Ill Met By Moonlight

Chapter 4 - The Vicar and the Landlady

'Where next?' asked Hastings as they walked down the street.

'Now we have an appointment back at my flat,' Poirot told him. They took a taxi back to Poirot's flat.

'Has anyone called while we have been out?' Poirot asked George.

'Yes, a Reverend Jerome Thornhill arrived some ten minutes ago saying he had an appointment,' George informed him.

'Excellent. Where is the Reverend Jerome Thornhill now?' Poirot wanted to know.

'I have put him in your office. I offered him coffee which he declined and tea which he accepted.' There was an indulgent note in George's voice. He had strong views about the proper time to drink beverages; in his opinion, coffee was drunk in the morning and tea in the afternoon but he was prepared to make allowances for a clergyman.

'Could you bring us both a coffee please, George?' asked Poirot. He and Hastings then entered his office. The Reverend Jerome Thornhill came to his feet as they entered the room. He was a tall, spare man with greying hair and mild blue eyes.

'Monsieur Poirot?' he asked. Poirot bowed. 'The Bishop of London sent me,' Reverend Thornhill told him, 'He thought that I might be of use to you.'

'Indeed you will but please be seated, finish your tea and we can discuss this further.' Once they were all seated, Poirot continued, 'Did the bishop explain why you might be needed?' The clergyman smiled.

'He didn't need to. If I am required, then I have some idea why.'

'I'd be grateful if you'd explain it to me,' broke in Hastings who was thoroughly confused.

'It is no longer fashionable to admit to a belief in the forces of evil that are not totally material. If asked, the Bishop would probably deny that that certain creatures of the night exist. Just he denies that my role exists. I am, if you like, the Church of England's Secret Service. I perform exorcisms amongst other certain specialised services,' explained the Vicar.

'Tell me, have you ever come across vampires before?'

'Vampires? And you've lived to tell the tale? I'm impressed.'

'Oh, I only saw the back of them. But Hastings here, survived a conversation with one.' The way that the Revered Jerome Thornhill looked at him; as if he were an interesting specimen, made Hastings go hot and cold.

'Fascinating,' he breathed. ' Male or female?'

'Female,' said Hastings curtly. He was embarrassed by the memory and hoped that the Vicar wouldn't ask any awkward questions. The Reverend Jerome Thornhill however asked many questions about his encounter which Hastings answered tersely before turning to Poirot.

'So you believe that they have returned to London?'

'It seems highly likely to me,' Poirot shrugged. 'We have just acquired the address of where they were staying. Would you like to accompany us to interview the landlady if she is still alive?'

Before answering, the vicar looked out of the window. 'Still several hours of daylight left,' he noted. 'It should be safe enough.'

'My dear vicar!' protested Hastings. 'I am bringing my gun.'

The vicar looked steadily at Hastings, 'Guns may stop them temporarily but not permanently. They are not enough. Have you any traditional weapons?'

'We have crosses around our necks and bibles,' Poirot told him.

'A good start but you will need more.' The vicar opened a large Gladstone bag next to his chair and pulled out two large crosses, which he handed to Poirot and Hastings. Next he produced two large glass bottles full of a transparent liquid.

'This is holy water. Keep a bottle of this and a cross ready for use when you go anywhere where you suspect a vampire may be. Don't keep them in your pocket that could lose you vital seconds. And seconds are all you have when faced with a vampire,' he instructed them. Hastings looked over into the open Gladstone bag and saw several sharp sticks nestling inside.

'What are they for?' he asked. The Reverend Jerome Thornhill's face was grim.

'One of the few ways there are to kill a vampire with a stake through the heart. But only when the vampire is sleeping, otherwise the vampire is usually far too strong. Although I have come across a few legends of a human who is able to kill them through superhuman strength, the Vampire Slayer, I believe he is called. If only such a person existed!'

'A pity indeed,' politely agreed Poirot.

'What are the other ways to kill a vampire?' Hastings asked.

'Decapitation or sunlight.'

The address that Mr Windthrop had given them was in the outskirts of southern London, in an area called Brixton. It was a rather poor area and the house that they arrived at looked a little shabby although Poirot noted that the doorstep and windows were spotlessly clean. Hastings rapped the doorknocker loudly. An elderly woman looking tired and anxious and wiping her floury hands on her flowery apron answered it almost immediately. She looked at them eagerly.

'Have you come about Irene?' she asked.

'Irene?' echoed Hastings. She sagged.

'I am sorry,' said Poirot gently. 'Your daughter is missing?'

'Irene is my granddaughter. I thought, I hoped, that you gentlemen might have had some news…' her voice trailed away and she looked hopelessly at them.

'May we come in?' asked the vicar.

'Yes, please do come in.' She ushered them into a sitting room crowded with furniture and knickknacks. "What can I do for you gentlemen?' she asked once they were seated.

'May I know your name?' Poirot asked.

'Mrs Bradbury.'

'Mrs Bradbury, we have come to ask you some questions about your lodgers, Sid and Nancy Vilier,' Poirot explained.

' Sid and Nancy? What have they done?'

'Are they here?' asked Poirot, ignoring her question.

'No, they've not been here for a day or so. They came back at the dead of night, collected their belongings and left.'

Poirot sighed with frustration. The landlady continued, 'I'm not unhappy that they have gone to be honest. They were ever such a nice quiet couple but they did make things a little inconvenient. What with her sunlight allergy and having to keep the house as dark and quiet as possible during the daytime.'

'Sunlight allergy?' echoed the vicar.

'Oh yes, her brother explained all about it to me. That's why they had to have the basement room. I was pleased as often my guests don't like that room, they say it's too dark and gloomy, They didn't want any meals either as they're on a strict diet and prepare all their own food. Funny thing is I never saw them bring any food into the house. They must have eaten out.'

'How long has Irene been missing?' asked Poirot.

'About a week now," she told him.

'May we have a look at Sid and Nancy's room?' asked the vicar.

'What for?'

'We are trying to trace Sid and Nancy as we have some good news for them,' explained Poirot. 'We may be able to find a clue as to where they have gone.'

Hastings looked at him sideways, it was not quite cricket, he thought disapprovingly, to lie to this poor old landlady as it had been to the theatrical agent, Mr Windthrop.

'Have the police interviewed Sid and Nancy?' Poirot continued.

'No, I forgot to tell the police about them. It didn't seem important. They both seemed very upset about her disappearance. Would you gentlemen like to follow me?'