INSPECTOR THACKERAY INVESTIGATES

1 An Inside Job
This was one of Inspector Thackeray’s earliest cases with Sergeant Silver. It was a very simple investigation.
The Inspector never had any doubts about the name of the criminal; he could easily have made his arrest
earlier. But he wanted to be completely sure. “A good detective,” he used to say, “has to answer three
questions about a crime:
• how was it done?
• who did it?
• can I prove it?”
Proof, in fact, is as important as knowledge. Sometimes a detective knows who committed a crime, but he
cannot prove it.
In this case the Inspector only made his arrest when he had all the facts. These facts gave him enough evidence
to take the criminal to court. The evidence was so strong that the case lasted only one day. The judge praised
the Inspector for his work and gave the thief five years in prison.

Characters
Inspector Thackeray, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Manchester.
Sergeant Silver, his assistant
Mr Roberts, a courier from the Safemen Security Company
Mr Lock, owner of the Safemen Security Company
Mr Rich, owner of Travel Tours Limited
Mr Pound, assistant at Travel Tours Limited
Miss Matthews, secretary to Mr Pound
Mr Dorman, the hall porter

Scene 1
(Manchester Central Police Station. The office of Inspector Thackeray and Sergeant Silver. The phone rings.)
THACKERAY: (lifts the phone) Manchester Central Police Station, Detective Inspector Thackeray speaking…
Yes… Is he hurt badly?… Five thousand pounds, you say… Park Street Hospital… Yes, I’ve got that… Yes.
I’ll be there in about ten minutes. (He puts the phone down.) Sergeant.
SILVER: Yes, sir.
THACKERAY: I want a road map of the city centre.
SILVER: But you’ve already got one sir.
THACKERAY: I had. It was under the leg of this table.
SILVER: Under the leg of the table, sir?
THACKERAY: Yes, one leg’s shorter than the other three. I suppose the cleaner’s moved it, I can’t think where.
SILVER: It’s not under those papers on your desk, is it, sir?
THACKERAY: If it is, I can’t see it. Tell me, Silver, how do you keep your desktop empty?
SILVER: No problem, sir. I put things away when I’ve finished with them.
THACKERAY: Oh, do you? Well, you can tell me where your map is, then.
SILVER: In this file, under M for Manchester. Here we are, sir. What did you want to find?
THACKERAY: Vernon Lane.
SILVER: Oh, I know Vernon Lane without a map. If you go from here along London Road, and then turn right
past the Palace cinema–
THACKERAY: Yes?
SILVER: Well that’s Vernon Lane.
THACKERAY: Ah yes, of course. Vernon Lane. It’s that little old narrow street between the insurance offices.
It used to be called Empire Street.
SILVER: Yes, they renamed it last year. It leads into Oxford Road.
THACKERAY: That’s very good, Silver. You’ve learned a lot in your three weeks here.
SILVER: I take the map home with me every night and learn it, sir. I have also learnt the times of the trains to
London and the international flights from Manchester airport.
THACKERAY: Have you?
SILVER: Yes, sir. They told us to do that at the police college. A good detective should–
THACKERAY: All right, lad, all right. You’ve given me three lessons from that police college of yours already
 this week. Now put your coat on. We’re going out.
SILVER: Vernon Lane, sir?
THACKERAY: No, not Vernon Lane. You can take me to Park Street Hospital first. We’ll use your car. I’m sure
the police college taught you how to drive…

Scene 2
(In the police-car. Sergeant Silver is driving.)
THACKERAY: Do you always drive so carefully?
SILVER: On duty? Yes, sir.
THACKERAY: I want to get there today, you know.
SILVER: Why are we going to the hospital?
THACKERAY: A courier was hit on the head. There’s been a robbery.
SILVER: Money, I suppose?
THACKERAY: Yes. He was carrying more than five thousand pounds. Come on, lad. You can go faster than
this. We’ve got work to do.
SILVER: Well sir, our speed on this road shouldn’t be more than–
THACKERAY: Silver, if you give me one more lesson, you’ll get out and walk.
SILVER: Sorry, sir. (Pause) Oh– Vernon Lane ahead, sir. On the right. Is that where it happened?
THACKERAY: Yes. Slow down here, slow down. Stop at this corner.
SILVER: You mean park? Right at the corner? But you shouldn’t–
THACKERAY: (clearing his throat) Do you want to tell me something, lad?
SILVER: No, sir.
(The car slowly comes to a stop.)
THACKERAY: Right. Hm. It’s not really a street at all. Cars are only allowed to drive the first ten yards. Just
up to that garage on the corner.
SILVER: Really? They didn’t show that on the map.
THACKERAY: Ah, well, that’s something you don’t know.
SILVER: So the courier was walking.
THACKERAY: Yes. But he didn’t get very far. Just past the garage, in fact.
SILVER: What time was that?
THACKERAY: Ten past nine.
SILVER: It must have been very quiet at that time of day.
THACKERAY: Yes. The thief chose a good time.
SILVER: And a good place.
THACKERAY: All right, Sergeant. Let’s move on. I want to get to that hospital.
SILVER: Right. (He starts the car and they move off.) Was there only one thief?
poAY: Well, we don’t know till we ask the courier.
SILVER: He can talk, then?
THACKERAY: He couldn’t very well ten minutes ago, when the doctor phoned. But he should be able to now.
SILVER: What happened to him?
THACKERAY: The doctor said he was hit on the back of the head. It nearly knocked him out.
SILVER: Was he one of our men?
THACKERAY: Do you mean an ex-policeman?
SILVER: Yes. A lot of ex-policemen work for security firms, you know.
THACKERAY: Is that a fact?
SILVER: Yes. Oh. Sorry, sir. I suppose you knew that already.
THACKERAY: This man was in the army before he became a courier.
SILVER: Which security firm does he work for?
THACKERAY: “Safemen”.
SILVER: “Safemen Security Limited”. I’ve got a file on them.
THACKERAY: I should have known.
SILVER: They started just after the war. A small firm. That’s all I can remember, though.
THACKERAY: You surprise me. They employ about twenty-five men. They’re supposed to be quite good.
SILVER: Who found the courier?
THACKERAY: A woman. She phoned us.
SILVER: (Pause) Here’s the hospital now, sir.
THACKERAY: Good. Park round the side.
SILVER: Do they know we’re coming?
THACKERAY: Yes. They’re expecting us. We can go straight in.
SILVER: Which ward is he in? Do you know?
THACKERAY: Ward Three. In a private room, at the end.
SILVER: Do we know his name?
THACKERAY: Roberts. Michael Roberts.
(Sergeant Silver parks the car. The two men get out and walk into the hospital.)

Scene 3
(Park Street Hospital. Ward Three. Mr Roberts is in bed. The two policemen are standing beside him.)
SILVER: Mr Roberts? Mr Roberts?
THACKERAY: The medicine’s made him sleepy. Mr Roberts, can you hear me?
ROBERTS: Uh. Yes. A drink. Can I have a drink?
THACKERAY: The water’s beside you, Silver.
SILVER: Right.
ROBERTS: Who are you?
THACKERAY: I’m a police officer.
ROBERTS: Yes, yes. Police.
SILVER: Here you are. Drink this. I’ll hold the glass. No. Don’t sit up. That’s it.
ROBERTS: Thank you. Thank you.
THACKERAY: What happened, Mr Roberts?
ROBERTS: He hit me. On the head.
THACKERAY: Who hit you?
ROBERTS: A man. Hit me. And then there was a woman. I saw a woman. My briefcase. Where’s my briefcase?
Where’s it gone?
THACKERAY: Forget the briefcase. Who hit you?
ROBERTS: He came from behind me. From my right. Hit me on the head. Where’s my briefcase?
THACKERAY: Who? Who hit you? Could you see him?
ROBERTS: No. I didn’t see him.
SILVER: Did you see anything?
ROBERTS: Shoes. Yes– shoes. Black shoes. Very clean. Ooh! My head.
THACKERAY: We’d better leave him, Sergeant.
SILVER: Yes. He’s going to sleep again.
THACKERAY: A man. And black shoes.
SILVER: And a woman? Who was she, d’you think, sir?
THACKERAY: Perhaps it was the woman who phoned the police.
SILVER: Or perhaps she was with the man.
THACKERAY: Possible. Come on. Let him sleep.
(They walk out into the corridor of the hospital. )
SILVER: What do you think, sir?
THACKERAY: Probably an inside job.
SILVER: An inside job?
THACKERAY: Yes. The thief was either somebody who worked at this security firm, or someone who worked
at the bank.
SILVER: The courier was carrying the money to the bank, I suppose.
THACKERAY: Yes. Or even someone who worked in Travel Tours itself.
SILVER: Travel Tours… That is the firm that lost the money, is it?
THACKERAY: Yes. A lot of these robberies are inside jobs.
SILVER: Which of the three is the most likely, d’you think?
THACKERAY: I’ll tell you after I’ve talked to them all.
(The two policemen have reached the end of the corridor. They go outside.)
SILVER: Where do we go first?
THACKERAY: Safemen Security. You can take us there now. (The two policemen get into the car.) You won’t
drive too fast, will you?
SILVER: On duty? Oh no sir, I always–
THACKERAY: It was a joke, Sergeant, a joke.
SILVER: Oh. Sorry, sir.
THACKERAY: Don’t apologise, lad. Just try to laugh next time, eh? Now let’s see what Mr Lock has to say.
SILVER: Mr Lock?
THACKERAY: He’s in charge of Safemen Security. He’s the one to see first.

