Katherine Brooks - Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. Vol. 106, No. 4 & 5. Whole No. 648 & 649, October 1995

“It’s quite true,” said Welling. “I handled it myself. Mrs. Brocklehurst is an old acquaintance of mine. She asked me to do it. Explained that she wanted to raise a little cash for a present to her husband. I saw no reason to refuse.”

“Why did she choose Kadmack?”

“She said she had a feeling they were going up. A woman’s instinct. You know what they’re like.”

“Then the whole idea was hers, not yours?”

“Yes.”

“You’re absolutely sure about that?”

“Absolutely. Why?”

“Because, as a measure of protection for the firm — and for you, of course — I have already spoken to George Capel. You know who I mean?”

“The Q.C.”

“Right. A specialist in defamation. I told him the whole story. And I asked him, if we brought an action for slander against Fearne, would we have a case that would stand up, and would he act for us. You know how counsel shy away from slander cases. In the end he said he thought we would have a convincing case and that he would act for us, subject to two points. The first was that there appeared to be no reason why you should have trapped Mrs. Brocklehurst in the way Fearne was suggesting. What was the suggested motive for the steps you took? Had you any reason to dislike Brocklehurst?”

“None at all. I’ve never had any dealings with him, professional or social. Apart from the fact that he was Laura Brocklehurst’s husband, I hardly knew of his existence.”

“Good. That should help a jury to make up its mind. Counsel’s second point was a very simple one. Fearne is saying that you suggested the sale and purchase to Mrs. Brocklehurst. You say that the suggestion came from her. Two different stories. Which of them is true?”

Before Welling could answer, Mr. Grintham leaned forward and said, “If it was put to Mrs. Brocklehurst, would she support you?”

Welling said, picking his words carefully, “She’s not in a very good state of health at the moment. In fact, her mind’s said to be going. If it was put to her, her first reaction might be to say that she’d forgotten all about it.”

“But if she was pressed — reminded of the precise circumstances in which the conversation took place—”

“Yes. I think she’d admit that the suggestion came from her.”

“Then ask her.”

“Personally?”

“Why not? You’re an old friend. Even if she’s bedridden, surely you’d be allowed in to see her.”

“I imagine so. Mrs. Vicarage knows me. But if Laura says — what we want her to say — shouldn’t I have a witness with me?”

“She’d be more likely to speak freely if you were on your own. But there’s no reason you shouldn’t take a tape recorder with you.”

When Albert Welling was ushered into her bedroom by Mrs. Vicarage and the door had closed behind her, Laura experienced such a feeling of relief and joy that it almost overwhelmed her. It was something she had hoped for and prayed for without really expecting it to happen.

Her hand slid down into the narrow space between the far side of her bed and the wall and her fingers caressed the stock of Clive’s shotgun.

She drew it up quite slowly.

When Welling saw it, his first instinct was to try to grab it. Then he changed his mind and made for the door. As he was trying to open it, Laura, resting the gun on the rail at the foot of her bed, discharged both barrels into the small of his back.

“Did you guess he’d come to see her?” said Bracknell. “And did you know she’d got hold of Clive’s gun?”

“No to both questions,” said Fearne. “I’m not a prophet or a mind reader. One thing I do know. We shall have to get busy now organising her defence.”

“She’ll get a lot of sympathy from the jury,” said Bracknell.