Episode 1.10 “The Morning After”
In the Library of Blackwell Grange, Inspector Winfield Brown of Scotland Yard enters with a straight, militant back. Sergeant Gray sits on a wooden chair with red upholstery. Mr. Ash enters the room behind Inspector Brown. There is a table set up in the back with a white sheet draped over it. It is obvious there are objects under this cloth. Sergeant Gray keeps looking at the table. Inspector Brown smiles upon noticing his curiousity.
“Can I get you gentlemen some coffee?” asks Mr. Ash
“No thank you, Mr. Ash.” Sergeant Gray says, “Just a little privacy.”
“It was a crazy night last night.” Mr. Ash says, “The coroner wasn’t hear till nearly three o’clock in the morning. I wouldn’t imagine the guest would be up this early. You won’t be bothered, I guarantee.”
With that, Mr. Ash leaves the room.
“Should we go over that fellow?” Inspector Brown narrows his eyes and gets out his notebook and pen
“Mr. Ash?” asks Sergeant Gray, “He wasn’t much of a help. He did manage to provide us a detailed layout of the Mansion.”
“Let’s have a look.” Inspector Brown extends his hand for the map that Mr. Ash has drawn up, “Very detailed. You don’t suppose there could be any secret rooms in the spaces where the walls are thicker?”
“He said there were no secret passageways that he knew of.” Sergeant Gray says, “Rusty Naylor, the gardener drew up a much simpler layout of the grounds of Blackwell Grange.”
“Very good.” Inspector Brown takes the map drawn by Rusty and lays them both on the coffee table. Inspector Brown lights his pipe and sits back, “Now, tell me about our suspects.”
“Well I already briefly talked about Mr. Clay,” Sergeant Gray says, “He is Mrs. Peacock’s tennis coach. He is quite smitten with Miss Scarlet.”
“Ah, I see.” Inspector Brown says, “He was the boy who was attacked while Dr. Black was searching for Miss Dove.”
“Yes.” Sergeant Gray says, “He was also the one who fearfully shot at me through the Study window.”
“Head injuries make you see things.” Inspector Brown says, “Be grateful he is a lousy shot. Now, on to the next person.”
“The first person I really got to deeply interrogate last night was Sir Benedict Black, the long-since thought dead father of the victim, Hugh Black.” Sergeant Gray says flipping open his own notebook, “Sir Benedict is more than convinced that his son, Hugh was planning on killing him. He figured it was the butler or even his young nephew, John Boddy that would come up to his bed one night and give him the fatal dosage.”
“Was he being poisoned?” asks Inspector Brown
“Drugged,” Sergeant Gray says, “Self-administered, or so he claims, to appear old and frail and likely to soon die. It’s rather engenius.”
“Then why is he not staggering about?” asks Inspector Brown
“He has been weaning himself off the morphine for a while, he didn’t go into why.” Sergeant Gray says
“Next suspect?” asks Inspector Brown
“Yvette Ardoise,” Sergeant Gray says, “She is the newest maid on staff here at Blackwell Grange. She is French.”
“A foreigner,” Inspector Brown notes, “They always end up being the killers, eh?”
“There are several foreigners on this suspect list,” Sergeant Gray says
“Go on with Yvette.” Inspector Brown urges
“She was aware of Sir Benedict’s morphine and was often the one to administer it to him, under strict orders.” Sergeant Gray says, “She begs she was only doing it to save the man’s life. She also gave a description of Brunette which we will have matched up with the other descriptions in order to best figure out what our man looks like.”
“Noted.” Inspector Brown says, not taking his eyes off the notebook.
“Next was Miss Scarlet, stepdaughter of Mrs. Peacock,” Sergeant Gray announces, “She is a young, sexy little thing. Pursed lips and a tight little red dress.”
“What did she say about last night?” Inspector Brown closes his eyes and inhales deeply the smoke of his pipe.
“She says she did not know Dr. Black very well.” Sergeant Gray says, “He was her step mother’s friend and former lover.”
“Her step mother, being Patricia Peacock?” asks Inspector Brown
“Correct.” Sergeant Gray says, “Miss Scarlet says however it was a well-known fact the Dr. Black was a womanizer and that he would often flirt with her at parties in the past. He even once offer her to pose for some modeling photos in exchange for a little cash.”
