Jonathan Creek- The Problems at Gallows Gate

Chapter 5

“Right…” the Inspector’s tone betrayed his weariness. “Let’s run over this one last time. You say Miss Vale was in bed with this chap, Neville, and…” he motioned for her to carry on.

  “And,” said Felicity, in a quiet, subdued voice, “when Duncan walked in and found them together…” here she had to suppress a sob. “I mean, he was just crazy about Fliss… God knows how much he’d drunk that night. He just opened a window…” Her voice caught and she looked down at her trembling hands folded in her lap.

  All of a sudden, a loud snore directed everyone’s attention to the sleeping Jonathan. Seconds later, he awoke with a yell, having been pinched by his embarrassed female friend.

  Needless to say, the Inspector was not very amused and turned his eyes back to the motionless Clare.

  “Miss.Sallinger, it would greatly assist us if you manage to-” he was cut off by the poor woman bursting into floods of loud tears. Madeline reached over the dozing Jonathan, jabbing him discreetly in the ribs, and put her arms around Clare’s shaking shoulders. She received a small smile as a tribute of recognition from the lady, whose sobs soon subsided.

  Meanwhile, the Inspector had been reading his notes, apparently more annoyed than moved by the pitiful spectacle playing out in his office. From the sigh that escaped him, he made no headway. “Well,” he said, when Clare, under Madeline’s comforting influence, finally grew calmer, “I think we’ll end here for tonight. Obviously I’ll need more from both of you,” indicating Kitty and Clare.

  “Miss Sallinger, Mrs. Burgis, please.” And he showed them out the door.

  When Madeline and Jonathan got up to go, however, he slammed the door unceremoniously in their astonished faces.

  “Now, you two haven’t got to be anywhere special… have you?” He asked, cold, reptilian eyes glittering.

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 He sat down in front of her, folding his hands on the cold metal tabletop.

  “Look, inspector, I don’t very much like the implication of…” Jonathan began, before being stopped by a wave of his hand.

  “So, let’s get our bearings here,” said the Inspector, with what was probably meant to be a benignant smile. It turned out more like a menacing snarl.

  “When we arrived, the front door was bolted on the inside, was it not?” He looked to them for confirmation.

  “Well, yes, but…”

  “And,” cut in the Inspector, leaning forwards, “All the windows were locked. Except,” he added, turning to the unfortunate Madeline, “the one, on your own showing, that you broke- is that not right, Miss Magellan?

  Also, were not the only people in the house at the time of out arrival you and your boyfriend here, Miss Magellan? Favour me with an explanation.”

  “I pass over you calling this dunderheaded imbecile over here my boyfriend, Inspector…”

  “Thanks for the compliment,” mumbled Jonathan, looking out of the corner of his eyes at his put-out female companion.

  “… but what you’ve just said- you think we killed her? Yes, that’s absolutely right! How clever of you!” Her tone bordered on one of contempt, a fact that did not pass the Inspector quietly by. He looked up from his notebook (in which he’s been recording her words) with a dangerous look in his eyes that quelled the indignant fire in Madeline’s and caused Jonathan to move discreetly to the side. He looked back down at his notebook.