The Breakfast Murder

3

He started at me carefully, as if examining my reaction.

"What? Well that means..."

"That Mrs Beatrice Barnstable could not possibly have done it, or Megan for that matter as he would have died in two to six hours. That means he was poisoned around breakfast time, and they were away. "

"This is horrific!" I was in shock also. If it wasn't Mrs Barnstable, who would possibly want to murder Mr Barnstable?

"Now who would have had the opportunity to poison him Miss Alice?"

"Well, Elsie of course as she made the breakfast, also Linda and maybe Tommy too. All of the family that were here, George, Samuel and Christine took breakfast with him so they could have done it too. And me also but I didn't! You don't think I did, do you?"

"No I do not, but that is quite unhelpful. Practically everyone in the house had the opportunity, but now we just need to look at motives. Thank you for your time." He stood up and led me out of the room.

After I left, I still in shock of the whole event. Who would want to kill Mr Barnstable?

Elsie the cook was questioned next as Megan and Beatrice were not home yet, then Linda and Tommy last.

I tried to continue with my duties in the meantime, but it was hard to concentrate. I was cleaning the upstairs bathrooms, which is an awful job. All I could think about was the murder and who possibly could have done it.

My first suspect would have been Mrs Barnstable as she seems like the money grabbing kind of woman, but she had an alibi.
George and Samuel would also benefit from his death with full control of the company and the profits, George most of all. Megan could also gain as she would get a small sum now he was dead but she also had an alibi. Christine may have wanted to help her husband, by killing her father in law to get the money, but she seems too nice for that.

Then I heard a knock at the door and Tommy went to answer it. I crept down the stairs to hear what was going on.

Mrs Beatrice Barnstable and Mrs Megan had just arrived home. Megan looked awful. Her eyes were red and puffy and her nose was snotty. She really seemed to care for her father and I felt quite bad for her. Mrs Barnstable on the other hand, I could see what trying to seem more upset than she was.

The inspector came out from the living room and greeted them.

"Hello ladies, I am Inspector Steven and I am here investigating Mr John Barnstables murder."

"Murder? So it wasn't food poisoning?" Mrs Barnstable asked worriedly.

"No, it was cyanide."

Megan gasped and started to cry some more. I flicked my eyes to Mrs Beatrice. She began to breathe heavily and looked panic stricken, before she collapsed onto the floor.

I don't think it was very realistic, but I know her better than the inspector does. I forgot to mention before that she used to be an actress, so she's very used to that sort of thing. She's probably thinking about all that money that she is going to receive now, delighted about it.

But she couldn't have killed him! That's my issue! If it wasn't her, who could it possibly be?