Murder on the Off Chance

Chapter 9 ~ Even More Questions

Mr Slayden had gone to Mrs Lythgoe's room and offered her a drink.  "Now Mrs Lythgoe. I expect you already know what has happened."

She stuttered, her hands shaking as she clattered the tea down onto a saucer after taking a sip.  "Yes, the poor girl. She was so young,"

"Yes. Yes. I have a few questions for you,"

"Like what,"

"Well let's start with this. Have you changed your clock here to the right time yet?"

"No. Why. I've been a little preoccupied."

"Then why is it showing the right time?"

"What. I dont know. Are you sure," She sounded taken aback

"Yes,"

"Oh. Well... I dont know. Oh can you thank Mrs Destìn for looking after me if you see her?"

"Ok. But now lets see this," he pulled out the broken silver watch. "Is it yours?"

She stared at it intently for a few seconds then met eyes again with the the detective. "Yes. Where was it?"

"Next to the body."

"W-w-what?"

"And for my final question, what is it you and your husband did?"

"I used to work for him in France. Then we came here and I started working separately. He owned his own buisness you see,"

"Thank you Miss Lythgoe, that is all for now,"

Slayden then left the room and went to his room. Then he started making some more notes and s diagram.

Upon completing his diagram he then went to confront Miss Blake, whi was in the dining room eating a pancake. "Miss Blake?" he said, almost like he was asking if it was her.

"Yes. What do you need,"

"I need to know first a little about yourself. What do you do?"

"I'm a buisness woman. I sell antiques, many from Egypt or Greece or Italy. I'm here to find a buyer but I've been stranded by the snow. I'll miss the deal now."

"And where are these antiques."

"In my room in the safe."

"May I see them,"

"Why?"

Mr slayden gave her a look as to say just let me see them.

"Oh ok," she gave in. "Follow me,"
She led him up the stairs to her room, which was cold as the window had been left open. Miss Blake went to the corner and began fiddling with the safe. Mr layden peered out at the snow. It should have been smooth surely but it wasn't. There was an odd indentation which caught his attention. Upon a more through glance he noticed a rope coiled up thrown into the snow outside the window.

'Here we go," she said. Take a look. "In the chest was an assortment of gold, bronze, silver and jewels, all of which looked old and dated but still magnificent. Crowns, coins, rings, necklaces.

"You can shut it now Miss Blake, thankyou. Now what did you do last night?"

"Well I was in the lounge all night then I went up to bed,' she was shutting the safe. Mr Slayden noticed a piece of paper on the floor and picked it up and unfolded it. In flowing, cursive handwriting these words appeared.

MEET ME IN THE CUPBOARD FOR THE TRANSACTION.

Miss Blake turned around and Mr slayden quickly put the note in his pocket. "Did you talk to anyone last night?" he asked.

"No why,"

"Dr Couture mentioned bumbing into you while you went to bed,"

"Oh," she paused. "Oh yes. I bumped into him by accident. Apologised and said goodnight. It was rather embarrassing,"

"And how did you discover the maid this morning?"

I was walking and saw the blood under the door. Then I opened it saw the body and ran for you,"

"Did you meet anyone this morning?"

"No. Why?," She almost sounded offended.

"No reason.  Thank you Miss Blake," Mr Slayden turned around and strode out of the room leaving Miss Blake with a dumbfounded then panicked look on her face.

~~~~~~NOTES~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for reading. I'm sure, especially with the speech punctuation  there are loads of mistakes so sorry. Have you figured it out yet. Feel free to comment your ideas.