled and the rain was almost horizontal. It brought to mind the late-night Hammer Horror movies. The only thing missing was a howling hound. Karno became aware of a high-pitched yapping. The door creaked open and a small Pekingese attempted to attach itself to his left leg. Pausing only to kick the animal further down the front path Karno, introduced himself.

“Karno. Paignmouth CID.”

A worried looking woman invited him in.

“Arnie. Come inside and leave the nice man alone.”

Arnie warily edged round the nice man, yapped unconvincingly at his right ankle, then scuttled off along the dingy corridor.

“Follow me.”

Karno followed the worried looking woman along the short dingy corridor and into a back room.

“Beware. Beware the curse. The curse of the Olgivies. Doom doom. Doom I tell you. Death and destruction.” She dropped her voice to a hoarse whisper. “The horror, the unspeakable horror.”

The speaker was a large red-haired woman, wearing a florid dress that clashed alarmingly with the chintz sofa on which she was sitting.

“This is Madam Acacia. The renowned psychic gypsy fortune teller,” the worried looking woman said. “And this is poor Missus Olgivie.”

Poor Missus Olgivie was sitting bolt upright in a horsehair armchair, hair all awry and saying nothing. She stared fixedly at a photo of herself and a man Karno took to be her late husband. The photo was on top of an old mahogany sideboard.

“Right, right. Good morning Missus Olgivie, my name is Karno. Detective Sergeant Karno of the Paignmouth CID. Sorry to trouble you at this difficult time, but I wonder if I might just ask you a few questions.”

Missus Olgivie gave a visible shudder but said nothing. Karno turned his attention to the worried looking woman.

“You are?” He asked.

“Missus Trelawney. I live next door.”

“Right, right. Missus Olgivie, sorry an all that but I do have to ask you a few questions.” He took out a slightly damp notebook.

“Doom. Doom and destruction. Beware the ides of the March as the Oggies stalk the doomed on the blasted Moor. The horror, oh the unspeakable horror.”

Karno turned his attention to the speaker who was staring intently into a cracked teacup.

“Ullo Flo. Things a bit slow in the caff today then?”

“Ullo moi luvver. It’s in the tea leaves. The horror, oh the horror of it.”

Karno leaned forward to look into the cup as Madam Acacia held it out to him.

“The usual milk and gin then, Flo?” He enquired.

“You’re just a bloody cynic Karno. Why are you wearing that stupid deerstalker?”

“Some regard the wearing of the Deerstalker as something of an affectation, but I regard it as paying homage to one of the greatest detectives of all time. The stupid deerstalker also keeps the rain off my cynical head. Now, would somebody like to tell me why I’m here?”

“Why are any of us here moi luvver.”

Karno sighed.

“Mind if I sit down, Missus Olgivie?” he asked.

Missus Olgivie stared fixedly at the photo and shuddered once more.

“I’ll take that as a ‘yes, please do, Detective Sergeant’ he said to the room in general.” He sat. He leant forward, reached behind him and removing an indignant Pekingese by the scruff of its neck, resisted the temptation to hurl the animal across the room.

“That’s Arnie’s chair,” Missus Trelawney said in a horrified whisper.

“Arnie said I could use it for a while,” replied Karno.

“I didn’t hear him say that.”

“It said it quietly.”

“He. Arnie’s a he.”

“Not for much longer if he tries to savage my ankles again.”

“Aaaiiieee. The swirling mist, I see figures in the swirling mist of time. Two figures. In the mist. Unspeakable horror and dark deeds.” Madam Acacia agitated the teacup she was grasping in her pink right hand, and peered into the bottom of it.

Missus Olgivie gave another shudder that seemed to travel up and down her entire body.

“Would you like some tea, detective sergeant?””

“That would be nice, thank you, Missus Trelawney. Milk and three sugars please. No gin, I’m on duty.” Karno reflected that even if he were in a madhouse, at least he was in the dry and away from SWWCC. “Right, right. Better get some details then.”

“Aaaaiiiieeee….”

“Yes all right Flo. What do the tea leaves say then?”

*******

Handbags at Dawn

Monday Morning

“Ariadne, tea. Are you awake in there? Ariadne, rise and shine, dear!”

