Innocent closes her notepad with a grim smile of satisfaction. Lewis was right, and she did the right thing by confiding in him her frustrations over the fruitless interviews. His ideas on how to make the witnesses talk were spot-on. Under the threat of being charged with conspiracy to commit murder, Harry the footman suddenly was more than happy to answer all of the chief superintendent's questions. He explained how Lady Hungerford was livid when she learned of her husband's affair with their neighbor. How he helped his Mistress drag the body into the large freezer and hang it on the meat hook. But he was adamant that the killing—and the idea to kill—was Lady Hungerford's alone. And when he said he didn't know anything about the disappearance of the detectives, Jean believed him. He had last seen them in the company of Alice, and the following morning was told by Lord Hungerford to deny any knowledge of the visits by Lady Monteith and the policemen.
"Why would His Lordship help cover up the death of his lover?"
At this question, Harry had furrowed his brow, perplexed by Innocent's apparent ignorance. "Well, obviously the reputation of the Hungerfords is more important than his sordid little affair." All Jean could do was to shake her head and muse that it was just as well Lewis was no longer on the case. He would have had plenty to say about such an attitude.
Lewis had been right about Alice, too. His advice was to leave Lady Hungerford out of it—Alice would never betray her—and focus instead on having Alice describe the actions she took on her own initiative. He remembered Alice locking them in the freezer and was certain that it had been her own idea. Indeed, to this she confessed readily—proudly even—as well as admitting to forging a letter purportedly signed by Lady Monteith and addressed to her husband.
Alice fairly beamed when she declared, "I'm very good at copying other people's handwriting!" But she would not explain who came up with the words or who asked her to imitate Lady Monteith's script.
Now it has all come out except for the confessions of the Hungerfords. They are still en route to Oxford, but Innocent is no longer concerned about them. There is enough evidence to convict them even if they refuse, or are not offered the chance, to plead. No, her focus is on someone else, and she waits impatiently for the telephone to ring.