Richard Deming - Gallows in My Garden

Going over to the bed, I smoothed aside Fausta’s bright hair and felt the pulse behind her ear. It seemed slow, but steady, and her breathing was still regular. As I looked down at her sleeping face, it occurred to me it was going to be a distinct pleasure to catch this particular killer, for the only thing in the world which could make me more determined to nail anyone who passed at one of my clients, was for him to accidentally catch Fausta in the crossfire.

I asked the doctor, “Think I should get one of the women up here to get Grace out of that wet swimming-suit?”

“The bed’s already wet,” he said. “And in this heat it hardly matters.”

I turned to Arnold. “You and Doctor Lawson stay right in this room until I get back. No one else gets in for anything. Understand?”

He nodded mutely.

“And you, Doctor?”

“All right,” he said. “Under the circumstances someone has to stay, of course.”

Downstairs I stuck my head into the drawing-room and motioned to Edmund.

“Tell me, Edmund,” I said, when he had come over to the door. “After you opened those two Coke bottles, were they out of your sight?”

“No, sir. I opened ’em just ’fore carrying ’em out.”

“Good,” I told him. “Have you seen Mr. Greene?”

All that got me was a blank stare. Finally he said, “You mean your gentleman’s gen’man, sir?”

This got Edmund a blank stare from me. “Gentleman’s gentleman? Didn’t know I had one, but where is it?”

“In the kitchen, last I saw, sir.”

I made my way back to the kitchen and found Maggie, Kate, and Mouldy Greene sitting at the table drinking iced coffee.

Maggie and Kate got up when I looked in, and Mouldy waved an expansive hand. “Hi, Sarge. Draw up a glass and sit down.”

I motioned the two women back to their chairs. If I ever earn enough money to hire servants, I intend to dispense with the customary formalities. I could never grow accustomed to women rising when I entered a room, and all it does is embarrass me.

I said to Mouldy, “What’s this gentleman’s gentleman stuff?”

Greene looked puzzled and Maggie’s face suddenly assumed a suspicious frown.

“Isn’t this gentleman your valet, sir?” she asked. “No,” I told her.

“Well!” she said in an outraged voice. “He came to the kitchen door and said he was with you, so naturally I assumed he was your gentleman’s gentleman.”

I crooked my finger at Mouldy, who was staring at Maggie in astonishment. When he came over to the door, I pushed him through it in the direction of the stairway.

“He’s not a guest, either, Maggie,” I said ever my shoulder. “I bought him from a circus for a pet.”

I led my moronic friend upstairs, directed him into the room where Fausta and Grace lay, and gestured toward the bed. Ignoring Grace entirely, he stared down at Fausta in bewilderment.

“What’s the matter with her?” he asked.

“Knockout drops,” I said.

Knotting both oversized fists, he glared at Dr. Lawson and Arnold belligerently. “Who done it?”

“We don’t know yet,” I told him. “I’m going to give you a simple task even you won’t be able to ball up. See that chair?” I pointed to a cushioned straight-back near the window.

He examined it intently, finally nodding.

“Sit in it and stay there until both Fausta and Grace wake up. Dr. Lawson and I are allowed in the room. If anyone else tries to get in, pitch him or her out.”

“Out the window?” he asked interestedly.

“Out the door!” I yelled. I never yell at anyone but Mouldy, but with him I can’t help it. In a more moderate tone I said, “I don’t mean literally. Just keep everyone else out.”

“How about me?” asked Arnold.

“No,” I said. “It would be too much of a strain for him to remember three people. Just the doctor and me.”

“I got you, Sarge,” Mouldy said. “You and the doc get in; everyone else gets the old heave-ho.”

We left Mouldy in charge. Arnold and the doctor went to their rooms to dress, while I returned to the kitchen. Maggie, now alone, examined me with suspicion when I stuck my head in the door. Apparently I had fallen in her estimation because of association with Greene.

“There’s been another accident, Maggie,” I said. “Heard about it?”

Her eyes spread, and an expression of alarm displaced the suspicion. “Not Miss Grace?”

“Yes, but nothing serious. She’s all right now. Any Coke in the refrigerator?”

She regarded me from blank eyes. “Edmund will take your order,” she said finally.

“I don’t want a drink,” I explained patiently. “I’m simply asking a question.”

“Well, yes. Some. Four bottles, I think.”

“Get it for me, will you? All of it.”

After a moment of curious scrutiny, she went to the huge refrigerator in one corner and brought out four bottles of Coke. “Do you want them opened?” she asked politely.

“No.”

Setting the bottles on the table, I held one level with my eyes and carefully examined the cap. Then, holding the bottle with both hands, I pressed my thumbs upward. For a moment nothing happened, then with a slight pop, the cap flew off.

“Why, that’s the strongest thing I ever saw!” Maggie exclaimed.

I grinned at her. “It’s a trick, Maggie. Someone uncapped the bottles, then pressed the caps back on.”

Recovering the loose cap, I snapped it back in place. “How long have these been cooling?”

Her brow furrowed. “How long? I don’t know. Three, four days maybe. When they get low, I put in a dozen, so

I guess it’s been three days at least since I added any.” I thanked her and departed with the four bottles.

Upstairs i set the coke bottles on Grace’s dresser next to the two empty glasses. “These aren’t to drink,” I told Mouldy. “They’re full of knockout drops. Don’t let anyone touch them till the cops arrive. Think you can remember that?”

“Sure,” he said resentfully. “Think I‘m a Mormon?”

There was a question I wanted to ask Mouldy, but I was afraid if I started what little mind he had along a fresh channel, he would forget all the instructions I had issued. I studied him contemplatively a few moments, then decided to risk it.

“While you were in the kitchen with Maggie and Kate,” I said, “did either of them leave at any time?”

“When was that?” he asked.

“Just before I brought you up here,” I explained in a slightly choked voice. “Remember — you were drinking iced coffee in the kitchen.”

“Oh, sure. Down in the kitchen, you mean. Now what was the question?”

“Did either Maggie or Kate leave the kitchen while you were there?” I yelled.

“I can hear you,” he said soothingly. After scratching his head, he added, “Not Maggie, but Kate did. The young one, you know. She hadda set the dining-room table, and was gone about fifteen minutes, I guess.”

“Did you leave yourself?”

“Me? No. Why should I set the dining-room table?”

“I don’t know,” I said frustratedly. “Just thought I‘d ask.”

By the time I finally got to the drawing-room, where I had sent Ann, Abigail Stoltz, and Edmund to wait for me, Arnold and Dr. Lawson had completed dressing and were also there. As I entered the room from the hall, I caught a glimpse of Kate through the archway into the dining-room. She was doing something at the table, and getting a sudden inspiration, I crossed to the archway to observe what it was. She was laying silver on the bare tablecloth, and apparently she had just started. “Kate,” I said.

She turned quickly. “Yes, sir?”

“Come in here a minute. I want you in on this.”