Scene 4
(Safemen Security Limited. The manager’s office.)
LOCK: It’s very bad for our name, I’m afraid. Very bad for our name. But we can’t help that now.
SILVER: Has it ever happened before, Mr Lock?
LOCK: No. We’ve been in business thirty years. And this is the first time.
THACKERAY: What do you know about the attack, sir?
LOCK: Nothing. Well, the police told me very little when they rang.
THACKERAY: Well, tell us about your courier, Roberts. How old is he?
LOCK: Fifty-seven last July.
SILVER: Fifty-seven!
LOCK: True. He is rather old. He works in the office these days.
THACKERAY: Why didn’t he stay there this morning?
LOCK: A lot of our men are ill this week. So I had to ask Roberts to do the Travel Tours job. He’s fit and
healthy, and he’s worked as a courier before. Besides, it’s a very short distance from Travel Tours to the
bank.
SILVER: That’s true, sir. They’re both on Vernon Lane.
THACKERAY: You chose Roberts yourself, did you?
LOCK: Yes. A mistake, I suppose.
THACKERAY: Mm. Who usually carries the Travel Tours money?
LOCK: There’s no special man. In fact two men usually do it together. For amounts over two thousand pounds,
we like to use two men in uniform.
SILVER: Was Roberts in uniform, sir?
LOCK: No, he was in his own clothes.
THACKERAY: And he did the job alone.
LOCK: Yes. I told you. We had no one else to send. Nine of our men are ill.
SILVER: What did Roberts carry the money in, Mr Lock?
LOCK: A briefcase. A black briefcase.
THACKERAY: It’s Wednesday today. Do Travel Tours always bank their money on Wednesdays?
LOCK: No, they choose a different day every week.
SILVER: Exactly how much money was Roberts carrying?
LOCK: Five thousand and thirty pounds.
SILVER: As much as that?
LOCK: I’m afraid so, yes.
SILVER: What time did he leave their building?
LOCK: Well, Roberts reached Travel Tours at exactly eight-thirty. The assistant phoned us to check that he was
one of our men.
THACKERAY: That’s usual, is it?
LOCK: Yes, it is. Then they counted the money together. Roberts left their building at exactly five past nine.
THACKERAY: Are you getting all this, Silver?
SILVER: Yes, sir, I’m writing it all down.
LOCK: The assistant walked to the door with him, and saw him turn into Vernon Lane. The bank is at the other
end, only a hundred yards away.
SILVER: Just a minute, sir. If it’s only a hundred yards away, why don’t Travel Tours carry the money
themselves?
LOCK: The money must be carried by a security company. Otherwise the insurance companies won’t insure
you.
THACKERAY: What happened next?
LOCK: A phone call from Manchester Central Police Station. They said a woman had found Roberts in Vernon
Lane. He’d been knocked out.
THACKERAY: Mr Lock, could any of your staff have helped the thief?
LOCK: No. (Pause) Look, Inspector, I was five years in the police myself before this job. I know an honest
man when I see one. And I’ve chosen all these men myself. So I think I can say no.
THACKERAY: Have you any idea who could have done it?
LOCK: No idea at all. Perhaps it is an inside job. But it won’t be anyone from here.
THACKERAY: Mm. Before we go, could we have a photograph of Roberts?
LOCK: Yes, here you are. We keep photographs of all our men.
THACKERAY: It may help us later on. (Pause) Well, that’s all for the moment, sir.
LOCK: I won’t come to the door with you, Inspector. I have so much work to do.
SILVER: Inspector, may I say something?
THACKERAY: Of course.
SILVER: Mr Lock, one of your men was badly hurt. You’ve lost a lot of money. You don’t seem to be very
surprised.
LOCK: Just think for a moment, Sergeant. If there were no thieves, there’d be no security firms. There are a lot
of people who want to steal money. And my men carry a lot of money. Why should I be surprised? I don’t
like it, but I’m not going to cry about it. It’s a hard life. But I knew that when I started this business. Any
other questions, Sergeant?
SILVER: No sir.
THACKERAY: We’ll be on our way then. Thank you, Mr Lock. You’ve been most helpful.

Scene 5
(In the car. Sergeant Silver is driving.)
SILVER: If I turn right at the corner, it will take us to Vernon Lane. We are going to Travel Tours, aren’t we?
THACKERAY: That’s right. As quick as you like.
SILVER: He’s a hard man, Lock.
THACKERAY: But a good one.
SILVER: He only sent one courier.
THACKERAY: He’s a real old-time policeman. He’s honest. He stands up straight. He has his hair cut every
Saturday. And he knows his job.
SILVER: Yes, but don’t you think he’s too old-time, sir? The job has changed a lot since he began.
THACKERAY: That reminds me, Silver. You ought to get your hair cut this Saturday. It’s a bit long at the back,
don’t you think?
SILVER: I’m so busy, sir, and I can never remember things like that, sir.
THACKERAY: Open a file, then, open a file. Under H for ‘haircut’.
SILVER: Ah, here we are. Travel Tours. Who are we seeing?
THACKERAY: A Mr Rich. He owns the place. He’s expecting us. You’d better lock the car; we don’t want
another robbery…

