Chapter 15
Full Circle
At this startling announcement, everyone turned to look at Sarah.
"No!" wailed, Naomi, "don't say anything!"
Sarah shook her head gently. "Only you didn't, really. You only thought you did," she explained. "When you saw me leave his room and go down the servants stairs, I hadn't just killed him." She turned to face Bertie. "I admit I went there intending to murder him, my lord. I had had hate in my heart for so long after what he did to our dad. He filled mum's head with such silly notions she left us and ran away with him. He didn't have no time for her, really. When he dumped her, she realised what a fool she'd been and she couldn't bear it. She killed herself."
"We know," murmured Ginger compassionately. "It was a dreadful thing to do."
Sarah's eyes filled with tears. "It broke dad's heart. He turned to drink. It killed him in the end." She brushed away the tears with a savage motion as if trying to wipe away the memories. "When I saw that man among the guests, smiling and full of himself, the shock was so much I fainted. I'd already had a bit of a turn when I spotted Naomi with her husband. What are the chances of that happening, eh? Two people from the past turning up in the same place on the same day." She turned to Naomi and said ruefully, "you didn't recognise me among the servants, but I knew you straight away, even though it's been such a long time since we quarrelled."
When Naomi kept silent, her eyes lowered shame-faced, Sarah plunged on. "I decided when I got the chance, I'd poison him. I took some rat poison from the potting shed and put it in a flask of warm milk. I took it up to his room to leave by the bed, thinking he'd drink it before he went to sleep and never wake up." She swallowed hard. "When I got there I found him dead, lying on the floor with a bullet hole in his head. It fair turned my stomach. The gun was lying on the floor by his hand. I thought he'd shot himself."
Sarah took a deep breath. "I couldn't get out of there fast enough and get rid of that poisoned drink! I just turned and fled. When I came out of his room, I saw you coming down the corridor," she said to her sister. "I never thought you'd be going to see him."
"I recognised you at once when I saw you come out of the door," sobbed Naomi. "When I went in and found him dead, I jumped to the conclusion you'd done it. The first thing I thought of was to try to give you an alibi. I thought if I took the pistol and fired it so someone could be a witness to a later time, you'd have a chance."
"But you didn't forget the real reason you went to Cliffe's room, did you?" prompted Ginger.
She shook her head. "I picked the pistol up and was just going to leave when I spotted the package on the dressing table. There was a note next to it, so I wrapped the parcel up in the paper to stop the oil making a stain and put it in my bag with the gun. Then I went down the back stairs and out into the area. I thought I might be searched, so I ran to the rose garden and pushed the package into the soil at the base of the white rose. It was the nearest and the only one I could see clearly. Then I ran back to the terrace. When I went round to get to the entrance, I could see your window was open and your light was on," she told Ginger. "I thought you being a policeman, your testimony would be reliable and people would accept a later time of death, so I fired a shot into the wall."
"You were very nearly right," acknowledged Ginger. "If Cliffe's window had been open, you might have got away with it."
"What did you do with the gun?" Bertie asked curiously.
"I went round the front of the house to get to the drawing room and dropped it through the mouth of one of the bronze lions – you know, the ones that stand each side of the steps at the entrance," she said. "They're hollow. I'd got my evening gloves on, so I knew I wouldn't have left any fingerprints, even if the gun was found."
"Well, blow me down!" exclaimed Bertie. "We could have searched for years without finding it; I would never have thought of looking there!"
"It's going to be tricky getting it out, but at least we know where it is, now," commented Ginger with relief. "We'll have to get onto that first thing tomorrow and get forensics to match up the bullets with the gun."
He turned to Sarah again. "When you saw the body, you said the gun was lying on the floor by his hand. Was it actually in his hand or just nearby?"
Sarah wrinkled her forehead in an effort to think. "I didn't pay much attention. I didn't really want to look – I just wanted to get away from there as fast as I could. His fingers were touching it, I think," she said eventually.
Ginger looked at Naomi for confirmation.
"I don't – I mean, I think …" she broke off. "It was so horrible." With an effort she pulled herself together. "Yes," she admitted eventually. "His finger was on the trigger. The gun was lying on the palm of his hand. I had to jiggle it a bit to get it free." Her face showed her distaste at the memory.
The three airmen exchanged glances. Bertie cleared his throat. "Ahem, well, I think that seems to be it then. I'm sure I needn't tell you," he added with a wry look at Levy-Strauss, "that you must not leave the premises. Until we are completely satisfied with the truth of your statements, you are still under suspicion."
Naomi Levy-Strauss went across to her sister and hugged her. "I'm satisfied," she said firmly. "If nothing else, that man's death has brought me my sister back. Blood is thicker than water, Sarah – can you forgive me?"
Sarah returned the hug. "Pride is a dreadful thing, Naomi," she admitted. "I should have contacted you before, but I was too stubborn; I wouldn't do it."
Joseph Levy-Strauss put his hands on their shoulders. "We have much to talk about," he remarked quietly. "Now that we are all together again." He ushered them towards the door. Before they went out, he turned and looked at the three airmen.
"I hope this matter can be resolved soon, gentlemen," he murmured. "And we can all go home in peace."
"Amen to that!" breathed Bertie as they went out.
Ginger went to pick up the package, which was still wrapped in his handkerchief. He unfolded the corners and looked at the little bundle, thinking what a mess some people made of their lives. Then he bent closer and exclaimed, "it was under our noses all the time!"
"What was, old boy?" queried Bertie as Algy looked at him enquiringly.
"The solution to the case." Ginger carefully opened up the paper surrounding the oil skin and removed it from the package. The sheet was crumpled and had greasy marks on it as well as stains from its contact with the soil, but when he held it up, it was possible to see that it had writing on it and Cliffe's signature at the bottom.
In silence they read the short missive. Alfred Cliffe had left a suicide note.
