Devious Murder by George Bellairs

simply greeting my husband.’
    She was taking advantage of the absence of her mistress, for she wore black slacks and a purple jumper. Morgan introduced her. She was the dominant partner and took over from her husband right away.
    â€˜You wish to see over the house, Mr. Cairncross says.’
    â€˜Not exactly, at present. Just to take a look at the rooms that overlook the flats next door.’
    â€˜Mr. Cairncross tells me there’s been a murder there. Very sad and awkward. I don’t know what Mrs. Havenith will have to say about this. She’s a very sensitive lady.…’
    She looked at the assembled party.
    â€˜Shall we proceed then?’
    Cairncross intervened.
    â€˜Excuse me. Would you two gentlemen care to see the safe first. It’s in the study and you were interested in it, I think.’
    His aggressiveness had disappeared and, if he didn’t adopt a very respectful attitude towards the police, he certainly regarded Mrs. Morgan with deference.
    â€˜That will be all right,’ she said.
    The hall was large and panelled in oak. Numerous doors led from it and Mrs. Morgan opened one and led the party inside. The walls were lined on three sides with batteries of books and there was a cosy informal look about the room. There was a huge fireplace, converted to electricity, with a large mirror overmantel. On either side of it the wall was decorated with framed autographed portraits of celebrities and portrait miniatures. There was a winged arm-chair on each side and a variety of smaller chairs scattered here and there.
    â€˜Shall I …?’ said Cairncross addressing Mrs. Morgan.
    She nodded.
    He crossed to one of the set of bookshelves, almost furtively manipulated a catch on one side, and four shelves of books swivelled away from the rest and revealed a cavity in which a safe door was visible.
    Cairncross stood aside and with a gesture of his hand invited the detectives to inspect the safe.
    â€˜No need to open it, is there?’
    â€˜Not for the present. How many people know of the existence of this safe?’
    Mrs. Morgan answered.
    â€˜Most of the staff, I expect. Although, in engaging them, I always insist on the need for discretion and that there must be no discussion outside the house of what goes on here. All the same, there is no way of stopping them from gossiping and as the secret of the safe is unusual they doubtless talk about it and even investigate it when we are not about.’
    â€˜I gather that you and your husband constitute the permanent staff and that when Mrs. Havenith is not in residence you are here alone,’ said Cromwell.
    â€˜Not exactly. Three women, daily helps, are, in a way, on the permanent staff and come every day to clean the place. They live in the village. For the rest, we employ three or four maids from a registry when the mistress and guests are about the house.’
    â€˜Do they supply the same maids every time?’
    â€˜No. They can hardly hold them unemployed in reserve until we need them. Sometimes we get a girl who has been here before, but we can’t depend on it.’
    If Mrs. Morgan had herself been mistress of the house she could not have been more authoritative. She spoke as if she owned the place. Her husband stood mutely by with Cairncross. The pair of them were evidently content to allow Mrs. Morgan to do the talking.
    â€˜How long was Mrs. Havenith. recently in residence?’
    â€˜Almost a month. She had business in London and took the opportunity to hold a number of social gatherings here.’
    â€˜And during that time were the same maids here?’
    â€˜Yes. May I ask exactly why you are questioning me in this way? Surely you don’t think that the recent crime in
Orchard Court
had any connection with this establishment.’
    â€˜I made that point before we came here.…’
    Cairncross seemed to be excusing himself. Mrs. Morgan ignored the interruption.
    â€˜We have our