“She posed for Hugh?” asks Inspector Brown
“She did.” Sergeant Gray says
“Did she ever say what happened to the pictures?” asks Inspector Brown
“I never asked.” Sergeant Gray says
“Find out in your spare time.” Inspector Brown says
“Isn’t that rather forward to ask?” Sergeant Gray asks blushing
“I think she would rather have the police return them to her than the heirs stumbling across them during the inheritance hunt.” Inspector Brown says, “You know how these types of people get at a will reading. On to your next suspect.”
“Professor Plum,” Sergeant Gray says flipping his page, “He openly admits to being extremely angry with Dr. Black mere hours before his death.”
“On what matter?” asks Inspector Brown
“Dr. Black and Professor Plum are half-brothers,” Sergeant Gray says, “Related through Sir Benedict. When Professor Plum found out he was in the family, they had already faked Sir Benedict’s death.”
“They kept it from him?” asks Inspector Brown, “I find that hard to believe.”
“Somehow Professor Plum was kept in the shadows of his father’s livelihood and when he found out he was furious with Dr. Black.” Sergeant Gray says
“I’m going to have to question Plum myself.” Inspector Brown says
“Why do you say that?” asks Sergeant Gray
“Why would they make the risk of telling a new hire maid, Yvette, about Sir Benedict’s condition, and not tell his living breathing son?” asks Inspector Brown
“Professor Plum believes for the same reason Sir Benedict believes, that Dr. Black was planning on killing him.” Sergeant Gray says
“Something is off.” Inspector Brown says, “Leave it alone, I’ll get to the bottom of that.”
“Yes sir,” Sergeant Gray cleans his throat, “Next we have Mrs. Peacock, Miss Scarlet’s stepmother.”
Inspector Brown draws a line to the two, written ‘step mother’ and ‘step daughter’.
“Mrs. Peacock was devastated by the death of Dr. Black. In my opinion she seems more hurt of Dr. Black’s death than Miss Dove, Dr. Black’s own fiancée is.” Sergeant Gray says, “She explained that she was madly in love with Dr. Black and he was always the man who got away.”
“Delusional by love?” asks Inspector Brown
Sergeant Gray nods, “She seems to think that Dr. Black was always planning on coming back to her. He was just taking pity on Miss Dove and never had any true feelings for her.”
“If Dr. Black explained reality hard enough to her do you personally think she might have been enraged enough to kill him right there on the spot?” asks Inspector Brown, lighting his pipe more evenly
“Yes.” Sergeant Gray says, “Don’t forget about the three wealthy husbands that all conveniently died in time for her to inherit.”
“I will keep that in mind, should I stumble upon her at a party.” Inspector Brown chuckles
“Next was my aunt, Blanche White.” Sergeant Gray says, “She explained what she saw Miss Dove do shortly before Dr. Black was discovered dead.”
“Which was the incident with the shotgun?” Inspector Brown says
“Yes,” Sergeant Gray says, “She is determined it happened. She wasn’t showing her usual senile tendencies when she is telling a story. This seemed real.”
“I will keep that in mind.” Inspector Brown says, “I know she is your aunt, but she is still a suspect as much as anyone else.”
“Understood.” Sergeant Gray says, “Next I felt it appropriate to finally talk to Miss Dove.”
“I’m quite looking forward to Miss Dove’s report about the shotgun incident.” Inspector Brown admits
“She completely denies the incident from ever happening.” Sergeant Gray says, “She was more focused on telling me how Mrs. Peacock tried to manipulate her love for Dr. Black. She said the woman was throwing herself at Hugh and making ridiculous suggestions.”
“How ridiculous?” asks Inspector Brown
“She was insinuating that Dr. Black and Mrs. Peacock were still having sex together.” Sergeant Gray says
“It could have been possible that Hugh didn’t outgrow his days as a womanizer.” Inspector Brown says
“Mr. Green played innocent.” Sergeant Gray says
“That man is a crook and we all know it.” Inspector Brown laughs, “He just has enough money to pay a damn good lawyer and outsmart any law.”
“I bet you would love to charge him for this murder.” Sergeant Gray chuckles
“I would but I don’t think he did it.” Inspector Brown says, “Unless he was paid to. It’s possible that Mr. Green was the killer, but he wasn’t the one with the motive.”