Scene 6
(Travel Tours Limited. The Manager’s office. Mr Rich is at his desk. The door opens. The two policemen enter.)
RICH: Come in, gentlemen, come in. My name is Rich. I am glad to see you. What a terrible day. Terrible.
Please sit down.
THACKERAY: (closes the door) Thank you. (Pause) Any more news of the robbery, Mr Rich?
RICH: News? Here? None at all. I thought you might have some.
THACKERAY: Well, the courier’s in hospital.
RICH: Poor old chap. I’m sorry for him. Really sorry. But Safemen are to blame.
SILVER: Why are they to blame, sir?
RICH: Well, you need young fellows for this kind of job, don’t you? He must have been well over fifty. I mean,
sending a man like that! Really!
THACKERAY: Would you mind answering a few questions, Mr Rich?
RICH: Not at all. Not at all. Go right ahead.
THACKERAY: Are you insured against robbery?
RICH: Insured? Of course I’m insured. But I need the money now. Insurance companies take such a long time
to pay, you know. This has destroyed my business, I can tell you. Quite destroyed it.
THACKERAY: We might get the money back, you know.
RICH: Oh, I hope so. I do hope so. If you don’t, I am completely destroyed.
SILVER: What went wrong, d’you think?
RICH: I don’t know, dear boy. How can anyone know? But what’s the use? The money’s gone. It’s all a waste
of time now.
THACKERAY: It will be, if you don’t help us, Mr Rich. Just answer my questions. Now. Was the robbery
planned, d’you think?
RICH: But how could it be? We send the money at a different time every week.
THACKERAY: So you think it happened by chance?
RICH: Probably someone was just walking down Vernon Lane, he saw the briefcase and he thought he’d steal
it.
SILVER: And then found five thousand pounds in it? Quite a nice surprise!
THACKERAY: And not very likely!
RICH: It’s very quiet in that street at that time of morning. Anybody could have come up behind the courier.
Anybody. They could easily have hit him on the head, then run off with the briefcase.
THACKERAY: Anything is possible, I suppose. But now, can we go back to the beginning?
RICH: Well, yesterday afternoon, I asked Mr Pound to bank the week’s money in the usual way.
SILVER: Mr Pound?
RICH: My assistant.
THACKERAY: I’ll see him later. Make a note of the name, Sergeant.
RICH: You can talk to him now if you like, Inspector. He really knows more about it than me. In fact, he gave
the money to the courier. I never even saw the fellow.
THACKERAY: You never even saw him?
RICH: No. My office here is very quiet. I never see anybody except visitors, like you.
THACKERAY: All right. You asked Pound to bank the money. What then?
RICH: He phoned Safemen.
THACKERAY: Did anybody else know about the money?
RICH: Yes, of course. The whole office knew.
SILVER: The whole office!
RICH: Yes. When I say the whole office, it’s only three people. More like a little family.
THACKERAY: What did Pound do then?
RICH: He fixed everything as usual, I suppose.
THACKERAY: So Safemen sent their man here this morning?
RICH: Yes, but he never got to the bank.
THACKERAY: No, he didn’t. (Pause) Now the Safemen courier was carrying a briefcase. An ordinary
briefcase. So why would anyone take it, d’you think?
RICH: Well, I don’t know, do I? But things like this do happen. You read it in the papers every day. A black
briefcase like that always looks worth plenty of money. Don’t you think so?
THACKERAY: Possibly.
SILVER: What time did you get to the office this morning, Mr Rich?
RICH: About twenty to nine, I think. Twenty to nine. Yes, about then.
THACKERAY: Good. Thank you Mr Rich. Don’t worry. We’ll do our best to get your money back.
RICH: Oh, it’s too late for that. Far too late. We’ll never get the money back. This is a bad day for Travel Tours.
A terrible, terrible day.
THACKERAY: Could we see your assistant now, please? Mr Pound?
RICH: But of course, I’ll take you up to his office.
SILVER: Don’t worry sir. We’ll find our own way. We passed it when we came in.

Scene 7
(The assistant’s office. Mr Pound is at his desk.)
THACKERAY: Mr Pound. My name’s Thackeray and this is Sergeant Silver.
POUND: Ah yes. You’ve come about the robbery of course.
THACKERAY: Yes. We just want to ask about a few things, Mr Pound.
POUND: Yes, certainly, Inspector.
THACKERAY: When did you first hear about it?
POUND: The robbery? About nine-thirty. Safemen phoned us with the news.
SILVER: What time had Roberts left here, sir?
POUND: It must have been about ten past nine.
THACKERAY: So it was twenty minutes before you heard of the robbery?
POUND: Yes.
THACKERAY: Had you ever met Roberts before?
POUND: Never. I asked for his Safemen courier’s card, and then I checked the number with them by phone.
SILVER: Is that what you usually do?
POUND: Yes, it’s the usual check.
THACKERAY: And that’s all you know about him? His number?
POUND: Yes. That’s all we ever know about our couriers.
SILVER: Was this money in bags, Mr Pound?
POUND: Yes, in bags. Just like these on my desk:
THACKERAY: All right. Thank you. May I see the other people in the office?
POUND: Well, there’s only Miss Matthews, the secretary.
THACKERAY: All right. Could we see her?
POUND: Yes, of course, Inspector. (He picks up the telephone on his desk and dials.) Miss Matthews! Would
you come in a moment, please. (He puts the telephone down.)
THACKERAY: We’ll have to talk to her alone, Mr Pound.
POUND: Oh yes, of course. You can use this office
(The door opens. Miss Matthews enters.)
MISS MATTHEWS: Mr Pound?
POUND: Oh, come in, Miss Matthews. These two gentlemen would like to ask you some questions.
MATTHEWS: Me?
POUND: Yes. They won’t keep you long. I’ll be back in a few minutes. (He goes out.)
THACKERAY: Sit down, Miss Matthews. Now then, you are Mr Pound’s secretary?
MATTHEWS: Yes, that’s right.
THACKERAY: Well, I’m Inspector Thackeray. And this is Sergeant Silver. We’re from the police.
MATTHEWS: You’re wasting your time with me, Inspector. I know nothing.
THACKERAY: When did you join this firm?
MATTHEWS: Travel Tours? In February this year.
THACKERAY: And where were you before?
MATTHEWS: In Croydon, with the same kind of company.
SILVER: What did you do there, Miss Matthews?
MATTHEWS: The same as I do here.
SILVER: And what’s that?
MATTHEWS: As little as possible. I’m a secretary. D’you know what that means? I write down other people’s
words all day. I send them to people I don’t know. When they write back, do I get a chance to reply? Oh no.
Somebody else replies. I write it down and send it. I’m a machine. So don’t ask me to say I love my work.
Because I don’t. And don’t expect me to cry about five thousand pounds. I’ll care about this firm when this
firm cares about me.
THACKERAY: Forgive me for asking, Miss Matthews. But have you ever been in trouble with the police?
MATTHEWS: Certainly not.
THACKERAY: How much do you know about today’s robbery?
MATTHEWS: Nothing at all.
SILVER: When did you get here, Miss Matthews?
MATTHEWS: About ten past nine.
SILVER: Doesn’t your work start at nine o’clock?
MATTHEWS: It starts when I get here.
THACKERAY: So when you arrived, the courier had gone?
MATTHEWS: Yes.
THACKERAY: So you never saw him?
MATTHEWS: No. I told you, you’re wasting your time. I know nothing.
SILVER: Who knew about the money Miss Matthews?
MATTHEWS: Mr Pound and Mr Rich. And me.
THACKERAY: Who did it, d’you think?
MATTHEWS: Mom, you’re the policeman. You tell me.
THACKERAY: One last thing, Miss Matthews. I want you to look at this photograph. (He shows her the
photograph.)
MATTHEWS: Who’s he?
THACKERAY: Haven’t you ever seen him before? Anywhere?
MATTHEWS: No. Is he the courier they’ve all been talking about? (She returns the photograph.)
THACKERAY: That will be all, Miss Matthews.
MATTHEWS: A pleasure, I’m sure. Can I go now?
THACKERAY: For the moment. Stay in the building, won’t you? We may want to speak to you again.
MATTHEWS: I’m not going anywhere. I have got a job, you know.
THACKERAY: Good morning, Miss Matthews.
(Miss Matthews goes out.)
SILVER: Well sir? That’s all of them.
THACKERAY: Yes.
SILVER: And every one of them wears black shoes.
THACKERAY: Yes. Even Miss Matthews.
SILVER: But there is one more I’d like to see, sir.
THACKERAY: Oh?
SILVER: The man at the main door. The porter.
THACKERAY: Hmm.
SILVER: You don’t seem very interested.
THACKERAY: Well, yes I am. But I want another word with Mr Pound first.
SILVER: While you’re doing that perhaps I can talk to the porter, then.
THACKERAY: Yes. All right.
SILVER: And may I take this photograph of Roberts with me?
THACKERAY: Yes. And tell Mr Pound on your way out that I’d like to see him. There’s something I forgot to
ask him before. Something that could be important to us, I think.

