INSPECTOR ADDISON - THE REMINGTON MURDER - Episode 3

When Inspector Sandy Addison returned to Scotland Yard, he knocked on his superintendant’s office door and entered when he heard, “Come in please.”

“Ah, Inspector Addison, close the door and have a seat.”

As Sandy sat down and comfortably arranged his 6’ well-built frame on the chair he said, “I’ve just returned from questioning the widow, Lady Charlesworth.”

“And how was your visit with Mrs. Charlesworth Sandy?”  (The superintendant always called him Sandy once the office door was closed.)  It's not because he wasn't a stickler for regimentation or systematic and rigid order, because he was; the police force was all about uniformity and doing things strictly by the book; doing one's duty fully; stiff upper lip and all that it encompasses and he embraced the Yard's policies.  However, unlike some of the other officers under his authority, although not yet quite 35, Inspector Alexander Addison, because he was somewhat gifted more than the others and had a distinguishable record for solving  the more intricate and difficult cases, he had a high opininion of Sandy and in some way found him to be on the same level, although he most certainly would not avow to that.

“Lady Charlesworth was most cooperative sir and I suspect she may have more knowledge about her husband's death than she revealed.  It was obvious that she was still very upset about her husband’s murder and I felt that I had pushed her as far as I could for the moment.  However, I did mention that I would return soon to question her house employees, grounds-keeping staff and stable hands and for her to consider before my arrival, if she knew of anyone who would benefit from Sir Charlesworth's death.”

“I don’t think it’s necessary to question the widow any further at this point; but a question or two to the staff regarding their whereabouts during the crime is most definitely in order.  However, it looks like an open and shut case to me Sandy; isn’t it rather obvious that he was murdered for his valuables?”

“It might appear that way sir but I have a hunch there’s more to this case than a simple robbery.  If you don’t mind, I’d like to continue this investigation by however means I feel is necessary.”

The superintendant had cocked an eyebrow when Sandy  mentioned the word "hunch" because he'd used that rather brash terminology before with amazing results.  “Quite right Sandy," the superintendant replied. 

"As you know Sir Charlesworth was a very prominent and well respected man in London; indeed in all of England.  The pressure is intense to get this case solved. The higher-ups are already on my back concerning locating the murderer and standing him in front of a judge and jury.  I have a good man in the robbery division looking after that end of the case and should you need any additional help Sandy, just ask. This outrageous villain must be arrested and brought to justice by any means possible and the sooner the better."

Pulling at the tip of his thick grey mustache and leaning a little more forward across his large wooden desk the superintendant looked Sandy in the eye and continued, “Have you discovered any solid clues as to who the culprit could be?  I heard there were no eye-witnesses and nothing of any value reported from the scene of the crime, other than what was stolen.  The pawn shops and other disreputable establishments of that nature are being thoroughly investigated, since Sir Charlesworth’s slayer may tattempt selling the stolen articles.  I understand his rings alone were worth a considerable sum, not to mention the diamond studded pocket watch and what about his gold medallion with the initial ‘A’?  Do you know what or who the initial stands for?"  As Sandy shook his head the inspector said, "Thought not.  However, all the stolen items are very distinctive and easily identified should they suddenly turn up.”

"At this point, I don't really have anything substantial or incriminating to report sir.  There’s just something very odd about this robbery that's nagging at my curiosity.  Although the crime scene was a bloody ghastly mess, there still appeared to be a form of tidiness in the way the killer handled the body.  You can be sure that I'll put every means possible at my disposal to get to the bottom of this case.”

“Then, if you’ve told me everything you know Sandy, I suggest you get cracking – if we don’t solve this case very soon; some of us could quite possibly lose their jobs if you get my drift?”

When Sandy left his Superintendant’s office, he sent a message to Lady Charlesworth telling her that he’d like to interrogate her staff tomorrow morning at 11:00am promptly.

The next morning, when he walked through the door into the large entranceway of Lady Charlesworth’s house, she had her entire staff standing in a row.  Each of them were introduced in turn and their position in the household stated.       

Inspector Addison noticed, although it was a different dress from their previous meeting, the widow was still attired in black and wearing a matching hat with a veil, “With your permission Lady Charlesworth, for privacy sake and professional confidentiality, may I please question your staff one at a time in your parlor?”

“Yes of course,” she answered.  “Hobson will usher them in as required.  And will you need to ask me any further questions inspector?”

“Not at this time Lady Charlesworth,” Sandy politely replied.  “Perhaps a little later if it’s convenient.”

“Since the kitchen staff are in the midst of preparing lunch for several people who will be arriving shortly to give their condolences, I’d prefer that they were the first one’s you talk to.”

“Of course Lady Charlesworth.  I don't want to upset the running of your household any more than is completely necessary.  Hobson, could you please send in the first employee in just a few minutes.  I’d like to get my things in order first.  Thank you.”

After he had questioned the cooks, the regular household and stable employees; it wasn't until the third and last gardener was ushered into the parlor that he began to become a little more than just curious.  When Sandy asked him the same questions as all the previous employees, the very handsome and ruggedly built gardener seemed evasive and kept glancing at the door as if he wanted to get away.  And, when he asked him where he was the night of the murder and he said that he went to bed early and slept the whole night through; it somehow just didn’t feel right.  However, since he couldn’t disprove his story, he reluctantly let him leave.

It was fairly late in the afternoon by the time Hobson told him there weren’t any other employees to interrogate and asked if he should inform Lady Charlesworth, since the questioning was over.

The inspector said, “Not yet, there’s still one employee remaining.”

“But who else is there sir?” asked Hobson.

“You.  I haven’t asked you any questions yet.”

“But surely sir, you don’t think I had anything to do with Sir Charlesworth's death?”

“Hobson my dear man, it’s not what I think but what I know.  Everyone that knew the deceased is a suspect until proven otherwise.  It’s a matter of elimination and so far you haven’t been eliminated.  So, if you would kindly take a seat, I'd like to ask you  the same questions I've been asking everyone else.”

Like the gardener, Hobson seemed a little evasive and didn’t answer the questions very quickly.  He seemed to be studying the inspector’s reactions and appeared to be weighing his thoughts before answering.  And, when it came to the last question, “Where and what were you doing on the night of the murder?” Hobson seemed to work around the answer, being as evasive as a politician, saying a lot yet not really giving a straight answer.  To be continued... 

Lenny's Murder/Mystery CONTEST HAS BEGUN!   The last episode will expose the thief and dastardly murderer and of course there will be clues along the way as the story unravels for the reader to figure out, which person killed Sir Rodney Broderick Charlesworth.  

CONTEST RULES:   Participant must subscribe to my Newsletter, which can be located at the top of this Blog in order to enter the contest.  It's very easy to do and you can take yourself off the mailing list whenever you choose.   Participant must determine who killed Sir Rodney Broderick Charlesworth - only one answer per person to be emailed to lenwsherman@gmail.com before the last episode is posted.  Should there be more than one correct answer there will be a random draw for the final winner!  GOOD LUCK!  

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