Thank you once again for the reviews, and my apologies for Miss Postlethwaite's language: it is 1929.
"Did my sister-in-law do a convincing job in her role as grieving widow?" Miss Marjorie Postlethwaite was, as Phryne had described, a robust woman dressed in a no-nonsense lady's suit which did nothing to emphasise whatever feminine charms she might have possessed. The book she set aside as they entered was Marx, and Jack made a mental note to look into Miss Postlethwaite's political leanings, activities and associates, just in case.
"We know about her relationship with Bernard," Phryne confirmed.
"Then you know that William was too damned good for her. But that was Billy: when he had a weakness, it was always a costly one."
Since they appeared to have skipped straight past the pleasantries, Jack decided simply to carry on. "How would you describe your relationship with William?"
"A damn sight better than my relationship with either of my other brothers. William might have hung onto the purse strings like a Scottish Jew, but he was willing to fork over a half-way decent allowance regardless of how much we fought, what I wore, or whom I chose to associate with. I can't imagine Archie being so tolerant. He thinks I should have been married off years ago."
"So things are likely to be difficult for you, now that Archibald's in control?" Jack asked.
Marjorie snorted. "Archie's been in control of this family for years. Billy never did have the balls to stand up to him, and neither does Bernie."
"And what about you?" Phryne asked, to be greeted with another snort.
"I have no balls at all; that's the problem. I can argue and yell all I want, and it doesn't make a blind bit of difference. Regardless of how much we may have fought, when it came to Archie, Billy and I were on the same side. With him gone..." She was silent for a moment, then gave herself a brisk shake. "Still, when has life ever been fair? I've got a little bit tucked away, and of course there are Mother's jewels. Feminine frippery was one of the few things Father and Archie were willing to let me inherit, but they're worth a small fortune. So if I'm to leave and seek my fortune elsewhere, at least I have a damn good head start."
She could add nothing new to the account of the hours prior to her brother's death. William had come over tired during drinks, which she assumed was due to the alcohol ("he always was a damned featherweight"), and retired shortly before nine p.m. Having no wish to remain alone in the company of her sister-in-law and younger brother ("I'm no fan of marriage myself, but if you make a vow you damned well ought to keep it"), after Archibald and Josephine had left she had excused herself with a final nightcap and a good book ("nothing like a little Virgil before bed"), and known nothing more of her family until the butler had interrupted her at breakfast to inform her that her brother was missing. She had been the one to send the gardener's boy and one of the maids out to look for him once it was determined that he was not in the house, and the first to speak to the police after the gardener's boy led them back to the family residence ("and I hope you catch the bastard who did it and hang him high.").
...
"Miss Fisher, if I have ever in the past implied that I find your company to be anything other than soothingly restful, I take it back and apologise unreservedly," Jack remarked, once they were safely out of earshot.
"She's quite the force of nature, isn't she?" Phryne grinned.
"Indeed. But I can't see her conspiring to help Charlotte cover up her brother's murder. I think hog-tying her and dragging her to the police station herself would be more her style."
"Quite possibly. And while I can certainly see her stabbing her brother to death in a fit of rage, I can't imagine her plotting his cold-blooded and premeditated murder. From her perspective it'd make more sense to take out Archie."
"And I'm perfectly willing to believe that she would be fully capable of it. Shall we go find out what Collins has for us?"
...
"So, none of the staff seem particularly fond of any of the family," Hugh began, when they were comparing notes back at the car. "I think the cook summed it up well." He quoted directly from his notes. "She said, 'that whole family is one big snake pit, and if you don't want to get bit you keep your head down and make sure to watch where you tread.' I don't think any of them disliked Mr. Postlethwaite enough to risk murdering him, though."
Jack considered this for a moment, then nodded. "Very good, Collins. Did their account of Tuesday night tally with what we've already been told?"
"Yes, Sir. Mr. Postlethwaite returned home around five o'clock and had a rest in his room before dinner with his family – that's Mrs. Postlethwaite, Miss Postlethwaite, and Mr. Bernard – at seven. The atmosphere at the table seemed strained, but that was nothing unusual. Mr. Archibald and his wife arrived in their motorcar around eight. Mr. Daniels, the butler, served the first round of drinks in the parlour shortly after, but was then dismissed."
"Did he notice what each family member had?"
"Yes, Miss. The gentlemen were all drinking brandy, and the two Mrs. Postlethwaites had sherry. There was a disagreement between Mr. Archibald and Miss Postlethwaite over her drink: she wanted brandy but he tried to insist that she should have sherry. In the end, she poured her own drink, which was brandy."
"That sounds like our Miss Postlethwaite," Jack remarked wryly. "Did the staff notice anything else that night?"
"Uh, Mr. Archibald and his wife left rather early, but that wasn't necessarily unusual. According to the butler, various family members are often storming in or out of the house."
"Including William?" Phryne asked.
"I'm not sure Miss: I didn't think to ask."
"Nevermind Collins; with his leg, I doubt he was in the habit of storming anywhere."
"One of the maids mentioned that she heard a car pull up outside a bit later on, after the family had gone to bed. She thought that it sounded like Mr. Archibald's, but she didn't look to see. She says she heard the front door open and close twice, about ten minutes apart, and then the car pulled away again."
"Now that is interesting," Jack remarked. "Well done, Collins."
As always when the Inspector praised him, Hugh couldn't help but smile. "Thank you, Sir."