Scene 8
(The entrance-hall. The porter’s desk.)
SILVER: Excuse me a minute, please. Could I have a few words with you?
PORTER: What about?
SILVER: You’re the porter here?
PORTER: Who wants to know?
SILVER: I do. Sergeant Silver. Police.
PORTER: A police sergeant! With long hair like that? You’re a bit young, aren’t you?
SILVER: Just answer the questions, please.
PORTER: You haven’t asked any yet. Where’s that inspector?
SILVER: Upstairs.
PORTER: Talking to somebody important, I suppose.
SILVER: Have you been at this desk all morning?
PORTER: That’s what they pay me for.
SILVER: Have you or haven’t you?
PORTER: Of course I have. I work a full day here. I start at eight, and finish at four. Not like some people.
SILVER: I want you to look at this photograph.
PORTER: Who is it?
SILVER: You tell me.
PORTER: Oh yes. I know him.
SILVER: Well?
PORTER: It’s that courier, isn’t it?
SILVER: When did you last see him?
PORTER: This morning.
SILVER: When?
PORTER: He came in here when I was giving Mr Rich the morning’s letters.
SILVER: Did you talk to him?
PORTER: Did I talk to him! With telephones, with people coming in, and going out; when have I got time to
talk to people?
SILVER: What did you do then?
PORTER: I asked for his card. I wasn’t sure about him.
SILVER: Why not?
PORTER: He didn’t look like a Safemen courier, did he? He wasn’t wearing a uniform. And he was alone.
There should have been two of them.
SILVER: So what did you do?
PORTER: I sent him up to Pound’s office.
SILVER: Was Mr Rich still with you when the courier came down again?
PORTER: No. Mr Rich had gone back to his car for something. I was alone then.
SILVER: And which way did the courier go out of here?
PORTER: He went out through the front door, of course. What d’you think?
SILVER: So he went through the main door, into London Road, round the corner, and down Vernon Lane
towards the bank.
PORTER: Don’t ask me. I stay inside here. I don’t know where they go.
SILVER: When did Miss Matthews come in?
PORTER: Ah. I do know that. She came in just after the courier had walked out.
SILVER: Did she, indeed! (Pause) Tell me. Where’s the car park?
PORTER: You’re standing on it.
SILVER: Don’t be funny. Unless you want to answer these questions in the police station.
PORTER: The simple truth, Sergeant. It’s under this floor, below ground.
SILVER: How do people get there? And don’t tell me they drive in. I mean from here.
PORTER: Through that door behind me at the back. And before you ask me about the cars, they get in from
London Road. They turn right into Vernon Lane. The entrance to the car park’s just on the corner.
SILVER: So Mr Rich went through that door at the back to his car.
PORTER: That’s right.
SILVER: And how long were you away from this desk?
PORTER: Don’t try to be clever, Sergeant. I never said I left it. In fact, I’ve been here since I got in this
morning.
SILVER: I’ll have to check that, of course.
PORTER: Now just a minute. What are you suggesting?
SILVER: I’m not suggesting anything. Now, your name is…?
PORTER: Dorman. With one ‘o’.
SILVER: Right then, Dorman.
PORTER: They usually call me Mr Dorman.
SILVER: I may need you again later.
PORTER: Another little talk? That’ll be nice. Glad to see you any time. Tell your friends. I’m always here, all
day and every day.

Scene 9
(Mr Pound’s office. The Inspector is questioning Mr Pound.)
THACKERAY: I’m sorry to take so much of your time, Mr Pound. But I was wondering about something else.
POUND: Yes?
THACKERAY: Why didn’t you go with the courier to the bank?
POUND: Me? It’s not my job.
THACKERAY: No, but this morning was different, surely?
POUND: How d’you mean, different?
THACKERAY: Well, Safemen usually send two men in uniform. Today they only sent one, Roberts, in ordinary
clothes.
POUND: I’m not paid to do that sort of thing, Inspector. It could be dangerous.
THACKERAY: Yes. We’ve discovered that. But he’d have been glad of help. He was over fifty, wasn’t he? And
you’re a fairly big man.
POUND: Over fifty? Was he really? D’you know, I never noticed. Over fifty, eh?
THACKERAY: Didn’t you see him very well, Mr Pound? You gave him the money.
POUND: Yes, I know. But I was watching the money, not his face.
THACKERAY: What was he wearing?
POUND: Coat and hat, I think. Yes, I remember saying goodbye to him at the door downstairs. He was wearing
a coat and hat.
THACKERAY: Very good then, Mr Pound. That’s all, thank you.
POUND: Do you know who did it yet, Inspector?
THACKERAY: I think so.
POUND: When can you tell us?
THACKERAY: That depends on Mr Roberts. If he gets better quickly I might be able to tell you this afternoon.

Inspector Thackeray Explains

(Travel Tours Limited. The manager’s office.)
THACKERAY: Well, Mr Rich. We’ve come back to your office this afternoon because I’ve got one or two
more questions.
RICH: More questions? But what about the thief? And the money? That’s what I want to know.
SILVER: You will, Mr Rich. In a minute or two.
(The door opens. Miss Matthews comes in.)
MISS MATTHEWS: Excuse me, Mr Rich. You asked to see me?
THACKERAY: No, Miss Matthews. I asked.
MATTHEWS: (closing the door) Me? Why me? I don’t know anything. I told you that.
SILVER: We checked everything you told us.
MATTHEWS: It’s all true. Everything I’ve told you is true.
SILVER: Quite right. You’ve worked in two other companies.
MATTHEWS: That’s what I said.
SILVER: But there’s one thing you didn’t tell us. You left each one after a robbery.
MATTHEWS: No, I didn’t tell you that.
RICH: Why not, Miss Matthews? I should have known that too.
MATTHEWS: Well, the robberies weren’t my fault. I didn’t steal anything, did I?
THACKERAY: Why did you leave immediately afterwards?
MATTHEWS: I had to. Every time a firm loses money, they get rid of people. The last person to join is the first
one to leave.
SILVER: Are you sure that’s the reason?
MATTHEWS: Of course I am. Check it if you like.
(Mr Roberts, the Safemen courier comes in. He is much better.)
ROBERTS: Excuse me. Is this the right office?
RICH: Good heavens! Are you better already? I thought you were in hospital.
THACKERAY: Do you know Mr Roberts, sir?
RICH: Well, no.
THACKERAY: Then why are you so surprised that he is here? And how do you know he has been in hospital?
RICH: But you’re the courier, aren’t you?
SILVER: But how did you know that?
RICH: Well, I mean, I just guessed.
THACKERAY: You just guessed? You can’t guess a thing like that, sir. You either know him or you don’t.
RICH: Well, I suppose I know him then.
THACKERAY: In that case, you must have seen him before.
RICH: Perhaps I have, I can’t think when.
ROBERTS: I was at the porter’s desk this morning, sir. You were looking at your letters.
RICH: Ah yes. You were asking for Mr Pound.
ROBERTS: That’s right.
SILVER: You didn’t tell us that this morning, Mr Rich.
RICH: Well, I didn’t think it was important.
THACKERAY: You saw the courier, but you didn’t think it was important.
RICH: I didn’t know he was the courier.
SILVER: You did, otherwise you wouldn’t have recognised him now.
THACKERAY: And how did you know the courier was an old man?
RICH: Did I say that?
THACKERAY: Yes. This morning, when you spoke to us.
SILVER: That’s correct, sir. It’s written here in my notebook. You said, “He must have been about fifty.”
RICH: Ah yes. Someone told me this morning. Miss Matthews, I think. Yes, Miss Matthews.
MATTHEWS: I never said such a thing. So you can stop telling lies.
RICH: Miss Matthews, I must ask you to keep quiet. You must let me take care of this.
MATTHEWS: Take care? You think you can take care of anybody? Look at this poor man. He was in a hospital
 bed this morning. Can’t you see he’s still weak? You haven’t even offered him a chair.
RICH: Oh, well, we seem to be using all the chairs. Perhaps, er–
MATTHEWS: “Perhaps Miss Matthews will go and find one.” Mr Rich won’t go and find one, of course. That
would be too much trouble. Come along, Mr Roberts. I’ll take you into the next office, and find you a
comfortable chair.
ROBERTS: Thank you, miss. It’s all right. A car is waiting outside to take me home. The Inspector only wanted
me to call in here for a minute.
RICH: And perhaps Miss Matthews–
MATTHEWS: “Perhaps Miss Matthews will come back to this job tomorrow.” But she won’t. I’m finished
here, Mr Rich. I’ve had enough of you and your job. Here, take my arm, Mr Roberts.
ROBERTS: Thank you.
MATTHEWS: Oh dear, you’re still a bit weak, aren’t you? I know. I’ll get you a nice cup of tea. Come along.
(They leave.)
RICH: Well! Sorry about that. She gets excited very easily. Don’t believe everything she says. She’ll be back
tomorrow.
SILVER: I think you’re wrong, sir.
THACKERAY: You’ve been wrong about a lot of things, Mr Rich. Even about the briefcase.
RICH: The briefcase!
THACKERAY: How did you know the courier had a briefcase?
RICH: Me? I didn’t know that.
THACKERAY: You even knew the colour. Your notebook, Sergeant.
SILVER: Here’s what you said this morning: “A black briefcase always looks worth plenty of money.”
RICH: Oh, well, I remember now. I saw the briefcase at the porter’s desk this morning.
SILVER: But how did you know it was the courier’s?
THACKERAY: Mr Rich. Why don’t you take Miss Matthews’ advice?
RICH: What’s that?
THACKERAY: Stop telling lies
RICH: But Inspector–
THACKERAY: The fact is, you needed money.
SILVER: We checked with your bank. You owe them quite a lot.
THACKERAY: You were at the porter’s desk when the courier came in.
RICH: But I didn’t know him.
THACKERAY: You heard his conversation with the porter.
RICH: I didn’t hear a word. I was opening my letters.
THACKERAY: And you saw him go up to Mr Pound’s office.
RICH: Did I?
THACKERAY: You knew he would come down with the money. And you knew he’d go round the corner, into
Vernon Lane.
RICH: This is nonsense. Complete nonsense.
SILVER: You went to the door at the back. And down to the car park.
RICH: Yes, I did that certainly. I’d left my briefcase in the car.
SILVER: You waited inside the car park door, at the corner of Vernon Lane.
RICH: This is just not true!
THACKERAY: Oh, Mr Rich. Come on now. It was so easy, wasn’t it? The courier was alone. He wasn’t a
young man. And he was carrying five thousand pounds.
SILVER: The street was empty. You waited, and stepped out as he passed. You hit him on the head. Then you
stepped back into the car park with the briefcase.
RICH: But why should I steal my own money?
THACKERAY: The same old reason as everybody else, Mr Rich. For the insurance. You keep the five thousand
pounds in the briefcase. And the insurance company gives you another five thousand.
SILVER: For five minutes’ work.
THACKERAY: But now you’ll spend five years, Mr Rich–
RICH: Five years–
THACKERAY: In prison. Regretting it.

