Agatha Christie - They Do It With Mirrors

It was the bewildered hurt tone of a child.

Walter Hudd remained close to Edgar Lawson, glowering down at him. In his hand he held the gun that he had picked up from the floor.

Mrs Serrocold said in a wondering voice:

'But who could possibly want to shoot Christian?' It was not a question that demanded an answer.

Walter muttered under his breath: 'Nuts! The whole lot of them.' Stephen had moved protectively closer to Gina. Her young startled face was the most vivid thing in the room.

Suddenly the front door opened and a rush of cold air together with a man in a big overcoat came in.

The heartiness of his greeting seemed incredibly shocking.

'Hallo, everybody, what's going on tonight? A lot of fog on the road. I had to go dead slow.' For a startled moment, Miss Marple thought that she was seeing double. Surely the same man could not be standing by Gina and coming in by the door. Then she realized that it was only a likeness and not, when you looked closely, such a very strong likeness. The two men were clearly brothers with a strong family resemblance, but no more.

Where Stephen Restarick was thin to the point of emaciation the newcomer was sleek. The big coat with the astrakhan collar fitted the sleekness of body snugly. A handsome young man, and one who bore upon him the authority and good humour of success.

But Miss Marple noted one thing about him. His eyes, as he entered the hall, looked immediately at Gina.

He said, a little doubtfully: 'You did expect me? You got my wire?' He was speaking now to Carrie Louise. He came towards her.

Almost mechanically, she put her hand out to him. He took it and kissed it gently. It was an affectionate act of homage, not a mere theatrical courtesy.

She murmured: 'Of course, Alex dear - of course. Only, you see things have been happening '

'Happening?' Mildred gave the information, gave it with a kind of grim relish that Miss Marple found distasteful.

'Christian Gulbrandsen,' she said. 'My brother Christian Gulbrandsen has been found shot dead.'

'Good God,' Alex registered a more than life-size dismay. 'Suicide, do you mean?' Carrie Louise moved swiftly.

'Oh no,' she said. 'It couldn't be suicide. Not Christian! Oh no.'

'Uncle Christian would never shoot himself, I'm sure,' said Gina.

Alex Restarick looked from one person to the other.

From his brother Stephen he received a short confirmative nod. Walter Hudd stared back at him with faint resentment. Alex's eyes rested on Miss Marple with a sudden frown. It was as though he had found some unwanted prop on a stage set.

He looked as though he would like her explained. But nobody explained her, and Miss Marple continued to look an old, fluffy and sweetly bewildered old lady.

'When?' asked Alex. 'When did this happen, I mean?'

'Just before you arrived,' said Gina. 'About - oh three or four minutes ago, I suppose. Why, of course, we actually heard the shot. Only we didn't notice it - not really.'

'Didn't notice it? Why not?'

'Well, you see, there were other things going on…' Gina spoke rather hesitantly.

'Sure were,' said Walter with emphasis.

Juliet Bellever came into the hall by the door from the library.

'Mr Serrocold suggests that we should all wait in the library. It would be convenient for the police. Except for Mrs Serrocold. You've had a shock, Cara. I've ordered some hot bottles to be put in your bed. I'll take you up and ' Rising to her feet, Carrie Louise shook her head.

'I must see Christian first,' she said.

'Oh no, dear. Don't upset yourself-' Carrie Louise put her very gently to one side.

'Dear Jolly - you don't understand.' She looked round and said, 'Jane?' Miss Marple had already moved towards her.

'Come with me, will you, Jane.' They moved together towards the door. Dr Maverick, coming in, almost collided with them.

Miss Bellever exclaimed: 'Dr Maverick. Do stop her. So foolish.' Carrie Louise looked calmly at the young doctor. She even gave a tiny smile.

Dr Maverick said: 'You want to go and - see him?'

'I must.'

'I see.' He stood aside. 'If you feel you must, Mrs Serrocold. But afterwards, please go and lie down and let Miss Bellever look after you. At the moment you do not feel the shock, but I assure you that you will do so.'

'Yes. I expect you are right. I will be quite sensible. Come, Jane.' The two women moved out through the door, past the foot of the main staircase and along the corridor, past the dining-room on the right and the double doors leading to the kitchen quarters on the left, past the side door to the terrace and on to the door that gave admission to the Oak suite that had been allotted to Christian Gulbrandsen. It was a room furnished as a sitting-room more than a bedroom, with a bed in an alcove to one side and a door leading into a dressing-room and bathroom.

Carrie Louise stopped on the threshold. Christian Gulbrandsen had been sitting at the big mahogany desk with a small portable typewriter open in front of him. He sat there now, but slumped sideways in the chair. The high arms of the chair prevented him from slipping to the floor.

Lewis Serrocold was standing by the window. He had pulled the curtain a little aside and was gazing out into the night.

He looked round and frowned.

'My dearest, you shouldn't have come.'

He came towards her and she stretched out a hand to him. Miss Marple retreated a step or two.

'Oh yes, Lewis. I had to - see him. One has to know just exactly how things are.'

She walked slowly towards the desk.

Lewis said warningly:

'You mustn't touch anything. The police must have things left exactly as we found them.'

'Of course. He was shot deliberately by someone, then?'

'Oh yes.' Lewis Serrocold looked a little surprised that the question had even been asked. 'I thought - you knew that?'

'I did really. Christian would not commit suicide, and he was such a competent person that it could not possibly have been an accident. That only leaves' - she hesitated a moment - 'murder.'

She walked up behind the desk and stood looking down at the dead man. There was sorrow and affection in her face.

'Dear Christian,' she said. 'He was always good to me.' Softly, she touched the top of his head with her fingers.

'Bless you and thank you, dear Christian,' she said.

Lewis Serrocold said with something more like emotion than Miss Marple had ever seen in him before: 'I wish to God I could have spared you this, Caroline.' His wife shook her head gently.

'You can't really spare anyone anything,' she said.

'Things always have to be faced sooner or later. And therefore it had better be sooner. I'll go and lie down now. I suppose you'll stay here, Lewis, until the police come?'

'Yes.'

Carrie Louise turned away and Miss Marple slipped an arm round her.

Inspector Curry and his entourage found Miss Bellever alone in the Great Hall when they arrived.

She came forward efficiently.

'I am Juliet Bellever, companion and secretary to Mrs Serrocold.'

'It was you who found the body and telephoned to us?'

'Yes. Most of the household are in the library through that door there. Mr Serrocold remained in Mr Gulbrandsen's room to see that nothing was disturbed.

Dr Maverick, who first examined the body, will be here very shortly. He had to take a - case over to the other wing. Shall I lead the way?'

'If you please.'

'Competent woman,' thought the Inspector to himself.

'Seems to have got the whole thing taped.' He followed her along the corridor.

For the next twenty minutes the routine of police procedure was duly set in motion. The photographer took the necessary pictures. The police surgeon arrived and was joined by Dr Maverick. Half an hour later, the ambulance had taken away the mortal remains of Christian Gulbrandsen, and Inspector Curry started his official interrogation.