Excerpt from the book called The Frisby Waterless Murders
“All these stories are extremely consistent as was noted to me earlier at the station cafe,” said Knowles, nodding at PC Smythe, “and I am not sure I am learning that much. If the drinks were served at 9:50 then that is the latest time the poison could have been administered via handshake. This is what we should concentrate on for the remainder of the investigation with the dart as secondary. The times of the handshakes has to be found out as part of this investigation.”
“This means contacting everyone again, doesn’t it sir?” asked Barnes.
“Not everyone, no, it seems like only Round Table members shook the Major’s hand and not any of the actors, because none of them knew him,” replied Knowles, “so let’s stick with them for now, shall we?”
“OK, sir, I will do that.”
“It’s going to be an unusual thing to ask people isn’t it sir?” asked Smythe, “whether they shook the deceased’s hand at any time during the trip?”
“It is, but I would like you to do that tomorrow, Linda, “ replied Knowles, “but only after Barnesy and yourself have spoken to Mrs Harkness. I’d like to get her recollection first.”
“Understood,” said Smythe making a note in her booklet.
“You think his wife will remember, Inspector?” asked Barnes, toying with his pen.
“I am sure she will when she finds out how her husband was murdered,” replied Knowles.
“You think it will concentrate her mind?” asked Smythe.
“I am sure it will, Linda,” said Knowles, “it would certainly concentrate mine.”
“So Seat 19 was Patricia McMaster,” continued Barnes, “and I interviewed her. Pat was facing the same way as the Major and, of course, didn’t see that much although she did remember there was quite a kerfuffle when the Major sat down in his ‘new’ seat behind her. His stick hit her seat a couple of times, or so it felt, and he complained that he needed more room for his leg to be straight. She looked around and there were four or five people surrounding him at one point, trying to make sure he was comfortable. Both stewards were there as was the train manager and his wife, plus one other person, who she didn’t recognise.”
“I wonder who that was?” said Knowles.
“Well I don’t think it was Carly Waferr,” replied Barnes, “so it must have been a member of the Round Table, if all the other train personnel were there.”
“Right, carry on Barnesy. You will have to see if his wife remembers tomorrow.”
Julian Worker Fiction Writing 