The Corpse in the Cellar

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Book: Read The Corpse in the Cellar for Free Online
Authors: Kel Richards
residence, there was a coal hole from the street into the cellar. But that was sealed up years ago. No, this door is the only way down and the only way out.’
    â€˜Well, no one went down,’ I said, ‘and certainly no one came out.’
    â€˜Does it make any sense to you, Donaldson?’ the inspector snapped at his sergeant.
    â€˜There’s some funny business going on here,’ said the sergeant, ‘but I don’t know what it is.’ As he spoke his forehead crinkled, like a junior clerk struggling with a tricky clue in a
Times
crossword.
    â€˜Have you made a more thorough search for the weapon?’ Jack asked.
    â€˜Yes, yes, yes,’ groaned the inspector. ‘First thing we did. It’s not a big cellar, and it’s almost bare. Donaldson, Dixon and I went over it very carefully. The weapon that young Grimm stabbed himself with—if, that is, he did stab himself—has definitely disappeared.’
    As he said the words ‘stab himself’ Ruth Jarvis howled again. Clearly this was going to drag on for some time, so I walked over to one of the straight-backed wooden chairs and sat down, stretching my legs out in front of me.
    â€˜Come along, inspector—this is getting us nowhere,’ said Jack. ‘The facts are the facts, and we can sit around talking about them until doomsday and they won’t change.’
    The inspector didn’t like this and he responded by saying that we would be required as witnesses and were not to leave the town at least for the next few days. Then he looked at his watch and asked, ‘How long has Ravenswood been locked in that strongroom now?’
    â€˜No more than half an hour,’ I said. ‘The teller told us there was plenty of air in the vault and the man with the combination should be here early this afternoon.’
    â€˜In fact, we should check that vault door. Donaldson, you come with me. Dixon you stay here and keep an eye on . . . these people.’
    As they disappeared back into the cellar, Warnie muttered, ‘I say, Jack. Does this mean that we’re suspects or something?’
    â€˜It’s not “something”, it’s definitely “suspects”. After all, this is a small town and we’re the outsiders,’ Jack replied.
    â€˜I think it’s quite offensive,’ puffed Warnie. ‘You’re an Oxford don, I’m an officer in the British Army. It’s outrageous that we should be treated as suspects.’
    A few minutes later the inspector and his sergeant reappeared.
    â€˜Well?’ asked Jack. ‘What did you find?’
    â€˜That vault door is locked up as strong as a prison.’ With these words Inspector Hyde ran his fingers through his thinning hair. ‘Well, I’m beaten,’ he muttered. ‘This is too much for me. I’m going to phone the Chief Constable and get permission to call in Scotland Yard.’

SIX

    The question then arose of what was to be done with us. The inspector decided that we should find ourselves some accommodation for the night and make ourselves available tomorrow for the man from Scotland Yard.
    â€˜Where were you planning to stay?’ he asked.
    â€˜Not here,’ said Jack firmly. ‘Not in Market Plumpton.’
    â€˜Well, you’re staying here now,’ insisted the inspector, looking like a small, pugnacious rat trying to herd a crowd of larger and more important rats into a corner. ‘In the light of what’s happened, gentlemen, you’ll have to revise your plans. Dixon, escort these men to
The Boar’s Head
.’
    â€˜Yes, sir,’ said the constable, unlocking and opening the front door of the bank and standing back to allow us through.
    Behind us we could hear the inspector making his phone call to the Chief Constable. ‘Colonel Weatherly? It’s Inspector Hyde, sir . . . ah, we have a problem . . . ’
    But we heard no more, for Constable Dixon was

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