The Dissappearing Body
"'Yes, Sir? What can I do for you?- I'm sorry, sir, I didn't quite catch- a body, did you say?- yes, if you please, sir- young woman not known to you, you say? quite sir. Yes you can leave it all to me.'
Police-Constable Palk replaced the receiver, uttered a long-drawn whistle and proceeded to dial his superior officer's number."
Copyright Agatha Christie Mallowan 1942
Edwina Richard dressed in a pin-striped suit and trilby hat stepped on to the stage and without a glance at the two women playing Miss Marples and Mrs Bantry, delivered her opening lines:
"You shouldn't be in here, I trust you haven't touched anything?"
Neither women replied. The prompt could be heard whispering from the wings but the cue was not picked up.
Edwina drew a breath, "Well, do either of you recognise the deceased?" She walked to the centre back.
Dorothy Turner, playing Miss Marples, shook her head, took her companion's hand and moved forward blocking Edwina's progress. She swept them both aside. "I'll have a look my-"
Something was very clearly wrong but Edwina was a trooper. She prided herself on being able to ad lib her way through any of the many pitfalls of amateur drama. The first scene was cut as efficiently as any film strip and Edwina, alias Inspector Slack, moved to the questioning of Mary, the maid.
The rest of the cast were hardly aware of a problem since the 'body' wasn'required after the opening scene. Indeed, as Edwina declared to any who listened, had they known Sharon Lees, alias 'the body', wasn't going to turn up, they could have started the play at the enquiry instead of at the finding of the body.
Dorothy stood, head on one side in the prescribed Miss Marple manner. She had undertaken the role so often that it had become second nature to her. Indeed she sometimes felt she was Miss Marples. "Does anyone know what has happened to Sharon?" She asked.
Edwina snorted, "It's not hard to guess. I said from the beginning we shouldn't have allowed anyone from the estate to join." She refused to endow the Council Estate, which now swamped the old village, with the courtesy title of 'the development' given by the original 'Miss Marples.'
Her son Richard did not share her prejudice and was glad of the help Ben and Shaun Dimson gave him with the scenery and clearing the hall at the end of the show. Although the three were quick and efficient, the cast had reached the 'Dog and Partridge' before they had left the hall.
The village pub was packed solid. It was the one business which had not only survived but thrived in spite of the competition from the 'Crown', a noisy new public house on the estate. Many of the new residents enjoyed the short walk from the estate and the affluent workers from the nearby town came out in their cars, attracted by the olde worlde pub.
Dorothy had had the forethought to order pints for the men and all had the drinks in their hands when a tall thin faced man pushed his way through to them. Richard greeted him, shouting over the noise. "Hullo Wayne, didn't expect you. 'Fraid you'll have a job getting a drink."
"I haven't come for a drink. Where's Sharon? I've come to walk her home."
Edwina turned slopping her cider. "Sharon isn't with us," she said, her mouth setting like a frog.
"Oh, has she been gone long?"
Edwina opened her mouth, Richard nudged her elbow causing her to spill more cider and distracting her. Before she recovered he said, "I didn't see her leave."
"As a matter of fact," Edwina began.
"I don't think any of us saw her leave," Darren butted in. He winked at Richard.
"Right, maybe I'll catch her up." Wayne elbowed his way through the crowd.
Richard finished his pint expressing the hope that Sharon would get home before her husband. His mother however was not so charitable and as soon as they were out of the door she challenged him. "Why did you stop me telling Wayne Lees that his wife didn't turn up to rehearsal."
"If Sharon wants some time to herself it's not up to us to dob her in it."
That night Dorothy found sleep elusive. Suppose Sharon didn't go home? It was clear her husband believed she had set out for the Hall and yet she had not arrived.
The following day found Dorothy in the post office buying sellotape. She was greeted by the assistant Margaret Green who had previously worked at the village shop. "I did enjoy the play, wasn't the first scene a bit short though? I thought we were going to see Sharon Lees with her tongue sticking out. She had us all in tucks about it last week. Has she taken ill?"
Dorothy tilted her head and smiled gently. "You haven't seen her today then?"
Before Margaret could answer another customer butted in. "I heard she stayed out all night. Her husband was going berserk this morning, knocking up neighbours to ask if they had seen her."
Back in the village tongues were clacking. All agreed it was a shame. Her husband was such a nice man and so devoted.
"He hung upon her as if increase of appetite had grown by what it fed upon" murmured Dorothy remembering immediately that Shakespeare had the husband murdered and it was the wife who had showed such devotion.
Dorothy pondered long and hard. What would Miss Marples have done? At last she made up her mind, she walked into the police station and asked to see the detective in charge. She didn't have any evidence as such but Mr Lees reminded her of Tim Kendal. He had appeared to be devoted to his wife before he killed her. .
To say the inspector wasn't interested in her theory was an understatement. Moreover when he learnt the said Mr Kendal was a character in a book he rudely told her to stop wasting his time. It was most upsetting and she felt totally demoralised. All her life she had awaited the opportunity to play a part in a real murder and now her ideas had been dismissed out of hand.
