“Avery has been murdered!”
Flix sank down in his chair, pale as a sheet.
“I’m sorry to spring the news on you this early in the morning, Cupid,” Phalen said.
“I was sleeping in,” Flix said. “They always have a midweek hike scheduled. To be honest, I am the only one who attends. My guide and I are the only two who seem to think the benefits of strenuous exercise are worth the stiff muscles.
Up early, back early. Fresh air. Beauty of the morning. That sort of thing. Then, the rest of the afternoon off. I thoroughly enjoy it, but I’m sore the next day. So, that’s why you caught me in my pajamas.
But, who cares about my pajamas or my aches and pains?” Flix said. “I knew when I saw you, it was bad news. You wouldn’t have shown up again for a Sunday picnic.
My heavens!
We have another murder, once again on Leigh House grounds!
It is unbelievable!
There is truly a mad man on the premises of this estate! But who?
What are we missing? What? I do not know. I am driving myself mad trying to discover what it could possibly be that we have overlooked!”
“Don’t beat yourself up,” Phalen said. “I didn’t see it coming, either.”
“Please, tell me what happened,” said Flix.
“I was called out early this morning,” Phalen said. “It was still dark. A groundsman found her body in the woods. She’d been strangled, just like the maid. This time, it looks like the killer used a wire garrote.”
“Oh, my word!” Flix said. “How horrible! She was so fond of those woods. I think she felt truly free in them. There was no one to criticize her. No prying eyes. Nothing shiny that caught her eye. Nothing of value to try and steal.
That was one of her problems, you know.
I realized it the instant my pipe went missing. It had been in my jacket pocket only minutes before. She casually gave it back to me with some flippant excuse that I must have mislaid it, and she had picked it up off some table top or other. But why would a young girl pick up a pipe off a table?
It didn’t make sense.
I think she knew I knew she was lying, but I was too much of a gentleman to embarrass her in front of anyone.”
“A thief,” Phalen said. “Interesting. But I can’t imagine what would be so valuable that, if stolen, would necessitate killing her to get it back?”
“Nor can I. Besides, she was just a young woman. Of means, I assume.
But why her?
There is a reason she was murdered. It may not seem logical or even sane to us, but you can be sure, the killer has his reasons.”
“Yes,” Phalen said. “Well, let’s go with what we have. It isn’t much, I’m afraid.
Avery’s family is very well-off. Her father is a titan of industry. He would be the one with enemies, I would think, if this was a normal situation.”
“Yes.” Flix said. “You’re right. I remember, now. Her father made headlines. He received one of those mail bombs the anarchists are forever mailing out. It didn’t go off, as I recall.”
“No, it did not. You’re right. One of his employees opened the wrong end of the box.”
“Lucky guy.”
“Very lucky,” Phalen said.
“Understandable,” Flix said, “why she was upset when Abercrombie Wolcott attempted to strike up a conversation at mealtime about the latest headline and the bombings on Wall Street. I should have suspected something, but I admit, I was distracted.”
“O.K.” Phalen said. “So, her father has been a target in the past, but I am sure his daughter has no knowledge of her father’s business dealings.
Why target her?
And the maid?”
“Umm,” Flix said. “I am positive the maid has no connections with big business and the barons of industry. Why was either one of them killed?”
“I don’t know,” Phalen said. “There’s no connection between the first victim and the second, either, as far as I have been able to ascertain. The maid worked in the eastern wing of the facility.”
“My section. The male wards. At least, that’s what I’ve heard some of the guests here refer to it as.”
“Yes. Quintland said that he strictly segregates the male and female population to prevent, ah . . .”
“Fraternizing?” Flix said.
“Well, that’s blunt, Cupid, but I suppose that’s as good a word as any, and it makes sense. Quintland would not want any hint of scandal. It is to be expected that the wards are segregated according to sex.”
“So, the maid would not normally have contact with Miss Avery. Of course, one might bump into any of the staff, from time to time, but it isn’t likely.”
“So, we’re looking at a male killer, probably,” Cupid said.
“Well, it does look that way. Not to say a woman cannot strangle a victim, but I have found that women murderers tend to use less messy means of attack. Women are like vipers. They prefer a more silent approach.”
“Like poison.”
“Generally speaking, yes. So where does that leave us? We have a pool of suspects that include the male population of this facility, staff and guests, and any number of male visitors who come and go at will.
Oh, let’s not forget the gardener’s son, Mr. Jannins. But we’ve pretty much ruled him out. Are you still holding him in jail?”
“Yes. We can definitely rule him out as a suspect in this last homicide. He’s still in jail. I have told my superiors that I believe young Jannins is innocent, but it seems, they have turned a deaf ear to me.
They wanted the first murder solved quickly and neatly. I was convinced from the start that young Jannins had nothing to do with her death. My superiors tied my hands. Refused to allow me to continue to investigate. Now, look.”
“Yes,” Flix said. “It is a very sad affair. Especially, if the first murder and the second were committed by the same person.
But, your bosses must have felt the pressure to solve the first murder. They needed a scapegoat, and Jannins was as good a one as any, I suppose.
I am sure that Dr. Quintland is connected with some very influential movers and shakers in the community. And now, a second murder! The doctor must be fit to be tied.”
“Yes,” Phalen said. “You hit the nail on the head. He’s not the least bit happy. Wants this one wrapped up, and somebody, he doesn’t care who, arrested.”
“I can imagine the natives are getting restless,” Flix said.
“You can say that again. I bumped into one of the women staying here. She was practically rabid to get catch the next train home.”
“I’ll bet. If this keeps up,” Flix said, “Quintland will be wandering about this estate alone.”
“He’s scared,” Phalen said. “There’s no telling what strings he’ll try to pull to get this case resolved. He doesn’t care about catching the killer, only about putting somebody behind bars. Anybody will do. That way, our good doctor can forget this whole nightmare ever happened.”
“Then, we have to work quickly.”