“You think someone may have paid Mr. Green to kill?” asks Sergeant Gray
“Anything is possible.” Inspector Brown says
“Next I questioned Mr. Boddy, Dr. Black’s niece.” Sergeant Gray says, “Here’s where the story gets confusing.”
Inspector Brown opens a blank page in his notebooks and gets ready.
“John Boddy’s parents, Margaret and Samuel disappeared on safari in Africa when he was just a boy.” Sergeant Gray says,
“Margaret was Madame Rose, Dr. Black’s younger sister, Professor Plum’s half-sister, and Sir Benedict’s daughter.”
“Yes,” Inspector Brown draws out the family tree, “Go on.”
“When they disappeared three people were known to have searched: Colonel Mustard, who was an expert hunter, Mr. Green, who is an expert hitman, and Professor Plum, who is a chemist studying in Africa at the grace of Prince Azure.”
“Green, Mustard, and Plum were on the search for Boddy’s parents?” asks Inspector Brown
“But there was a fourth man that helped search with Mustard, Green, and Plum.” Sergeant Gray says, “Monsieur Brunette.”
“So Brunette has had a little more to do with this family that they let on.” Inspector Brown says
“As it would appear.” Sergeant Gray says, “They never found Margaret and Samuel. Mr. Boddy harbors a grudge against Colonel Mustard for his inadequate search. Next to give a report was Colonel Mustard,” Sergeant Gray flips the page, “He too gave know notion of knowing Brunette, let alone working with him in a manhunt in darkest Africa!”
“Perhaps a secret, perhaps a lie from Boddy?” asks Inspector Brown, indignantly
“All Colonel Mustard seemed to be focused on was that Sir Benedict was never tied up with affairs with Brunette, it was Dr. Black, but Sir Benedict and Dr. Black looks so similar in their mature age that the son and father looked quite similar. Dr. Black went under the name of his father while dealing with Brunette in France.” Sergeant Gray says
“Giving Brunette a clear motive to murder Dr. Black, recognizing his face, not his name.” Inspector Brown says, “Brunette may have not enough known about the switch between the two.”
“Next was quite interested,” Sergeant Gray says, “I spoke to the nurse and nanny at the mansion, Nurse Silver.”
“Was she tied in with Benedict?” asks Inspector Brown
“That’s just the thing,” Sergeant Gray says, “Nurse Silver came to live at this residence before Dr. Black had even met Fivel and Miss Dove. It was coincidence that she could pass as a Nanny and have a reason to be at the mansion.”
“Otherwise it is safe to assume that Nurse Silver would have been kept a secret in the attic with Benedict.” Inspector Brown points out
“How did the Professor not see through that elaborate scheme?” asks Sergeant Gray, “Clearly the Professor knew about his father.”
“I think so too.” Inspector Brown says, “Professor Plum has barely spoken a word to his father since his outburst over discovering his wellbeing.”
“It makes one wonder…” Sergeant Gray says
“Wonder what?” asks Inspector Brown
“Nothing,” Sergeant Gray shrugs it off, “It’s not important. It’s only idle speculation.”
“Very well,” Inspector Brown relights his pipe, “On with the next suspect.”
“Rose Black.” Sergeant Gray says, “Known commonly around the Grange as ‘Madame Rose’, being named with her psychic powers.”
“Hogwash!” Inspector Brown says
“I find it fascinating.” Sergeant Gray says, “The occult is so intriguing.”
“Anyway, what ridiculous prophecy did she share with you?” asks Inspector Brown
“What makes you think she shared a prophecy?” Sergeant Gray clears his throat
Inspector Brown narrows his eyes knowingly, “I know the type.”
“Very well,” Sergeant Gray turns the page, “She warned that the world is corrupt and that we will never find the real killer unless we play dirty.”
“I wasn’t planning on playing clean,” Inspector Brown says, “I always play dirty when searching for answers to a murder. Tell Madame Rose she has nothing to worry about.”
“She always asked me to invite you to her Séance tonight.” Sergeant Gray says
“Séance?” Inspector Brown groans, blowing rings with his smoke in the Library air.
