You knew the dead girl well? asked Crome.
Well, shes worked here longer than I have. I only came this March. She was here last year. She was rather quiet, if you know what I mean. She wasnt one to joke or laugh a lot. I dont mean that she was exactly quietshed plenty of fun in her and all thatbut she didntwell, she was quiet and she wasnt quiet, if you know what I mean.
I will say for Inspector Crome that he was exceedingly patient. As a witness the buxom Miss Higley was persistently maddening. Every statement she made was repeated and qualified half a dozen times. The net result[138] was meagre in the extreme.
She had not been on terms of intimacy with the dead girl. Elizabeth Barnard, it could be guessed, had considered herself a cut above[139] Miss Higley. She had been friendly in working hours, but the girls had not seen much of her out of them. Elizabeth Barnard had had a friend who worked at the estate agents near the station. Court&Brunskill. No, he wasnt Mr Court nor Mr Brunskill. He was a clerk there. She didnt know his name. But she knew him by sight well. Good-lookingoh, very good-looking, and always so nicely dressed. Clearly, there was a tinge of jealousy in Miss Higleys heart.
In the end it boiled down to this[140]. Elizabeth Barnard had not confided in anyone in the café as to her plans for the evening, but in Miss Higleys opinion she had been going to meet her friend. She had had on a new white dress, ever so sweet with one of the new necks.
We had a word with each of the other two girls but with no further results. Betty Barnard had not said anything as to her plans and no one had noticed her in Bexhill during the course of the evening.
Chapter 10
The Barnards
Elizabeth Barnards parents lived in a minute bungalow, one of fifty or so recently run up by a speculative builder on the confines of the town. The name of it was Llandudno. Mr Barnard, a stout, bewildered-looking man of fifty-five or so, had noticed our approach and was standing waiting in the doorway.
Come in, gentlemen, he said.
Inspector Kelsey took the initiative.
This is Inspector Crome of Scotland Yard, sir, he said. Hes come down to help us over this business.
Scotland Yard? said Mr Barnard hopefully. Thats good. This murdering villains got to be laid by the heels[141]. My poor little girl His face was distorted by a spasm of grief.
And this is Mr Hercule Poirot, also from London, and er
Captain Hastings, said Poirot.
Pleased to meet you, gentlemen, said Mr Barnard mechanically. Come into the snuggery. I dont know that my poor wifes up to seeing you. All broken up, she is.
However, by the time that we were ensconced in the living room of the bungalow, Mrs Barnard had made her appearance. She had evidently been crying bitterly, her eyes were reddened and she walked with the uncertain gait of a person who had had a great shock.
Why, Mother, thats fine, said Mr Barnard. Youre sure youre all righteh?
He patted her shoulder and drew her down into a chair.
The superintendent was very kind, said Mr Barnard. After hed broken the news to us, he said hed leave any questions till later when wed got over the first shock.
It is too cruel. Oh, it is too cruel, cried Mrs Barnard tearfully. The cruellest thing that ever was, it is.
Her voice had a faintly sing-song intonation that I thought for a moment was foreign rill I remembered the name on the gate and realized that the effer wass of her speech was in reality proof of her Welsh origin.
Its very painful, madam, I know, said Inspector Crome. And weve every sympathy for you, but we want to know all the facts we can so as to get to work as quick as possible.
Thats sense, that is, said Mr Barnard, nodding approval.
Your daughter was twenty-three, I understand. She lived here with you and worked at the Ginger Cat café, is that right?
Thats it.
This is a new place, isnt it? Where did you live before?
I was in the ironmongery business in Kennington. Retired two years ago. Always meant to live near the sea.
You have two daughters?
Yes. My elder daughter works in an office in London.
Werent you alarmed when your daughter didnt come home last night?
We didnt know she hadnt, said Mrs Barnard tearfully. Dad and I always go to bed early. Nine oclocks our time. We never knew Betty hadnt come home till the police officer came and saidand said
She broke down.
Was your daughter in the habit oferreturning home late?
You know what girls are nowadays, inspector, said Barnard. Independent, thats what they are. These summer evenings theyre not going to rush home. All the same, Betty was usually in by eleven.
How did she get in? Was the door open?
Left the key under the matthats what we always did.
There is some rumour, I believe, that your daughter was engaged to be married?
They dont put it as formally as that nowadays, said Mr Barnard.
Donald Fraser his name is, and I liked him. I liked him very much, said Mrs Barnard. Poor fellow, itll be trouble for himthis news. Does he know yet, I wonder?
He works in Court & Brunskills, I understand?
Yes, theyre the estate agents.