it.’
‘Some toxins take a while to work.’ The medic defended his corner. ‘She could have popped something hours ago and thought it hadn’t taken. Then perhaps she perked up, came into work and was struck sudden.’
Mirabelle looked dubious. She turned to Captain Henshaw. ‘You say she’s been employed here since 1918?’
‘As long as I can remember,’ he said sadly. ‘Twice a week. Mrs Chapman has always been very reliable. She cleans the Pavilion, too. For the council. That’s how we found her – I mean, when we first took her on. Perfect arrangement, really. She was part-time for them and part-time for us. She’s a country girl – a hard worker. They recommended her highly and they were right.’
‘But Brighton Pavilion’s been closed for years,’ Mirabelle pointed out. ‘Ever since the war.’
Captain Henshaw was becoming annoyed. ‘It’s a former royal residence. It has to be maintained. And what the blazes has it got to do with you? Nosey parker. I knew the minute I saw her there wasn’t any hope.’
‘Perhaps I could walk you out, Miss Bevan, Miss Churchill.’ McGregor decided to take charge before the witnesses came to blows. It was standard procedure to separate people as quickly as possible. Besides, he had questions of his own for Mirabelle and Vesta. As he directed the women towards the door, the phrase ‘herding cats’ came into his mind. ‘Miss Churchill,’ he motioned.
Captain Henshaw watched Mirabelle and Vesta fall into step. ‘We need to have Mrs Chapman’s body collected, don’t we? By an undertaker. The old girl deserves some respect now, at least. I’ll ask the caretaker to telephone.’
‘Leave all that to me, Captain Henshaw,’ McGregor said firmly. ‘I want to speak to Miss Bevan for a moment, but I’ll see to Mrs Chapman. If she’s been poisoned, this is a potential homicide scene. I’ll send for my boys. We’ll be as quick as we can but we’ll need to keep the body in situ for a while, I’m afraid. And we’ll need to interview anyone else who was in the building this morning, too. So, please ask the caretaker to make himself available.’
Henshaw exhaled sharply. ‘I’m going to phone the Chief of Police. This room is sacred. I don’t think you understand.’
‘I understand perfectly well, and the Chief won’t say any different.’ McGregor called the old man’s bluff, though Mirabelle thought she detected a shade of uncertainty in his voice. ‘If the woman was murdered, we’ll need to inspect everything. Don’t touch anything you don’t have to,’ he insisted as he held the door open for Mirabelle and Vesta. ‘The medic will need to stay here, and if you could fetch the caretaker I’ll interview him next.’
Henshaw didn’t object. Instead he hoisted himself to his feet and limped in the direction of the door. ‘All right, I’ll get him,’ he said. ‘I might as well do something useful.’
Chapter 7
Patience and tenacity are worth twice
their weight in cleverness .
‘ W hat are you two doing here?’ demanded McGregor. He had bundled the women into the sunny reception room at the front of the building, which now seemed rather eerie. Mirabelle cast her eyes over the intricate carved wooden feet on the sofas and armchairs and wondered if Mrs Chapman had polished them with her white gloves earlier that day. She did not want to sit down.
‘It’s a free country,’ Vesta managed to get out.
McGregor cast her a stern look that quashed all hope that that kind of reply would be adequate. ‘A woman has died,’ he said flatly. ‘And they don’t allow lady members in the masons, so how do you explain your presence?’
‘We were interested, Superintendent.’ Mirabelle’s voice was smooth. ‘That’s all.’
‘Interested? Interested in what? Next time you’re interested , let me know and I’ll send a uniformed officer to avert the homicide.’
‘Well, if you’re going to be like that . . .’ Mirabelle took her
‘Some toxins take a while to work.’ The medic defended his corner. ‘She could have popped something hours ago and thought it hadn’t taken. Then perhaps she perked up, came into work and was struck sudden.’
Mirabelle looked dubious. She turned to Captain Henshaw. ‘You say she’s been employed here since 1918?’
‘As long as I can remember,’ he said sadly. ‘Twice a week. Mrs Chapman has always been very reliable. She cleans the Pavilion, too. For the council. That’s how we found her – I mean, when we first took her on. Perfect arrangement, really. She was part-time for them and part-time for us. She’s a country girl – a hard worker. They recommended her highly and they were right.’
‘But Brighton Pavilion’s been closed for years,’ Mirabelle pointed out. ‘Ever since the war.’
Captain Henshaw was becoming annoyed. ‘It’s a former royal residence. It has to be maintained. And what the blazes has it got to do with you? Nosey parker. I knew the minute I saw her there wasn’t any hope.’
‘Perhaps I could walk you out, Miss Bevan, Miss Churchill.’ McGregor decided to take charge before the witnesses came to blows. It was standard procedure to separate people as quickly as possible. Besides, he had questions of his own for Mirabelle and Vesta. As he directed the women towards the door, the phrase ‘herding cats’ came into his mind. ‘Miss Churchill,’ he motioned.
Captain Henshaw watched Mirabelle and Vesta fall into step. ‘We need to have Mrs Chapman’s body collected, don’t we? By an undertaker. The old girl deserves some respect now, at least. I’ll ask the caretaker to telephone.’
‘Leave all that to me, Captain Henshaw,’ McGregor said firmly. ‘I want to speak to Miss Bevan for a moment, but I’ll see to Mrs Chapman. If she’s been poisoned, this is a potential homicide scene. I’ll send for my boys. We’ll be as quick as we can but we’ll need to keep the body in situ for a while, I’m afraid. And we’ll need to interview anyone else who was in the building this morning, too. So, please ask the caretaker to make himself available.’
Henshaw exhaled sharply. ‘I’m going to phone the Chief of Police. This room is sacred. I don’t think you understand.’
‘I understand perfectly well, and the Chief won’t say any different.’ McGregor called the old man’s bluff, though Mirabelle thought she detected a shade of uncertainty in his voice. ‘If the woman was murdered, we’ll need to inspect everything. Don’t touch anything you don’t have to,’ he insisted as he held the door open for Mirabelle and Vesta. ‘The medic will need to stay here, and if you could fetch the caretaker I’ll interview him next.’
Henshaw didn’t object. Instead he hoisted himself to his feet and limped in the direction of the door. ‘All right, I’ll get him,’ he said. ‘I might as well do something useful.’
Chapter 7
Patience and tenacity are worth twice
their weight in cleverness .
‘ W hat are you two doing here?’ demanded McGregor. He had bundled the women into the sunny reception room at the front of the building, which now seemed rather eerie. Mirabelle cast her eyes over the intricate carved wooden feet on the sofas and armchairs and wondered if Mrs Chapman had polished them with her white gloves earlier that day. She did not want to sit down.
‘It’s a free country,’ Vesta managed to get out.
McGregor cast her a stern look that quashed all hope that that kind of reply would be adequate. ‘A woman has died,’ he said flatly. ‘And they don’t allow lady members in the masons, so how do you explain your presence?’
‘We were interested, Superintendent.’ Mirabelle’s voice was smooth. ‘That’s all.’
‘Interested? Interested in what? Next time you’re interested , let me know and I’ll send a uniformed officer to avert the homicide.’
‘Well, if you’re going to be like that . . .’ Mirabelle took her
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