Lord Grantham descended the basement stairs to share the findings of the Duke's autopsy with his staff. The first person he encountered was a rather surprised-looking Barrow. "Is there something I can help you with, Your Lordship?"
Robert related the news to the self-possessed butler and watched a look of uneasiness spread across his face. The Earl told him, "Sgt. Willis is here, and he's brought a man from Scotland Yard with him, an Insp. Japp. They wish to speak to all of the servants individually."
"What do they want with us, m'lord? What could we tell them?"
"God knows. I think it must all be some ghastly mistake, but we have to answer their questions. They're in the library. You should probably go up now and leave me to tell the others."
Thomas nodded and climbed the stairs. He found the two officers pouring over their notes, but they looked up at his arrival. "My name is Barrow. I'm the butler here."
"Please have a seat, Mr. Barrow." The Inspector indicated the opposite sofa. "We'd like to hear the details of last Saturday evening from your perspective."
"There were twelve at dinner. I poured the wine, while the footmen served the food. Afterward, we gave them coffee in the drawing room."
"When did you eat?"
Thomas smiled wryly. "We usually go down for our dinner then, but as we were entertaining a duke, I wanted everyone on hand. I had the cook make up a plate of sandwiches for us and leave it on a table behind the green baize door. We slipped away one by one to eat after the coffee was served."
"Did you hear the car crash?"
"Yes, but that was after we had given them their whiskey. It was almost dark when we looked outside."
"Who was on duty that night besides yourself?"
"Just the footmen, Andy—Andrew Parker—and Mr. Molesley. Mr. Carson was there too, but he didn't serve."
"Mr. Carson?"
"The previous butler. He lives on the estate and was here to oversee the house party." Thomas couldn't quite keep the resentment out of his voice.
"Mr. Molesley and Mr. Parker are downstairs?"
"Andy is, but Molesley lives in the village. He's a teacher at the school now and only came to help out for the weekend. He's actually the one who discovered the body."
"What was he doing in the Duke's bedroom?"
"I asked him to attend the Duke, as he was here without a valet of his own. Molesley was bringing him his tea in the morning when he found him dead."
"That must have been very upsetting for him," Sgt. Willis observed sympathetically.
"He was badly shaken up. I had to send him home."
Japp studied the butler carefully. "One last question, Mr. Barrow. Had you met the Duke before last weekend?"
Thomas paused imperceptibly. "I acted as his valet once before the war in London when I was still a footman and again when he visited here the following year."
"That'll be all for now. If you would, please send up Andrew Parker."
"May I be present when you question him?"
"No, Mr. Barrow, you may not."
Thomas bobbed his head and departed.
"He's one cool customer, wouldn't you say?" Japp opined.
Sgt. Willis nodded an agreement.
Thomas returned downstairs to find the footman pacing anxiously about the servants' hall. "They're waiting to see you next."
"But why, Mr. Barrow? I don't know anything about it."
Thomas fixed him with a look of concern. "I wish you'd tell me what's bothering you."
"I'd better go." Andy hurried up the stairs. He appeared in the library looking very young and frightened.
"We just have a few questions for you, Mr. Parker, and then you can be on your way. What did you do on Saturday evening?"
"I waited at table with Mr. Molesley, and after that, we served coffee in the drawing room."
"Did you go to the window to see the accident?"
"I think we all did."
"And when was this?"
"Later—after we gave them their whiskey."
"Who brought the Duke his whiskey?"
"I-I don't remember."
"Is there anything else you can tell us that could help with the investigation?"
"No, there's nothing. Is that it then?"
Japp looked taken aback. "Yes, for now."
Andy's face clearly showed his relief as he hurried from the room.
Sgt. Willis chuckled. "Well, he seemed eager to get away."
Anna Bates arrived next accompanied by her husband. "If you're going to question my wife, I will be with her," Mr. Bates declared protectively.
Sgt. Willis understood the husband's feelings after what the two had been put through in the last few years. Bates served a year in prison for the murder of his first wife before being exonerated and released. Later he and Anna were suspects in the death of a valet who had thrice stayed at the Abbey. Mrs. Bates was arrested that time, but all charges were dropped when another woman confessed to the crime.
Japp too was familiar with the Green case. The botched investigation had embarrassed the entire Yard, and Insp. Vyner had gotten an official reprimand. "What were your movements on Saturday evening, Mr. Bates?"
"I dressed His Lordship for dinner, but he became unwell and sent for me early. After our dinner, I brought my baby son down from the nursery."
"Had you ever met the Duke before?"
"I had just begun working here on his last visit, but I didn't have any contact with him. Mr. Barrow tended to him."
"I wonder why a footman would be asked to see to a duke rather than a valet."
"I believe it was the Duke's own wish. He remembered Mr. Barrow from the previous summer in London when he attended him."
Insp. Japp then turned his attention to Anna. "And what about you, Mrs. Bates?"
"After our dinner, I played with the baby until I was summoned to put Lady Mary to bed. Then we went back to our cottage."
"I think that's all we need for now. Thank you for your help."
Miss Baxter took their place. She seemed wary as she looked from one officer to the other. "I don't know what I can tell you. The only time I saw him was when he arrived." Before coming to Downton, she had been convicted of a jewel theft and served three years of a five-year sentence. Sgt. Willis knew the real mastermind was her accomplice who was now serving ten years on a similar charge. He would share this information with the Inspector later.
Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. Patmore, and Daisy were each shown in but had nothing new to add. As the hallboy had been away on Saturday and the housemaids always left before tea, they were excused from the questioning. Everyone had now given their evidence, and the two men took their leave.
