BAD ONE AND THE CASE OF THE DOUBLE MURDER IN THE THAMES

CHAPTER 6 LAWSON'S MANSION

The morning looked radiant and splendid like actresses and famous people do in front of the camera, when performing their photo sessionat a photo call. Notting Hill seemed more beautiful and shining under the first sun beams of the day. West London’s magnificent Victorian buildings showed the opulent lifestyle of those who lived there in contrast with Kensington’s marginal area, a bit more to the north. Sergeant Cocowa stopped in front of an endless fence surrounding the whole Lawson’s mansion splendid garden. At the main entrance door he pressed the video door’s entry system button, and short after there was a woman’s image displayed on the screen.

- Lawson’s mansion, good morning: can I help you? -.

Her voice sounded deaf and distant, almost inaudible; and her face looked deformed because of the camera’s viewfinder proximity; she looked like a speaking squid.

Without any hint of stammering the detective assured:- Yes, let’s see madam… my name is Cocowa, sergeant Cocowa, of the criminal investigation department of Scotland Yard[1] -.

Then he added:- We are investigating a crime and I need to raise a few questions about it to Lady Lawson. Would you mind opening the door? -.

After that the enormous two-leaf gate began to open hesitantly, scarcely making a noise, driven by an invisible force. Then the moment turned magical as if it were taking place a magical phenomenon. The stately construction was built on a rising slope at the end of a wide boulevard, and the entrance was flanked by hedges of perfectly pruned box trees. Just in front of the luxurious housing there was a big fountain in Versailles style. The truth is that design and structure remembered more the French landscaping than the classic English, very well taken care of and tidy. A few marmoreal statues of circumspect aspect placed on both sides of the way, were accompanying the visitor along the route up to the mansion’s entrance. Carved into the door and on top of it was possible to see the Lawson’s family coat of arms.

On a field sable, a silver chevron interspersed with three swifts; the crest had two arms crosswise holding in the air a shining golden sun. The Lawson’s, of very ancient date, was a noble clan of England that in the 17th century had been established in Yorkshire’s County to the north of Great Britain.

After more than five minutes walking along the concourse, Cocowa finally arrived at the entrance. Again he rang the door bell, but now there was no screen but a multitude of polyphonies that began intoning the melody of God Save the Queen. Cocowa immediately took his hat off and crossed his arm over his chest showing a respectful attitude. A woman opened the door and the music stopped.

- Good morning. I am sergeant Cocowa of Scotland Yard. Could you…? -.

That woman of mannish aspect interrupted:- Well, have you thought you would transform yourself into another person from the entrance to here? I know who you are -.

Her eyebrows seemed to surround her head all.

- Follow me sergeant, Lady Lawson is waiting for you in the “tea room” -.

The detective obeyed and followed her. She looked very tall for a woman. Her back had a door’s size and her neck was very long. She walked bending head forward giving the impression that she was going to fall flat on her face at any time. Her arms came down almost to her knees and swung from one side to the other.

She seemed to be running, and due to her amazing skids she forced Cocowa to quicken his pace not to lose her in one of the corners. The mansion seemed endless. After going up at least three floors with unusual speed and after traveling through several wings of the building, plus innumerable labyrinthine corridors with nooks and crannies, they finally arrived to the “tea room”. Lady Lawson was waiting sat at a small table dressed up with a flowers tablecloth where an abundant and tasty breakfast for two was served[2].