“I know what you mean. By the way, madam, be sure to hit him as hard as you can. If you don’t knock him out on the first hit, he’ll probably shoot you or something.”
“After we have finished this investigation, do you want to go get some lunch?”
“Yes, that is a very good idea. I’m starving...”
[thunk]
“I did it! I did it! I got him.”
“Miss Nancy? Is that you, or is that Joe?”
“It’s me, Miss Nancy. I did exactly what you said. He came into the room yelling for me and I stepped out behind him and really let him have it.”
“Is he knocked out?”
“Yes! He isn’t moving... in fact... he’s not breathing.”
“Is it Joe? Were you right?”
“Let me see... Oh my gosh! It’s... it’s... Marley!”
“Wait a minute, Hamish, I thought you said Marley was the deceased husband?”
“He is now.”
“You know, Missmarple, I told her at the beginning that Marlowe probably faked his own death, but she didn’t believe me.”
“Don’t get me started on that one. Our customers call us up, wanting us to solve their crimes, but then they don’t even listen to us.”
“I... I can’t believe it. I killed my poor Marley. Oh no. He had two train tickets. He wasn’t going to kill me, he was going to take me away somewhere.”
“Just as you suspected: an insurance scam. Good job, Hamish.”
“You know, Missmarple, Miss Nancy really is better off now.”
“What do you mean, Hamish?”
“She will get a small fortune from the insurance company, and her cheating husband is dead. Since the authorities think he died in the mountains, all she has to do is dispose of the body. She is much better off now than she was before.”
“That is a good point, Hamish.”
“Thank you, Missmarple. Miss Nancy? Are you still there?”
“Yes, I... I’m still here.”
“Thank you for calling the Spade Detective Agency. Please stay on the line while I transfer you to our Customer Satisfaction group, where you will be asked to take a short survey.”
[hold music]
Copyright © 2012 by Stewart Brown