The Frisby Waterless Murders – 52

Excerpt from the book called The Frisby Waterless Murders

“Where would they have got changed?”

 

“In the toilet near the kitchen or at the other end of the carriage.”

 

“Wouldn’t that be risky, someone might have seen them coming out of the toilet?”

 

“They might have, but stewards do go to the toilet, so it’s not that much of a risk. There’s someone else too don’t forget, who would be fussing over him and no one else would bat an eyelid if they saw her doing so.”

 

“His wife?”

 

“Correct, Barnesy, she has the best opportunity of anyone.”

 

“Why wait to go on a train excursion to murder him?”

 

“Well, there’s 24 other suspects on the train, most of whom have some kind of grudge against him I hope,” Knowles crossed his fingers at this point, “and she knows something of his past and knows there are people around who want him out of the way.”

 

“And she wants him out of the way because…”

 

“Her motive? There’s the problem – I can’t think of anything. Could he have been having an affair, perhaps with one of the actors? So, she finds out and lo and behold this actress…”

 

“or actor.”

 

“…unlikely, but OK, actor, is playing a role in this murder/mystery weekend and she has the perfect opportunity to bump him off and make a point to the lover.”

 

“But none of the actors appeared upset.”

 

“They’re actors, Barnesy, they wouldn’t appear upset because they’d be acting. But, if they’re not acting, then could it be a Round Table person?”

 

“What?”

 

“Mrs Smedley? She was upset and diverted her emotions towards complaining about the fact the murder/mystery was cancelled?”

 

“What that battle-axe? What would the Major see in her?”

 

“I can’t put myself in any place where I would find Mrs Smedley in the least bit attractive, Sergeant, but there is no accounting for taste. Perhaps she massaged his leg in a particular way that aroused him? Blew in his ear, called him sir when he was on top of her, who knows?”

 

“That is an interesting theory, sir, and would explain why she spoke so candidly when her husband and nippers were not in earshot.”