[MaC] Back to the Top

[Mel Mason]

"I agree," Nicola said, handing Hodges his rifle back.  She followed Michael 
up the stairs to the third floor. "I think we should do those in order as 
well," she said as they climbed up the flights of stairs. "You know, 
darling- nine, ten, eleven, twelve."

"Hold up!"  Hodges called out as he followed the pair upstairs.  "Unless you 
are going to be breaking down doors, you'll need my pass key"  He pointed 
out.  "I'm certain the others can handle Fitzroy.  But we still need to 
eliminate the possibility, however farfetched, that Miss Diamond was 
murdered by someone who is not a resident."

They started with the empty flat - and it was copmpletely empty - the 
Carter-Rucks, who normally occupied it, had moved all their belongings down 
to Somerset for the furation of the war.

Next they tackled Nola's flat.  Here they spent somewhat longer.

They discovered hypodermic needles concealed in a drawer of her desk, and 
some ampoules that declared they contained morphine.  At least they had 
once.

On the hearth in her living room, Nicola made a discovery - some burned 
paper.  A red ribbon lay beside them - it seemed as though a bundle of 
letters had been burned.  Only a single sheet of blackened paper remained - 
and that dissolved at a breath - but not before Nicola was able to make out 
the words, "Dear ... dearest ... why ... need ... forgive ... "

They then moved on to Braham Davies' flat.  At first glance it appeared 
rather spartan but neat, with lots of books and journals.  His desk was a 
mess of papers and notes, some hastily scribbled on scraps of paper.  As 
they looked a little more closely they saw that these notes detailed 
people's coming's and goings, with Mortmain Manions, their obvious 
activities and habits.

Indeed, every inhabitant, it appeared, ahd their own file.