Inspector and Fish

Inspector and Fish (10)

CHAPTER TEN

Leonardo. That was it, the inspector had actually went mad. He had named the fish.

The little golden creature circled in a never ending spiral, completely unaware of the fact that it now processed a name, Leo the Fish.

Cassidy averted his eyes up and continued his act of listening to the old maid ramble on about useless information which had nothing to do with the case or the question he asked.

"and I SWEAR! there was a cat, and it jumped, spun an.."

"MISS Grahams!"

The older woman froze, her mouth hanging open in a comical 'O'. The Detective lowered his voice back to his calm tone.

"miss Graham, were you or were you not in this house last Thursday night?"

Her mouth closed and she pretended to think as she pulled a her greying hair which was escaping the prison of her greasy bonnet.

"Not" she said in a clipped voice showing her now obvious dislike of being interrupted by this man.

He sighed, glancing at his watch, it had been 53 minutes since the woman had sat down and so far only two questions had been asked.

He took the pen and lightly tapped the top of Leonardo's jar.

"so where were you? and do you have anyone who can back you up?"

The womans lips tightened into a thin line.

"I was... with... with a... friend"

The inspector stared directly into her eyes.

"your husband?"

Grahams eyes widened in a shocked horror as she slowly nodded her head.

"how did you know I..."

"You're ring has had an impression on your finger"

He gestured as the woman stared vigorously rubbing he hand in an attempt to diminish the mark.

"Now my next question is, why don't you wear it?"

She hung her head "Don't tell the family, they... they don't hire... they get rid of... married... I need this... Secrets... Victoria is..."

"Victoria?!" the inspector turned the pen and started scribbling his notes.

"yes for two years, unhappy mind you, but she still cant say due to her job."

Cassidy flicked the pen around in a windmill impression.

"What about the butler?"

"William? oh yes, to a lovely young woman, Sarah Smith, tragic though, died a few years ago, disappeared, the body was never found."

"if the body was never found how do you know she's dead?"

The inspector stood up leaving the woman with this new thought, exiting, his own mind was racing through what he had just heard. Victoria is married. The house does not allow married staff. The butler was married. His wife disappeared. Her Initials did not match the inscription.

It was a sad conclusion that the 73 minute long interview had only gave more questions than answers.