2 More than An Accident

John Thackeray had already been an Inspector for two years when he investigated this case. “I had learned a lot
about my job in those two years,” he said. “And perhaps the most important thing was the value of listening.
Questions are always necessary in an investigation, but sometimes you can get more information by just
letting someone talk. The investigation might take longer, but in the end you get better results.”
In this case everyone talks freely to the Inspector. They all think he is their friend. The doctor tells him about
his patients; the Brigadier even invites him to dinner. On the evening of the dinner, the Inspector learns some
very interesting facts.
The next day, he makes full use of these facts to solve a murder.

Characters
Inspector Thackeray
Sergeant Silver
Brigadier Lawrence Baker, a retired soldier
Doctor Hall, his doctor
Alan Cooper, his secretary
Mrs Margaret Baker, his wife

Scene 1
(Brigadier Baker’s living-room. Inspector Thackeray is asking the Brigadier some questions.)
BAKER: Well now, let me think, Inspector. I was going at nearly forty miles an hour when I crashed.
THACKERAY: Where was that, Brigadier Baker?
BAKER: At the bottom of the hill.
THACKERAY: And how did it happen?
BAKER: The steering-wheel jumped out of my hands. It was just like the war again. I say– Are you sure you
wouldn’t like a drink?
THACKERAY: No thanks, Brigadier. Not on duty. And anyway I shall be leaving in a few minutes. Besides,
you must be tired. Don’t forget you only came out of hospital yesterday. (Pause) What happened to the car,
sir?
BAKER: It swung round, and went straight into a lamp-post.
THACKERAY: And stopped?
BAKER: Oh no. The lamp-post wasn’t strong enough to stop me. It broke in two. The car went on, into the
wall.
THACKERAY: You’re lucky you weren’t killed, sir.
BAKER: II’ll take more than an accident to kill me! “Lucky Lawrence”. That’s what they used to call me in the
army. I remember once in the desert– Oh, sorry. You haven’t got time to hear all about that now, have you?
Go on, Inspector.
THACKERAY: Well, about your car: when was it last serviced, sir?
BAKER: Only a couple of days before the accident. And It’s quite a new car, too. It runs very well.
THACKERAY: Could I have the name of the garage?
BAKER: Yes. Thompson’s, in the High Street. (The Inspector makes a note in his note-book.) 1 always have
my car serviced there. They’re good chaps, you know. I’ve been dealing with them for years now. They’ve
always done the job well and finished it on time. I don’t think you’ll find any trouble with them.
THACKERAY: We’ll still have to check. Now tell me, you were alone?
BAKER: Yes, thank heavens. And that was lucky too.
THACKERAY: Oh? Why?
BAKER: Well, I’d driven to Albert Square with my wife and young Cooper.
THACKERAY: Cooper?
BAKER: He’s my secretary.
THACKERAY: He’s the young man who let me in this morning?
BAKER: That’s right.
THACKERAY: All right, the three of you went into town, to Albert Square. What time was that?
BAKER: Oh… I think we arrived about ten o’clock. Yes, ten o’clock. Margaret had to get her hair done. And
Cooper had to do some work in the Central Library. So I said I’d give them an hour. I had to see my bank
manager.
THACKERAY: So you were back in the square by eleven?
BAKER: That’s right, but they weren’t there. So I drove off alone. I never wait. I don’t believe in it. People
 either come on time, or I leave them. An old army habit, you know.
THACKERAY: Eleven o’clock, then. Was anyone looking after the car in the square?
BAKER: While I was in the bank? No. There’s no one at the car park there.
(The doorbell rings.)
THACKERAY: Oh, isn’t that your doorbell?
BAKER: Yes. Don’t worry. Cooper will go.
THACKERAY: Just one more thing, Brigadier. Could I have a few words with your wife?
BAKER: Margaret? I’m afraid not. She’s in hospital at the moment.
THACKERAY: In hospital?
BAKER: Nothing serious, Inspector. Some pains in her left arm and shoulder. She gets them quite badly
sometimes.
THACKERAY: Perhaps I could see her in hospital, then?
BAKER: No need. She’ll be home tomorrow.
(Cooper comes into the room. Another man stands just behind him.)
COOPER: Excuse me, sir.
BAKER: Yes, Cooper. What is it?
COOPER: It’s Doctor Hall.
BAKER: Oh yes. Come in, Doctor.
DOCTOR: Good morning, Lawrence. How’s everything today?
BAKER: Mustn’t complain,
COOPER: I can hear the telephone sir. It’s probably the Daily Telegraph again.
BAKER: Oh yes. It’ll be about that piece I’m writing on “Famous Battles”. Give them the figures. And say I’ll
ring them back.
COOPER: Very well, sir.
BAKER: Doc, this is Inspector Thackeray.
DOCTOR: Hello there. Am I interrupting?
THACKERAY: Oh no. I’m ready to leave. (He puts his note-book in his pocket.)
DOCTOR: Right, Lawrence. I’m sorry, I can’t stay long. Let me see that right hand. How is it today?
BAKER: I can’t really use the fingers yet.
DOCTOR: Now I’m going to bend your fingers backwards and forwards…
BAKER: Ow!
DOCTOR: It still hurts?
BAKER: Of course it does!
DOCTOR: Try and bend them yourself.
BAKER: No thanks. It’s too painful.
THACKERAY: Is this a result of the accident?
BAKER: Yes, Cooper had to dress me this morning.
THACKERAY: Well, I hope you’re soon better. I must get back to the station. (He stands up.) I’d like to come
back tomorrow and talk to your wife.
BAKER: Of course. Why don’t you come to dinner?
THACKERAY: Well, that’s very kind–
BAKER: You too, Doc. You’ve been very good to us. Why don’t you both come?
DOCTOR: Well...
BAKER: Good. That’s fixed then. Eight o’clock. You haven’t heard my war stories, have you, Inspector? You’ll
hear plenty tomorrow, I promise you!

