Dear Diary,
Well, it's not often a murder is announced on the radio, but it was the first thing we heard when Mr B tuned in the new radio in the dining room. Dot, dear Dot, wanted to hear the 'drama' serial the 'Polkinghorns' because her old school friend was involved in the production of it – sadly it was her friend who was the victim.
I was very surprised to see only Hugh at the scene – outside Radio 3JH – no sign of Jack – and even more intrigued to hear Jack was working undercover!
Inside the radio station I spoke to an announcer, rather full of himself, talking about the other performers, Jimmy Creswick who together with his wife wrote and performed the serial, and this new chap that he didn't trust – Archibald Jones. He pointed through the studio door, though I knew already who it was, there was no mistaking those honeyed tones that more and more threatened to bring me to my knees. I am sure that if he read the telephone directory it would be as Shakespeare imagined it!
Creswick seemed a little too concerned for his wife, and to be honest I thought at first there was something wrong, either she was a drunk or very unwell; unsteady on her feet, tired, slurring her words ...
There was a lot going on at the station and Jack, Jack actually asked me to head up the investigation into the young girl's death. He even suggested he beg! He didn't have to, of course I was more than happy to help – poor Dot, Louisa, the victim, wasn't a close friend but she knew her and that was all that mattered.
Creswick wasn't concerned for his wife, he was controlling, very controlling, though happy to let me in, to let me fill in for Louisa and eventually for Hazel, his wife. I even sang an advert for washing powder – must as Dot if it's any good – Flamboyance ha! Clarry, the pianist-cum-sound engineer-cum racing tipster tried it on with me, wanted to get a little cosy – I told him I was quite cosy enough!
There were all sorts of hints that something was wrong – the goldfish died, then a second one Dot bought to cheer Hazel up died so we had the water tested, a hidden compartment in a cupboard above the tea things that was opened with a specially adapted fork found in Louisa's bag – the tines were bent at the tips – there was a newspaper hidden with a page missing. That page was found in Louisa's stomach!
It all pointed to Jimmy Creswick, who also murdered the newspaper stand chap, known as Dodger, murdering anyone who went against his wishes. His first wife, Guinevere (also to name of the character Louisa voiced) defied him, and he murdered her, then Hazel had got an offered from another station in Perth – she was a recognised talent, won an award – but Jimmy would blow if he found out!
Hazel called to see me, to ask me to fill in for her, she was really sick, it definitely wasn't drink that was causing the unsteadiness. I made her stay at the house while I went over to 3JH. Clarry put on an interlude record, Twilight Melodies, and then it all fell into place. The voice announcing the music was Creswick's and he came in to shout about the broadcast, why was it playing? Louisa had found out everything, she even ordered the recording but it was my having it played that brought him right out from under his rock. He started shouting at me, and I could see Clarry in the next room out cold on the floor. I have to admit to being somewhat scared, Creswick is a big man and he was very angry. The water in the goldfish bowl contained Thalium which was the reason I kept finding Hazel's hair around, and when I touched her head once, some hair fell out between my fingers! Creswick was poisoning her to keep her with him, make her too sick to leave him, Louisa confronted him and he strangled her the night before that day we heard the 'announcement' – that was Clarry putting his head into the studio while they were putting out the 'Polkinghorns' to say she had been found outside the studio and to cut the show.
Luckily Jack showed up, but that might have something to do with me flicking the switch on the console and the whole barney between me and Creswick, including his admission he was guilty of Guinevere's murder and that he wasn't going to let Hazel go – Dot heard everything, sadly so did Hazel, sitting in my dining room while the whole thing went out live on air! I did manage to subdue Creswick with the award statuette Hazel had received recently, but it was a close run thing – as I said, he was a big man and angry! Jack showed up, Dot had phoned the station and Hugh had run through to his office to tell him. I have an idea he may have broken a speed law or two, but it was an emergency.
Hey, Diary, guess what, Jack, as you know can speak and read German, recite Shakespeare and now I find out he can play the piano! Is there no end to his talents?
He played for me and we sang – 'Let's Misbehave' – one day maybe he will carry out that suggestion – and yes, he can hold a tune, in fact I thought we sounded rather good together.