Inspector and Fish

Inspector and Fish (3)

CHAPTER THREE

He came to the manor prepared to face the unexpected, he did not expect the maid to faint and he certainly wasn't prepared.

"Miss?, miss?"

Stepping over her legs, he stooped down in front of her, accidentally letting a flood of water pour into her face off the brim of his hat. Luckily this sudden impact of water managed to revive her.

"Ahhhh! *cough* *cough*"

"SHUT THE HELL UP! OR I'LL BURN THE HOUSE DOWN!" Cawed the voice from down the hall.

A door slammed.

The maid smiled, her brown eyes intently staring at Robert as he helped her up.

"So you're a policeman?" She squeaked in a voice that was obviously not her own but one she seemed to think was attractive.

"Yes miss" Robert replied curtly. "Now I would like you to assembly everyone in the drawing room."

He stopped and thought. "Where are the other inspectors or policemen?"

"In the dining room" the girl squeaked, licking and pursing her lips.

"Take me there then."

The maid giggled in an shameless attempt to flirt, she picked up his bag as he carried his shoes.

"This is heavy, so must be soooooo strong, to carry this and your..... Uh...... Bowl."

The inspector stayed silent. He did not have time to waste chatting to annoying maids. In fact he was puzzled by, not just her casualness while serving in such a grand house, but her complete calmness. This and the other voice from the house did not give the impression that a terrible crime had just been committed.

Upon this trail of thought, he was escorted in the dining room by the now overly 'helpful' maid.

"Ah ha! Cassidy! Just in time! You're...." The police Sergeant trailed off as eyed the inspectors appearance, from in sunken hat to his sodden socks.

"My god! Man! What happened! You like like a drowned man back from the grave!"

"Sir, there was no transport at the station... And the weather..."

He turned to face the whole room and discovered his full audience all gathered around a grand oak dining table set light dull candles; the Sergeant, three policemen, a young couple, an old man, a angry looking woman wearing a tiara, a man who he guessed was a gardener, two chefs, another young woman, around five maids and in the shadows was the figure of a tall giant of a man.

"No cab?" Bellowed the Sergeant, turning to face the policemen then the grump of a woman.

"She said..."

"I didn't have one to spare!" She loudly announced.

"Spare?! There's at least four in the..." The young married woman fell silent as she noticed the glares from both the young man and what the inspector guessed was his mother.

"Well at least you're here..." The Sergeant cut in, before the apparently fuming family could erupt into an argument.

He cleared his throat before addressing the room.

"This is Detective inspector Cassidy, I have personally invited the inspector to solve this case, as I know he will take the upmost care and attention to handle the delicate nature of the death of Mr Highsmith."

"Pwah!" Spat the old woman, "why bother?! He was only the butler and..."

"Stop it! Stop it! You vile disgusting old hag! You are a witch, a bitch and a..."

The young wife leaped to her feet as her husband nodded, the giant from the shadows proceed the grab the woman and drag her out of the room screaming and thrashing.

The door slammed and there was an eary silence. None of the official men knew what to say.

"Well that's typical!" The woman chuckled before hauling herself up and departing the room. The rest of the family and employees left, the young man apparently in concerned by his wife's outburst.

The official men looked at each other, the sergeant turned and two of the policemen left.

"This is officer Gerard Clones, he will assist you in this case and stay here."

Cassidy nodded at the younger man. Who stared at his Sergeant.

"The man was found in the maids quarters closet, death by strangulation and a blow the head, it's all in the report"

He handed him a large paper file tied with string.

"Of course the maids are all at the top of our list of suspects, but of course it's up to you to interview the members of the household tomorrow. Make sure to get motives and causes..." He paused "goodnight inspector" he turned to leave.

Cassidy shifted the documents in his left hand.

"Wait, sir."

"Inspector?"

"Where's the body?"

"The pantry, it's all in the report, it's locked away right now but you can check it tomorrow."

He left.

The maid was back in the room playfully twisting a strand of her and smiling at the two men.

"I'll show yous to your room."