Scene 2
(The same place. The next evening.)
COOPER: Would you mind waiting here in the living-room, gentlemen? The Brigadier won’t be long.
THACKERAY: That’s quite all right.
DOCTOR: Don’t worry about us, Cooper. I know you’re busy.
COOPER: Thank you, Doctor. I’ll tell the Brigadier you’ve arrived. (He goes out.)
THACKERAY: Doctor, you were talking about two accidents before Cooper came in. What was the first one?
DOCTOR: The Brigadier switched on his electric fire, and burnt his hand.
THACKERAY: An electric shock?
DOCTOR: Yes. A fault in the switch, I suppose. He was lucky. He was wearing rubber shoes. Otherwise, he
 could easily have died. But don’t say anything about it, will you?
THACKERAY: Why’s that?
DOCTOR: It’s a secret. He hasn’t told anyone. He doesn’t want his wife to find out. She worries a lot, you
know.
THACKERAY: If I lived here, I think I’d worry more about these guns on the wall.
DOCTOR: Old army hand-guns. Pieces of history, really. Lawrence loves them. He’s got some in the next
room, too.
THACKERAY: Ah. Look. The Brigadier and his wife are coming now.
DOCTOR: Don’t say anything about that electric fire, will you?
(Brigadier Baker and his wife enter.)
BAKER: Ah. Glad to see you both. Sorry you had to wait.
THACKERAY: Not at all.
DOCTOR: How’s the arm, Mrs Baker?
MRS BAKER: Less painful now, thank you, Doctor. But I’m not able to use it yet.
BAKER: You haven’t met Inspector Thackeray, dear. He’s helping me about that car accident. The insurance,
you know.
MRS BAKER: Inspector. How nice of you to come.
THACKERAY: A pleasure. I’m sorry to hear about the arm.
MRS BAKER: Oh, I’m lucky. It’s my left arm, and I don’t use it that much. Poor Lawrence here can’t do
anything at all with his right hand. Not even write.
DOCTOR: I suppose Cooper helps you a lot with that, though.
BAKER: Yes. Where is Cooper? Isn’t he here yet?
MRS BAKER: Why do you ask that, Lawrence?
BAKER: He’s joining us for dinner, dear.
MRS BAKER: Oh no! That’s too bad. Why have you invited him?
BAKER: Now, now, my dear. He’s been very kind to me.
MRS BAKER: Kind! Cooper? Don’t make me laugh, Lawrence.
BAKER: Now why d’you say that, Margaret? He’s a very good secretary. He helps me all the time.
MRS BAKER: But why, why, why? Can’t you see? Can’t you see why?
BAKER: Please, Margaret. We have guests.
THACKERAY: Actually the doctor and I were just going to look at your guns in the other room.
MRS BAKER: Oh no, Inspector. Please stay here. I’m sorry. Forgive me, Doctor. It’s just that, well, my
husband doesn’t understand these things
DOCTOR: That’s all right. It’s your first day home from hospital. You’re a little over-excited, that’s all.
MRS BAKER: I am not over-excited, Doctor.
BAKER: Margaret–
MRS BAKER: Cooper just wants your money. Can’t you see that?
BAKER: My dear, he can’t work for nothing, now, can he?
MRS BAKER: I’m not talking about his wages. He has plenty of those already. You’ve increased his wages
often enough.
BAKER: He’s earned it. He works very hard for me
MRS BAKER: You know what I mean, Lawrence.
BAKER: I’m afraid I don’t, dear.
MRS BAKER: Cooper knows you’re rich.
BAKER: But everybody knows that, Margaret.
MRS BAKER: He thinks you’ll leave him a lot of money.
BAKER: Well, I shall leave him something. A few thousand pounds, perhaps.
MRS BAKER: He’s just waiting for you to die.
BAKER: Now how do you know that?
MRS BAKER: I can see it in his eyes.
BAKER: Oh, Margaret! Really!
DOCTOR: I really think perhaps we should go, Inspector.
THACKERAY: Yes. We can easily come another time.
MRS BAKER: You’re both very polite. But you don’t know Cooper.
THACKERAY: No we don’t, Mrs Baker.
MRS BAKER: He’s only interested in my husband for one reason. Money. I know that kind of man.
BAKER: You think you do, Margaret. But let me tell you all something about Cooper. The poor fellow’s got no
money of his own. His parents are both dead. The father was with me during the war. A first-class soldier.
Fine man. And young Cooper’s clever. He works hard. He’s interested in army history, just like me. He
checks all the dates for me, and that kind of thing. The work he does for me won’t last for ever. I’ll have
finished my books in three or four years. And he won’t be able to find another job like this. Oh no, he has to
think about his future. No, Margaret, I owe him something. I owe him a lot.
MRS BAKER: You’re soft. That’s your trouble. You’ve always been soft with people.
BAKER: Soft! Me? Soft? Oh Margaret! In the war, I used to–
MRS BAKER: In the war. In the war. It isn’t the war now.
BAKER: (Quietly) I can hear him coming downstairs, Margaret. Be nice to him, now.
MRS BAKER: Nice! How can I be nice? He hates me. Hates me. You’ll see.
(Cooper enters.)
COOPER: Good evening, everyone. Have I kept you waiting? I am sorry.
BAKER: Good heavens. What are all the flowers for, Cooper?
COOPER: Mrs Baker, they’re for you. Welcome back home.

Scene 3
(The next day. Outside the Brigadier’s house. Mrs Baker has Just opened the door for Inspector Thackeray.)
THACKERAY: Ah. Good afternoon, Mrs Baker. I hope your arm is better today.
MRS BAKER: Come in, Inspector, come in, come in.
THACKERAY: What is it, Mrs Baker? What’s the matter?
MRS BAKER: It’s no good. It’s too late.
THACKERAY: Too late? But, oh, all right then. Perhaps you’ll give these insurance papers to your husband.
MRS BAKER: He’s dead.
THACKERAY: Dead? The Brigadier? But last night he was–
MRS BAKER: (loudly) I’ll never be able to talk to him again.
THACKERAY: Mrs Baker. Please calm yourself.
MRS BAKER: My husband is dead, and you tell me to be calm?
THACKERAY: Why don’t we go into the living-room?
MRS BAKER: Yes. Yes, I’m sorry. Yes, of course.