Pamela Brockhampton, receiving no reply, balanced the tea tray in her left hand and opened the bedroom door. How strange, Ariadne had not slept in her bed last night. 

“Ariadne!” She shouted loudly. No reply. How very strange. By now thoroughly alarmed, she left the bedroom door open and carried the tray back downstairs. She entered the kitchen as Missus Penhaligon let herself in the backdoor.

“Mornin Miss Brockhampton.”

“Morning Missus Penhaligon. Bit of a flap on, Missus Trannock’s missing!”

“Missing? Whatever do you mean, missing?”

“I last saw her in the study when I went to bed and her bed’s not been slept in. I do hope she hasn’t wandered off somewhere. She’s been acting a little strange recently.”

“I saw the study window was open when I came up the drive. Perhaps she’s in there.”

“She was going through some correspondence last night after supper. Probably fell asleep, but it’s strange I’ve been shouting for a couple of minutes.”

Missus Penhaligon, having taken off her hat and raincoat went to the study door and tried it.

“Locked!”

“Locked?” Miss Brockhampton put the tea-tray down on the kitchen table and tried the door. “But we never lock it. Ariadne, Ariadne are you in there!” She rattled the door handle several times. “Oh my word something must be wrong.”

The ever-practical Missus Penhaligon said, ” Do you have the key?”

“Key? I, er no, no it should be in the lock.”

“I’ll take a look through the window.  You keep knocking on the door, I’ll run round and take a look.”

She hesitated for a moment, wondering whether she should at least put on her hat as it was still raining but decided that the situation warranted getting a wet head. She quickly ran out the back door, around the side of the house to the open window of the study, looked in…. and screamed.

****************

“Steady on Fred! Bloody hell we’ll never hear the end of it if you prang it!”

“Right, right. Bloody emergency though boy! Got to get there smartish before the plods trample all over the clues.”

Detective Sergeant Leon Karno grinned as he braked hard, changed down and swung the Cornishire Constabulary Lotus Cortina hard left into the narrow, leafy lane. Mindful of destroying possible clues, he eased off before turning sedately into the gravel driveway of Trevelick House, and his passenger, Detective Constable Colin Gundry breathed a sigh of relief.

“Detective Sergeant Karno, Detective Constable Gundry.” They held up their warrant cards and the bored-looking uniformed constable outside the front door nodded. On entering the sound of sobbing, coming from the kitchen, greeted them. Following the sound, Karno saw two women and a Woman Police Constable. One of the women, late forties he guessed was sitting at the kitchen table and doing the sobbing whilst the other, a sturdy-looking woman in her mid to late fifties, sat in a chair beside the sobber, trying to comfort her. Karno nodded to the WPC and turning saw a uniformed sergeant beckoning him and Gundry into another room across the hallway.

” What do we have here then?”

“Murder by the looks of it.”

“Right, right. Looks can be deceiving but I have to admit if you’ve got a body with a knife sticking out of the chest, it’s probably not an accident. What happened?”

“This is the late Missus Ariadne Trannock. Last seen alive sitting at this desk about ten o’clock last night, apparently going through some correspondence. Her bed wasn’t slept in and she was found at about seven-thirty this morning.”

“Who found her?”

“The woman who does, Missus Penhaligon from the village, saw her through the window. The door to this room was locked. The nine nine nine call was timed at seven forty-seven. Missus Penhaligon made the call and the operator could hear a hysterical woman in the background. That would have been Miss Pamela Brockhampton, who’s still semi-hysterical, and I do wish she’d pipe down a bit.”

“And Miss Pamela Brockhampton  is…”

“Apparently a companion.”

“Companion? Is that a euphemism Sergeant?”

“Err, nope, not as far as I’m aware.”

“Companion eh, how quaint. Paid companion or just a companion?”

“No idea.”

“Broken window pane over there Fred.” Gundry nodded towards the open window.

Karno went over and looked. The window consisted of a latticework of small panes. The one nearest to the window handle had been broken, presumably allowing somebody to reach in and open the window.

“Obviously how they got in, Fred.”