“I think it could be quite entertaining,” Sergeant Gray chuckles, “Besides, she is trying to contact her brother, Hugh Black.”
“A load of nonsense…” Inspector Brown mutters, standing up, “On to the next suspect, my note book is rather full.” He flexes his wrist and prepares to write more.
“Melba Peach,” Sergeant Gray smiles, “Charming girl, she has a sweet innocence about her.”
“Irrelevant, Stuart!” Inspector Brown says, “You are smitten with a suspect.”
“She is the estranged daughter of Madame Rose.” Sergeant Gray explains
“No wonder your intrigue in the occult,” Inspector Brown narrows his eyes, “Stay away from her daughter.”
“Sir,” Sergeant Gray clears his throat
“At least wait until she has been exonerated from this case.” Inspector Brown says, “And don’t let that little feeling in your pants cloud your judgment, she’s a suspect fair enough!”
Sergeant Gray blushes, looking back down on his notes, “She is the estranged daughter of Madame Rose. She has openly confessed to stealing the keys and breaking into the Boat House to spend the night early. She explained that she felt this Brunette fellow was after her and if she got a head start he’d never find her, so she replanned her entire trip a day early to throw Brunette off.”
“She didn’t tell her family here?” asks Inspector Brown
“She did not.” Sergeant Gray says, “The poor girl was shivering and freezing in that drafty Boat House all night.”
“And I’m sure you would have loved to warm her up.” Inspector Brown rolls his eyes, “Now, I assume she gave you a full description of Brunette to match with the others?”
“Yes.” Sergeant Gray says
“Put hers and Yvette’s together.” Inspector Brown says, “I want to see how recently they have both seen Brunette.”
“You don’t trust Yvette?” asks Sergeant Gray, “Is this simply because she is a foreigner?”
“No,” Inspector Brown says, “Something tells me she knows more about Brunette than she is leading on.”
“I already gave you Mr. Ash and Rusty’s maps.” Sergeant Gray notes, “The last I talked to was the boy, Fivel Dove.”
“Children sometimes end up seeing the most important clues,” Inspector Brown says, “Even though they do not know it.”
“Fivel was not very talkative.” Sergeant Gray says, “When I asked him what was the matter he only responded – ‘I am worried about my mother.’”
Inspector Brown draws a circle around Miss Dove’s name.
“Did you just circle a suspect?” asks Sergeant Gray
“I’ve circled several.” Inspector Brown says, “The ones who are prime suspects in my mind.”
“May I have a look?” asks Sergeant Gray
“Have a look.” Inspector Brown says staring into Sergeant Gray’s eyes
“Yvette Ardoise,” Sergeant Gray reads the first circled name
“Go on,” Inspector Brown says
“Professor Peter Plum,” Sergeant Gray says, his eyebrow furrowing.
“Don’t stop,” Inspector Brown says, “Keep reading.”
“Mrs. Patricia Peacock,” Sergeant Gray says, “Miss Amelia Dove.”
Sergeant Gray stops and looks up at Inspector Brown.
“Sir?” Sergeant Gray looks quite saddened
“Read it.” Inspector Brown says
“Miss Melba Peach.” Sergeant Gray says softly
“Everyone is a suspect.” Inspector Brown says, “And there were a likely array of possible weapons.”
“You don’t know how he was killed?” asks Sergeant Gray
“The staircase did too much damage to him.” Inspector Brown says, “We will need a full autopsy. But my investigators put together an array of possible weapons. These were either collected or found out of place or suspiciously seen in someone’s possession.”
Inspector Brown takes him to the table covered in a white sheet.
“Yes, I was wondering what this was.” Sergeant Gray says lifting a corner.
Inspector Brown lifts the other corner and the sheet comes off. Sergeant Gray takes a step back in shock.
“It looks so macabre.” Sergeant Gray says, eyes widening
“It is a unique list of possible weapons.” Inspector Brown says
On the table before them lays a carving Knife, an ornate, brass Candlestick, Mr. Green’s Revolver, a coil of Rope tied into a noose, a piece of Lead Pipe, a Wrench, a Vial of Poison, a Fireplace Poker, and the Shotgun that Miss Dove was seen with.
“Well, Sergeant,” Inspector Brown turns to him, “Are you ready to help me catch a killer?”
To Be Continued…