Scene 4
(They go through the hall into the living-room.)
THACKERAY: Come along. Now then. Sit down. That’s better.
MRS BAKER: Thank you.
THACKERAY: Now tell me, where’s your husband now?
MRS BAKER: He’s upstairs.
THACKERAY: Upstairs? In bed?
MRS BAKER: No. In the bathroom.
THACKERAY: Is that where he died?
MRS BAKER: Yes. Just before lunch.
THACKERAY: I’d better go up.
MRS BAKER: It’s all right. Doctor Hall’s with him now,
THACKERAY: That was Doctor Hall’s car outside, was it?
MRS BAKER: Yes.
THACKERAY: Would you like me to stay with you while we wait for Dr Hall?
MRS BAKER: Yes, thank you,
THACKERAY: You’re calmer now. That’s good. I know it’s hard to accept. But we all have to die. You, me, the
doctor, everyone.
MRS BAKER: I know. I know, Inspector. But why now? He still had so much to do. Books to write. Friends to
make. He wasn’t even old. He wasn’t really old at all.
THACKERAY: No. Last night, at dinner, he was full of life. Talking. Laughing. All those stories about the war.
MRS BAKER: The last time I saw him, he smiled.
THACKERAY: That’s a nice memory to have.
MRS BAKER: “Today’s going to be all right,” he said.
THACKERAY: Today?
MRS BAKER: We were going to have lunch together. All three of us. It was going to be special.
THACKERAY: “All three of us?”
MRS BAKER: Lawrence and I, and Cooper.
THACKERAY: I thought you didn’t like Cooper.
MRS BAKER: Last night, you mean? I wasn’t very nice, was I? But Lawrence made me promise to be nice to
him today. And, well, those flowers helped me to change my mind.
THACKERAY: The flowers. Ah yes. They were a nice gift, weren’t they?
MRS BAKER: I felt ashamed last night, at dinner. This time, I wanted to do the right thing.
THACKERAY: I understand.
Ms BAKER: And then Lawrence explained things. About leaving money to Cooper. I suppose he was right.
THACKERAY: I’m sure he was, Mrs Baker.
MRS BAKER: I just felt… so shut out from his life.
THACKERAY: How do you mean?
MRS BAKER: I wanted to help him, to be near him. But he always seemed to be with Cooper.
THACKERAY: It was his work, I suppose.
MRS BAKER: Yes. I suppose so. But it made me feel so useless.
THACKERAY: Tell me, Mrs Baker. When did you last see him alive?
MRS BAKER: About an hour before lunch. We were going to get ready. He’d just finished some work with
Cooper. He smiled at me, and walked upstairs. And that was the last I saw of him. Until…
THACKERAY: Did you find the body?
MRS BAKER: No. Cooper did. We were sitting at the lunch table, Cooper and I. Talking. Quite friendly. It was
already five minutes past lunch-time.
THACKERAY: You were waiting for your husband, then?
MRS BAKER: Yes. In the end, I asked Cooper to go upstairs. I thought Lawrence might need some help. I
remember the soup was already on the table.
THACKERAY: And you stayed downstairs, at the lunch table?
MRS BAKER: No. I followed him.
THACKERAY: Why?
MRS BAKER: I had a feeling that something was wrong. When I got to the top of the stairs, I saw the
bathroom door open.
THACKERAY: The bathroom?
MRS BAKER: Then Cooper ran out from there past me.
THACKERAY: Did he say what was the matter?
MRS BAKER: No. He just went past me and hurried down the stairs. It was then that I saw Lawrence. He was
lying on the bathroom floor. (Pause) Strange.
THACKERAY: What was strange?
MRS BAKER: I could only think of one thing. How smart he looked.
THACKERAY: He was dressed, then?
MRS BAKER: He really wanted that lunch to be special. Happy. He’d put on his very best suit. And he was
wearing his blue tie. The one I’d bought for his birthday. Strange, isn’t it? Thinking about little things like
that.
THACKERAY: Was he wearing all his clothes?
MRS BAKER: No. He hadn’t got his jacket on. And he was wearing only one shoe.
THACKERAY: And… he was dead when you saw him, was he?
MRS BAKER: His eyes were closed. He looked asleep. Calm and quiet. I went down on my knees beside him.
But I still couldn’t believe…
THACKERAY: Was he breathing?
MRS BAKER: No.
THACKERAY: How do you know?
MRS BAKER: I put my ear to his chest. I couldn’t hear anything.
THACKERAY: Did you try to pick him up?
MRS BAKER: How could I with my bad arm?
THACKERAY: Or move him?
MRS BAKER: No.
THACKERAY: What did you do then?
MRS BAKER: I stood up and walked out.
THACKERAY: How do you think it happened?
MRS BAKER: What does it matter? He’s dead. I won’t see him again. That’s all that matters. Nothing else.
THACKERAY: Your husband wouldn’t want you to talk like that, Mrs Baker.
MRS BAKER: Perhaps not.
THACKERAY: You must be brave. Life goes on.
MRS BAKER: “Life goes on.” You talk like one of those songs they sing on the radio.
THACKERAY: I’m sorry.
MRS BAKER: Oh dear. I’m being very rude again. I didn’t mean to be. Inspector, let me make you a cup of tea.
THACKERAY: No, thank you. I think I’ll go up and talk to the Doctor. Is it all right if I leave you?
MRS BAKER: Oh yes, I’m better now, thank you.
THACKERAY: Fine. I’ll go up to the bathroom. Don’t worry. I’ll find my own way.

Scene 5
(The bathroom. The Brigadier is on the floor. His eyes are closed. The doctor is bending over him.)
THACKERAY: Well doctor? How did it happen?
DOCTOR: A blow on the back of the head. Very hard. He’s got quite a bruise.
THACKERAY: I can’t see.
DOCTOR: No. It’s on the back of the head. If I lift the head up, you can see quite clearly. There.
THACKERAY: Yes… As you say, a heavy bruise. Strange though. There’s almost no blood.
DOCTOR: That can sometimes happen with a blow like that. It very likely broke his neck. I won’t know that
till later of course.
THACKERAY: A really hard blow.
DOCTOR: It was.
(Cooper comes in.)
COOPER: Excuse me, Doctor.
DOCTOR: Yes, Cooper?
COOPER: I’ve telephoned the hospital.
DOCTOR: Thank you, Cooper.
COOPER: Terrible, isn’t it, Inspector? Just terrible.
THACKERAY: It is. You found him first, did you?
COOPER: Yes. As soon as I saw him on the floor there, I knew it was serious. His face was so white, and he
didn’t move, so I ran straight for the phone.
DOCTOR: He just caught me as I was leaving the surgery.
THACKERAY: You didn’t know the Brigadier was dead at that time, then?
COOPER: No, I didn’t. I just knew he needed a doctor.
THACKERAY: When did you find out?
COOPER: When I came upstairs again.
THACKERAY: Tell me about it.
COOPER: Mrs Baker walked past me out of the bathroom here. She looked terrible, old and grey. I’ve never
seen her like that before. I knew then that the worst had happened. But I decided to make sure. So I went up
to the Brigadier again and I took a close look at him. His eyes were still closed, and his mouth was half open.
THACKERAY: Just like we see him now?
COOPER: Exactly. Flat on his back. He hadn’t moved at all.
THACKERAY: So then you knew he was dead?
COOPER: Yes. Then I knew.
DOCTOR: But you didn’t check his breathing?
COOPER: No. It wasn’t necessary, Doctor. Nothing moved. I could see that he was dead.
THACKERAY: You didn’t move him? Or pick him up?
COOPER: I never even touched him. I just left him there. I could hear Mrs Baker crying, so I went downstairs,
and tried to calm her.
THACKERAY: That must have been difficult.
COOPER: It was. I stayed with her till the doctor came.
THACKERAY: And then?
DOCTOR: I told him to telephone the hospital. And I started to examine the body.
THACKERAY: You did very well, Cooper.
COOPER: Thank you, Inspector.
THACKERAY: Well? I wonder how it happened? (Pause) Cooper, you’ve worked with him very closely. Have
you any ideas?
COOPER: Well, yes, Inspector. I’d say he had his bath, and got dressed. He was getting his shoes on, when he
slipped and fell.
THACKERAY: And that killed him?
COOPER: Yes.
THACKERAY: Just the fall to the floor?
DOCTOR: No. He must have hit his head as he went down.
COOPER: That’s right. He must have hit the side of the bath. There’s a terrible bruise at the back of his head
there, you know.
THACKERAY: I suppose that could explain it. Poor old Brigadier Baker. What a way for a soldier to die.
DOCTOR: He’s had a terrible run of accidents.
COOPER: There was the electric fire last week.
DOCTOR: And then there was the car accident.
THACKERAY: And now this. I wonder why?
DOCTOR: I’ve no idea. I really don’t know.
COOPER: I think I do.
THACKERAY: (Pause) Tell us then.
COOPER: It’s rather personal.
DOCTOR: You can trust us, Cooper. Family secrets will be safe with us.
COOPER: Well, he was always having arguments.
THACKERAY: Who with?
COOPER: Mrs Baker.
THACKERAY: What about?
COOPER: Money, I think. I could never hear them very clearly. They stopped of course when I came in the
room. But he was very worried about something,
DOCTOR: What?
COOPER: I don’t know exactly. But his thoughts were always wandering. He couldn’t keep his mind on the
job. He wasn’t at all like the Brigadier Baker I’ve always known.
THACKERAY: It’s strange though. There was that car accident. He could have killed himself there, but he
didn’t seem very worried about it.
DOCTOR: You can’t be sure, though. Soldiers are trained not to show their feelings.
THACKERAY: “It’ll take more than an accident to kill me,” he said.
COOPER: He was wrong though, wasn’t he?
THACKERAY: Was he? I wonder.
DOCTOR: But, he’s dead. Look.
THACKERAY: Yes. But was it an accident that killed him?
COOPER: What are you saying, Inspector?
THACKERAY: You’ll know soon enough.
DOCTOR: But why not now?
THACKERAY: I want you both to go downstairs, please, into the living-room. And ask Mrs Baker to go there
too.
COOPER: What are you going to do?
THACKERAY: First I must make a phone call. Then I’ll join you. And then we’ll find out what really
happened.