“Right, right. Yes, obviously. Place been dusted yet, has it?”

“Err yup. Lab boys have just finished. Photos done, too.”

“Right, right.”

The Constable from the front door came into the hallway.

“Police Surgeon’s arrived Sarge.”

“Well, wheel him in then lad, wheel him in.”

Karno and Gundry stood in front of the desk whilst the doctor carried out a quick examination.

“Karno, come here a moment will you.”

Karno walked round the side of the desk and stood by the doctor. The latter glanced towards the door then lowered his voice.

“Notice anything strange, Fred?”

“Not particularly Bob, unless you count a body sitting back in a chair with a knife sticking out of its chest strange.”

“One of the strange things here is your sense of humour, Fred. Look at the skin.”

“What am I lookin at, Bob?”

“It’s flushed. Most bodies are pale and waxy. The blood on the knife blade… bright red.”

“Right, right. Unusual, otherwise you wouldn’t have mentioned it.”

“Notice a slight smell of almonds?”

“There’s a bowl of almonds on the desk, Bob, next to those smelling salts and the whiskey glass.”

“Hmm, hadn’t noticed that. Still, I think I’ll test for poison. Could be cyanide.”

“So, somebody poisoned the woman and then stabbed her. Novel, but I suppose that’s being thorough. Finished with the body?”

“I’ll just take a couple more photos, then we can move her.”

“Gundry, why don’t you take a look outside, see if you can find any footprints. Keep the lab boys here. Make sure they get the prints off that knife. Is it a knife or a letter opener?”

Doc Carver studied it intently.

“Knife, stiletto. Too long to be a letter opener I think, but I’ll give you a definitive answer once I’ve removed it.”

“Right, right. Maybe wailing woman will know, if we can get her to stop wailing and actually talk that is.”

Tuesday Morning

“How are you this morning Miss Brockhampton?”

Karno and Miss Brockhampton were in the lounge. They could hear Missus Penhaligon making tea in the kitchen.

“Oh, well a bit wobbly Mister Karno. I, um, well this is all a terrible shock you see. I mean I’ve never even seen a dead body before and well…”

“Right, right. Do you feel up to answering a couple of questions? Did you get any sleep last night?”

“Yes, I suppose so. Missus Penhaligon called Doctor Bescoby and he gave me a couple of sleeping pills. Missus Penhaligon stayed over last night, just in case of…well, just in case, you know.”

“I know. Look, I’ll be as brief as I can. I’ve seen the statement you gave to the officers who were first on the scene, but perhaps you could just go through it again for me? You last spoke to Missus Trannock about ten o’clock last night I believe?”

“We’d watched the news. I normally have a cup of herbal tea last thing before going to bed and Ariadne generally has a whiskey. After I’d had my tea she said she had some letters to read. Or was it write? Oh I can’t remember, I know she spoke of correspondence…oh dear, is that important?”

“Don’t worry, you’ll probably remember but it’s not that important. So you saw her go into the study?”

“Yes. I stuck my head in the door and said goodnight on my way upstairs.”

“Right, right. Was the door closed?”

“No. No definitely not. It was a bit close last night, but what with the rain from the southwest, you couldn’t open the windows, leastways not this side of the house. Anyway, she never used to close the door to the study. Said it was anti-social closing doors, and whatever she was doing wasn’t that private.”

“Did she say that?”

“Say what, sorry?”

“Say that what she was doing wasn’t private?”

“Oh, I see what you mean. No, it was something she always said.”

“Right, right. How did she seem?”

“Sorry?”

“Did she appear to be acting normally or did it seem like something was worrying her?”

“She might have been a little pre-occupied. She’s been having dizzy spells these last few weeks. Went to see Doctor Bescoby about it, oh it must have been the week before last.”

“Was she on any medication that you know of?”

Miss Brockhampton shook her head.

“No, not as such. She brought some smelling salts from the chemists, said it helped when she felt dizzy. She said that the doctor had told her she seemed a bit …a bit nervy.”

“Nervy?

“Oh you know, a bit tense. Blood pressure was up a little; she’d get a bit, umm anxious, sometimes. The doctor thought it would pass if she went for a few good walks, got some fresh air and exercise, that sort of thing.”