Snow fell in the night leaving a slippery crust on the pavements. Dorothy felt her feet sliding away from her as she braved the garden path to put out crumbs for the birds. It would not be safe to venture further until the day warmed the streets. She was therefore surprised to see her friend Edwina approaching, slithering and mincing as if any moment her feet would escape from her. Something must be very wrong. She drew her friend into the warm kitchen, sat her down and placed a glass of sherry in her hand.
Edwina clutched the glass so tightly, Dorothy feared it might break. Her face was blue grey, her hair wisped out beneath her hat. "The police have taken Richard to the station," she said at last. "What am I going to do."
"Drink your sherry." Dorothy didn't usually issue commands but this wasn't a usual situation. Excitement raised her adrenaline. "Tell me exactly what happened." She took the glass from Edwina's unresisting finger and put her head on one side to listen.
"To help with their enquiries," they said. But why Richard he didn't know the girl? He has never bothered with girls."
That was the problem. Dorothy had been the recipient of the local
gossip. A man who lives with his mother to such an age must be peculiar and
Sharon had been seen heading for the village hall at five-thirty on Thursday, the first night of the play. She should have arrived by six at which time Richard would have been checking the lights. The rest of the cast arrived at six-thirty or shortly after.
To comfort her friend she said, "Then I expect that is all it is. Try not to worry."
The sun came out and Edwina took her leave. Dorothy decided it was time to go sleuthing. She knew constable Wilson was in the habit of lunching at the Dog and Partridge whenever possible. He was a familiar face around the village, a man happy with his lot and not seeking promotion he never-the-less had his ear to the ground and welcomed a chat.
Of course Miss Marples would not have ventured alone into an ale house but she had access to the police in charge in more salubrious quarters.
Constable Wilson was, as she had anticipated, sitting in the corner with his back to the wall enjoying a Ploughman's lunch His glass was almost empty. She took a small sherry and a plate of sandwiches over to his table. "Do you mind if I join you? One feels so conspicuous sitting alone."
"Not at all. Miss Turner alias Miss Marples, isn't it? I caught your last play. Brilliant performance a pity about the body."
"Thank you. I'm pleased you enjoyed our little production. Have you discovered yet where Sharon is? I asked the landlord to bring over a pint for you," she added as a beer was placed on the table.
He raised the glass. "You shouldn't have. Still can't let it go to waste." He picked up the pickled onion supplied with his ploughman lunch before vouchsafing, "The Super thinks she isn't anywhere, not alive anyway."
"Oh dear, I do hope he is wrong." Her faced flushed with excitement. Is it true she was actually seen going into the hall?"
He frowned, looking at her with narrowed eyes. "Now where did you hear that titbit?"
"It isn't true then?"
"If we knew the truth, life would be a lot easier."
He hadn't refuted the statement. Dorothy decided to call on Mr Lees. As a member of the drama group it would not be out of place to enquire after Sharon.
Wayne Lees readily informed her of the supposed sighting of Sharon. The Vicar's daughter saw her at a nightclub with him few weeks ago, he told her.
Dorothy, her head tilted, her face grave gave him her full attention. "With whom?"
"That Richard Sharpe.' A sob came into his voice. I never thought she'd leave me. If only she'd get in touch, let me know she is all right."
Dorothy murmured her sympathy and took her leave. If the Vicar's daughter had confessed to being at a night club she must be telling the truth about Richard. So why was he lying?
She was making her way home deep in thought when a car hooter caught her attention. The driver, a ginger haired young man called out to her. "Miss Turner, I'm going your way, can I give you a lift?"
Gratefully she accepted. "I wasn't sure you'd remember me." He said. "I wasn't exactly your star pupil but I've never forgot what you did for me. I owe you one."
It was then the idea came to her. "If you mean that Dale there is something you can do for me."
"Name it."
"Do you know 'The Black Lace?'
He was visibly shocked. "Yeah but it isn't a place you would like. You weren't thinking of going there?"
"No of course not. I wondered if you would go for me?"
He soon got back to her with the information that Richard had been there with a young blonde and that the police had been there making the same enquiries. It seemed conclusive so why was Richard lying surely he couldn't have done away with her. There was no motive. She thanked Dale and swore him to secrecy.
It was Wayne's appeal on television that confirmed Dorothy's opinion.
She sought out Constable Wilson once more.
"Aren't you going to dig up his garden?" She asked.
He shook his head and smiled. "Now Miss Turner don't you let your imagination run away with you. Wayne was getting legless in the Tally Ho and has a dozen or more witnesses to confirm his alibi. And before you ask Shaun Dimson was with his brother until they both left the hall, a lady was waiting for him outside. We have her name and she has confirmed his alibi. Things look bad for Richard," he sighed and shook his head.
"But what motive could he possibly have?"
Wilson's mouth twitched, "Didn't want his Mum to find out perhaps."
Motive, Dorothy knew, was of prime importance. Richard had no motive. Oh dear,
he should have realised. How could she have been so blind? She had to tell the
police. The playgroup would be using the hall, they mustn't find the body.
For the first time in her life Dorothy made an anonymous phone call.
The police found the body under the stage. Edwina confessed. Richard had always sworn he would never leave her, she couldn't face life on her own.
07923 572 8612
Comments powered by CComment