He sat motionless, staring into space.
‘You heard what I said, Josh. I think Angie killed her father so her brother could return home. I think someone saw it happen and that is why she has been paying blackmail, Josh, through Hank Smedley, your son.’
He heaved a heavy sigh, looking up at me from under heavy brows.
‘You are wrong, Mr Wallace. I have to tell you, you are wrong. There was a quarrel, a violent one, but Miss Angie went away before her father collapsed. Only I saw that happen. I heard their angry voices but when I went in he was alone and struggling to get his tablets from his desk, the tablets he had to take in a bad attack. I saw him and he saw me. I found the tablets.’
‘Yes?’
‘I found them and took them away. He collapsed, and his head hit the desk. I didn’t touch him. I went out. When I came in again I found him like I told them. Dead, and that is how I killed him.’
I stared at him for a long moment.
‘Do you know what you are saying, Josh? You killed Mr Thorsen?’
He nodded.
‘Yes, sir, I say I killed him, because I let him die.’
‘But why?’
He sat still, staring into space, then he said, ‘It goes back a long time, Mr Wallace. I have served Mr and Mrs Thorsen for some thirty years. When she married, I came with her. I was a good butler. Mr Thorsen was pleased with me. It wasn’t until my son was born that my troubles began. Hank was always in and out of real trouble. I asked Mr Thorsen if he would let Hank take care of the garden. He agreed, and gave him a small salary. For a time, Hank liked doing the garden, and he did it well. He seemed to be settling down. Then Miss Angie began to fool around with him. She was about 13 years of age. Hank was 16. It got serious, Mr Wallace, and Mrs Thorsen found out. Hank was sacked. From then on Hank was in constant trouble with the police. He had six months in jail.’
Josh paused to sip his drink. ‘Then my wife and I began to quarreclass="underline" always about Hank. This so upset me, I began to drink. I guess I got hooked. Then, one day, Mr Thorsen sent for me. He told me I had been so long in their service, he was leaving me five thousand dollars in his will. That may not seem to you a big sum, but to me it was a fortune. Time passed with Hank always in trouble and I drank more and more. Then Mr Thorsen found me drunk. He gave me notice to quit at the end of the month, and he told me he was cutting me out of his will. This was a terrible blow to me. As I’ve told you, Mr Thorsen was a hard man. To leave this lovely house...’ He lifted his shoulders in a despairing shrug. ‘Then Hank came to see me. He told me if he could get five thousand, he would be able to open this club. He asked me if I could give him the money. I told him I had no money like that. He said not to worry, he would rob a bank. I was sure if he did he would be caught and spend years in jail. I told him to wait a few days. I guess I hit the bottle hard. If Mr Thorsen died, I would continue with my job as butler and I would be able to give Hank the money he wanted. Mrs Thorsen would never give me notice to quit. So when Mr Thorsen died as I have told you, with Miss Angie coming in like the hand of providence, I kept my job and got the money. It was a bad thing to do. Hank’s now dead.’ He regarded me with glazed eyes. ‘My only wish now is also to be dead.’
I got to my feet. I didn’t want to hear any more. Looking at this wreck of a man, I felt sorry for him.
‘The coroner’s verdict was natural causes,’ I said. ‘I’ve already forgotten what you have told me. So long, Josh. I won’t be seeing you again.’
He sat there, staring at the Scotch in his glass. I didn’t know if what I had said had sunk into his drink sodden brain. I had the feeling his wish would soon be granted.
I left him like that and walked down the long drive in the drizzling rain to where I had parked my car.
The lights of Paradise City made a rainbow of colour against the sullen, rain swollen clouds. I wasn’t impressed. I had seen it all before. I stood by my car, listening to the distant roar of the traffic, watching the headlights as cars moved along the boulevards.
I unlocked the car door and dropped into the driving seat, out of the drizzle. I sat there thinking of Josh Smedley. What a loving father would do for a worthless son! I shrugged. I now wanted to see Bill and to hear if anything was happening at the cottage. As I was about to start the car engine, I heard a sound that made me pause. The sound was an ambulance siren that grew louder, and a moment later an ambulance followed by a car swept by me and turned into the narrow lane leading to the cottage. I caught a glimpse of two men in the car. Knowing Bill was up there, I decided to stay put and not confuse the situation. I lit a cigarette and waited. It was a long wait. Some forty minutes later, I began to lose patience, then a chauffeur driven Rolls swept by me. I saw Mrs Thorsen sitting at the back. The Rolls turned into the narrow lane. I decided to keep out of it. I lit yet another cigarette and waited. Another dreary half hour crawled by, then I heard the ambulance siren start up. Moments later, the ambulance appeared and went racing off towards the city, followed by the car with the two men. I guessed they were doctors.
I still waited, then after twenty minutes the Rolls appeared and drove towards the Thorsen’s residence.
I started my car engine and drove up the narrow lane. From time to time, I flashed my headlights to alert Bill I was on my way.
As I approached the gate to the cottage, I saw Bill who waved to me. I pulled onto the grass verge as he ran to my car. He slid into the passenger’s seat and slammed the car door.
‘Go ahead, Bill,’ I said. ‘Tell me.’
‘I saw the action through the living room window.’ Bill said. ‘Man! Plenty of action! I guess I arrived at the right time. Mrs Smedley was sitting. I felt sorry for her. I guess she was trying to decide what she would do. After a time, I saw the living room door slowly open and Angie appeared. She had got hold of the kitchen knife again. She began to creep towards Mrs Smedley. She looked out of her mind and vicious. I never want again to see anyone looking like that. She gave me the horrors. I was about to break the window and yell to Mrs Smedley when she must have sensed her danger. For a woman built like a Jap wrestler her reaction was impressive. As Angie was coming at her, Mrs Smedley was on her feet, had the knife away and gave Angie a clout that knocked her across the room. She then pounced on her and carried her into the bedroom, out of my sight.
‘She was out of sight for a good ten minutes, then she returned to the living room, picked up the telephone receiver and dialled. I guess she was calling for help, and believe me, she certainly needed help. Then Angie began screaming again, but I guess Mrs Smedley had tied her up. She kept screaming she wanted Terry. Mrs Smedley’s phone call got a lot of action. In twenty minutes, an ambulance...’
‘I know,’ I said. ‘I saw them arrive. What happened?’
‘They brought Angie out on a stretcher and away they went. Then Mrs Thorsen arrived She talked to the two doctors, then they left. While this was going on, Mrs Smedley stood, leaning against the wall, listening. Mrs Thorsen started talking to her. I couldn’t hear what she was saying, but from the expression on her face what she was saying wasn’t pleasant. Then she opened her handbag, took out two 500 dollar bills and threw them on the table. That’s it, Dirk. It’s my guess Mrs Thorsen told Mrs Smedley to pack up and go.’
‘OK, Bill. Stick around. I think this could be the right moment to talk to Mrs Smedley.’
I left the car. It had stopped raining, so I took off my mac and threw it on the back seat of the car, then I walked to the front door of the cottage. I pressed the doorbell, then, finding the door unlocked, I entered the small lobby, then walked into the living room.