“Was she normally an active woman?”

“Oh yes, we’d walk for miles. Mind you, not the last couple of weeks or so. She had seemed preoccupied a lot of the time. Quite moody, now I come to think of it. Not herself at all.”

“Right, right. So you said goodnight around ten o’clock. The study door was open and she seem pre-occupied to you.”

“A little. I thought maybe there were some important letters. She had investments, you know.”

“Any trouble with these investments? That might account for her being a bit nervy, perhaps.”

“Oh I don’t think so Mister Karno. Apparently, her late husband was a very wealthy man, some years older than she was I believe. She’s always been well off, or at least comfortably off, as far as I know. We never really discussed financial matters. She had spoken of us going on a cruise this coming winter. No, I don’t think she had any financial problems.”

“Were you related, Miss Brockhampton?”

“Oh Lord no! I was working as an English Teacher in Greece when I first met Ariadne. Her husband had just died, well a few months before at any rate, and we struck up a friendship. She said that she didn’t want to sell the house here, and her husband had left her financially secure. As she had no intention of marrying again and had no children, she suggested that I come and live with her, as a companion.”

“Forgive me for asking, but would that have been as a paid companion?”

“Oh yes! I mean I would have been happy to just come and live in this lovely house and perhaps have a small allowance, but Ariadne said it wouldn’t do. Wouldn’t do at all. I’d have to have a proper salary otherwise I’d get resentful. It’s only a small salary, but Ariadne covered all the house expenses and paid for the food. I did the shopping and generally ran the house. You know, engaged Missus Penhaligon as a domestic, found a gardener, arranged for the car to be serviced, that sort of thing.”

“Yes I see. So, you saw her at ten o’clock and everything was normal. You said you got up in the morning to make tea, as you usually did. Took the tea to her room and discovered that her bed hadn’t been slept in.”

“That’s correct. Then I came down stairs and… oh dear. Do excuse me.”

Miss Brockhampton snuffled into a handkerchief for a bit, then she pulled herself together.

“Then I came downstairs. I don’t know what I was thinking really. I suppose I might have thought that she’d fallen asleep in the study. I was a bit put out because I’d taken the tea-tray upstairs and I needn’t have bothered if she was in the study. I suppose I thought that she might have said something when I first came downstairs; she’s generally awake when I make the tea. I can’t really remember. I was concerned though, I mean she’d never not slept in her bed before.”

“Right, right. I wonder if you feel up to going into the study? I’d like you and Missus Penhaligon to see if anything seems out of place or unusual.”

“I, I think I could manage that. I mean, she’s not there now, is she?”

“No, no she’s not. Before we do go in though, if you could finish off what happened next.”

“Oh. Yes of course. Well as I got to the kitchen Missus Penhaligon arrived. She has a backdoor key and she lets herself in the mornings. I can’t remember exactly, I think I said that Ariadne was missing. Missus Penhaligon said she’d seen the study window open and I said that perhaps she’d fallen asleep over her correspondence. Missus Penhaligon tried the door and it was locked so she went round to look through the window and, well you know the rest. She called the Police and I rather went to pieces I’m afraid.”

“Right, right. The door was unlocked when the officers arrived though.”

“Missus Penhaligon said she saw the key in the door so I, well I remembered a trick to get the key. You slide a sheet of paper under the door and then push a coat hanger or something through the keyhole to push the key out.”

“And you went in?”

“We both did. Poor Ariadne was just sitting bolt upright in the chair with… with… oh dear.” She dissolved into tears again. Karno waited.

“This is important Miss Brockhampton. Did either you or Missus Penhaligon touch anything in the study?”

“Oh no. No, I just stood in the doorway and I could see there was nothing to be done for poor Ariadne. I don’t believe that Missus Penhaligon went into the room at all. Yes, I’m sure about that. Neither of us went into the room until the Police arrived.”

Missus Penhaligon came in carrying two cups of tea on a tray.

“I tell you what Miss Brockhampton, why don’t you sit here and have your tea. I’ll just have a quick chat with Missus Penhaligon in the kitchen then if you’re up to it, we’ll go into the study.

***************

“How long have you worked here Missus Penhaligon?”

“Oh let me see. I started just before Mister Trannock died so that must have been, about six years ago now I suppose. Yes, that’d be right my hubby lost his job when the mine closed down so somebody had to do some work, otherwise we’d all have starved!”

“Right, right. Just before Mister Trannock died.”

“About two or three months. He was twenty-odd years older than Missus Trannock. Bit of an unlikely couple, always arguing. He was retired, I think he was something in the city, London that is. She was originally from London. Used to pop back up there quite regularly. I seem to remember that was what they mainly argued about.”

“Right, right. So after he died…”

“”Missus Trannock was quite upset.”

“I expect she would have been.”

“Of course, but bearing in mind they always argued about her going up to London. ..well to be honest, Mister Karno, I thought she had a fancy man up there. I wasn’t expecting her to stick around down here. Thought she’d sell the old place and scarper.”

“But she stayed?”

“Yes. Got quite involved with the Women’s Institute. Funny, I never saw her as an ardent jam or cake maker but there’s no telling how bereavement affects some people I suppose.”

“True enough. When did Miss Brockhampton come to the house?”

“A couple of years after the old boy popped off. Missus Trannock came back from a holiday in Greece and said she’d taken on a charity case. Pamela, Miss Brockhampton, arrived a couple of weeks later and she’s been here ever since.”

“She’s a paid companion I understand.”

“Yes. More like all found plus pocket money I think. Missus Trannock said she gave her enough to feel independent but not enough to actually be independent.”

“What’ll happen to her now?”

“Missus Trannock always said she’d look after her. Me as well, come to that. There’s a nephew in London, Missus Trannock’s family. He’s been down a couple of times, no more. Bit of a waster if you ask me, always asking his aunt for money by all accounts. I suppose the house might go to him, although I believe there’s a flat somewhere in London.”

“Right, right. So Miss Brockhampton could find herself out on the streets then.”

“I very much doubt it Mister Karno. Missus Trannock said she was one of life’s innocents. I think she was very fond of her charity case, so I’m sure she’ll be well provided for.”

“To get back to yesterday morning…”

“I arrived as usual for a Monday Morning at seven thirty and let myself in. On the way down the drive, I saw that the study window was slightly open. I was surprised because the ladies are usually quite careful to lock up at night, well Miss Brockhampton is anyway, and I remember thinking that the study might have got a bit wet if it had been left open all night. Sooth Westerly wind you see. Poured down all night it did.”

“Right, right. So you let yourself in….”

“And Miss Brockhampton was in the kitchen with the tea things. She seemed quite flustered, rambling on about Missus Trannock being missing. Anyway, I tried the study door and it was locked. I went round to the study window and looked in. Poor thing! I could see her in the chair and I knew something wasn’t right. I called out to her, and then I noticed the knife in her chest. I think I screamed, and then ran back to the kitchen. I called the Police and Miss Brockhampton managed to get the door open. Just about then the Police arrived.”

“How’d she get the door open?”

“The key was on the inside but she managed to push it out of the lock onto the paper. By the time I’d finished with the phone call she had unlocked the door.”

“Right, right. The paper?”

“The morning paper.”

“Of course. And then?”

“Then we sort of stood there looking at Ariadne for, well I don’t know how long for, then the Police arrived.”

“Right, right. Stood and looked.”

“Yes. Well it was obvious that the poor thing was dead so I said we’d better not go touching anything before the Police arrived.”

“You called her Ariadne?”

Missus Penhaligon laughed a little.

“Well Mister Karno, Missus Trannock never put on any airs and graces. I think she’d taken a step up in the world when she married Mister Trannock, if you follow me. She called me Nessa and I called her Ariadne, unless Miss Brockhampton was around.”

“Right, I see.”

“Perhaps you do Mister Karno, perhaps you do. Let’s just say that Miss Brockhampton was gentile but down on her luck, and Missus Trannock wasn’t gentile but was very definitely up on her luck.”

Karno nodded.

“Finish your tea Missus Penhaligon. Let’s take a look in the study.”

**************