Inspector Thackeray Explains

(The living-room. A few minutes later.)
DOCTOR: Well, Inspector? Did you make your telephone call?
THACKERAY: Yes. I did.
COOPER: So now you can tell us what all this is about.
MRS BAKER: I think I’ll make that cup of tea first.
THACKERAY: That will have to wait, Mrs Baker.
COOPER: The Inspector’s not sure that your husband had an accident.
MRS BAKER: What was it, then?
THACKERAY: I hope to find out.
DOCTOR: How?
THACKERAY: By looking at the facts, and by asking some questions. We’ll start, first of all, with the car
accident. Perhaps you, Doctor Hall, would be kind enough to remind us of the details.
DOCTOR: Well, I can only talk about the medical details. I wasn’t at the crash, of course. Firstly, he’d hurt the
fingers of his right hand…
THACKERAY: How badly?
DOCTOR: You were here yourself when I examined him, Inspector. He couldn’t move them.
MRS BAKER: He couldn’t move them this morning, either.
THACKERAY: So you helped the Brigadier to get dressed this morning, Mrs Baker?
MRS BAKER: No, Cooper did that.
THACKERAY: And did you help him at lunch-time too, Cooper?
COOPER: At lunch-time? No.
THACKERAY: Perhaps you helped him then, Mrs Baker?
MRS BAKER: No, I didn’t. And I don’t want to hear any more questions either. I want this to stop here and
now.
THACKERAY: You don’t want to know who murdered him?
MRS BAKER: Murdered him!
COOPER: It was an accident, Inspector.
THACKERAY: I’m afraid not.
DOCTOR: I think I’m beginning to understand, Inspector. The Brigadier had a bad right hand. So he always
needed someone to help him when he was getting dressed.
THACKERAY: Correct.
DOCTOR: Well, we know he’d had a bath. But when we found him, he was almost completely dressed. So,
someone must have helped him.
THACKERAY: Exactly. And the question is: who?
COOPER: Not so fast, Inspector. You’re forgetting something.
THACKERAY: Am I? What?
COOPER: The Brigadier’s left hand was all right.
THACKERAY: Yes. That’s true.
COOPER: Well, you can get dressed with only one hand.
THACKERAY: Can you?
MRS BAKER: I sometimes have to do it myself. When my arm is bad, for example.
COOPER: It just takes longer. That’s all.
MRS BAKER: Yes, of course. That explains why he was so late for lunch. He was trying to get dressed alone.
That’s why he took such a long time.
COOPER: And he’d almost finished the job. He was putting on his shoes. Probably he was standing on one
foot, and trying to put the other foot in his shoe…
MRS BAKER: … When he slipped and fell.
DOCTOR: And hit his head on the bath. Yes, that is possible, Inspector.
COOPER: It’s more than possible. It’s almost certain. You saw that bruise.
THACKERAY: But now you’re forgetting something, Mr Cooper.
COOPER: Am I? What’s that?
THACKERAY: The Brigadier was wearing a tie.
MRS BAKER: The one I bought him for his birthday.
THACKERAY: Can you tie a tie with one hand, Mr Cooper?
DOCTOR: And the buttons on his shirt! Both his shirt sleeves were buttoned. Even the left one.
THACKERAY: So you see, someone did help him.
COOPER: Why are you looking at me, Inspector?
THACKERAY: Do you know who killed him?
COOPER: I’ve no idea.
THACKERAY: Tell me, Mr Cooper, what were you doing before lunch this morning?
COOPER: I was working.
THACKERAY: Where?
COOPER: At the Brigadier’s desk.
THACKERAY: Did anyone see you?
COOPER: I don’t know.
THACKERAY: Did you see him at the desk, Mrs Baker?
MRS BAKER: No. I was busy with the lunch in the kitchen. It’s right at the back of the house.
THACKERAY: So if Mr Cooper went upstairs, you couldn’t have seen him.
MRS BAKER: No. Not from there.
COOPER: I’m getting tired of this, Inspector. How many times do I have to tell you! I didn’t go upstairs. The
Brigadier wasn’t murdered. He had an accident. He was always having them.
THACKERAY: Always?
COOPER: Yes. I told you. This is the third in two weeks. First there was the electric fire.
THACKERAY: Yes. You mentioned that before, Mr Cooper. How did you find out about it?
DOCTOR: It was supposed to be a secret,
MRS BAKER: The electric fire? I never knew he’d had an accident with that!
DOCTOR: The Brigadier told me he didn’t want anyone else to know about it.
COOPER: He told me a different story then, didn’t he?
THACKERAY: Mm. Did he? I believe you were in the army for a while, Mr Cooper?
COOPER: Yes. That’s not a secret, is it?
THACKERAY: What were you in, in the army?
COOPER: The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
THACKERAY: So you know a lot about electricity?
COOPER: I know something about it.
THACKERAY: And motor cars?
COOPER: Yes, I suppose so.
THACKERAY: Strange, isn’t it? The Brigadier had two accidents before today –one with an electric fire, the
other with a motor car.
COOPER: That’s not my fault. I wasn’t there when they happened.
THACKERAY: But you were there when the Brigadier was killed.
COOPER: Prove it.
THACKERAY: I shall.
MRS BAKER: But how can you do that?
DOCTOR: No one saw the murder.
THACKERAY: Except Mr Cooper here.
COOPER: That’s nonsense, Inspector. And you know it.
THACKERAY: But you murdered him, Cooper. You must have done. You see, you said you never touched the
body.
COOPER: Yes, I’ll repeat it, if you like. I never touched the body. Now, how does that make me a murderer?
THACKERAY: But you’ve also told us that the Brigadier had a bruise on the back of his head.
DOCTOR: Yes. That’s true. He did say that. But what does it prove?
THACKERAY: It proves that he was lying.
MRS BAKER: How?
THACKERAY: The body was flat on its back. No one could possibly have seen that bruise unless he had lifted
the head.
DOCTOR: You’re absolutely right, Inspector. I remember now. I had to lift the head to show you.
COOPER: Perhaps– perhaps I made a mistake, then.
MRS BAKER: But you were so certain just now.
COOPER: Don’t you start. We all make mistakes. The Inspector’s making one now. All right, I saw the bruise.
True. But I didn’t hit him.
THACKERAY: Then who did?
COOPER: No one. He fell. I’ve told you again and again. His head hit the side of the bath.
THACKERAY: There are no marks there. A blow of that force would leave a mark.
DOCTOR: I think you’re right there Inspector.
COOPER: All right. His head hit the floor, then.
THACKERAY: But the floor had a carpet on it. It couldn’t have given him a bruise like that.
MRS BAKER: That’s very true, Inspector. That carpet’s quite thick.
COOPER: So you’re all against me now, are you? Well, I’m not staying here to be accused like this.
THACKERAY: You are not to leave this room, Mr Cooper. Not without my permission.
COOPER: Who’s going to stop me?
DOCTOR: Don’t be a fool, Cooper. It won’t help to run away.
THACKERAY: If you didn’t do it Cooper, you’ll be able to prove it later.
COOPER: Keep back, Inspector. (He takes a gun from the wall.)
DOCTOR: Look out. He’s got one of those guns off the wall.
THACKERAY: Now don’t be stupid, lad.
MRS BAKER: It’s all right. Those are old army guns. They can’t shoot. They’re too old.
COOPER: Keep away. I’m warning you.
THACKERAY: Put it down, lad.
COOPER: Don’t come any nearer.
MRS BAKER: So you did kill him. You killed my husband.
DOCTOR: Don’t go near him, Mrs Baker. He’s dangerous.
MRS BAKER: I was right all the time. You only wanted his money. Give me that gun.
COOPER: Keep back.
THACKERAY: Stay where you are, Mrs Baker. There’s no need to get hurt.
MRS BAKER: That old gun can’t shoot, I told you.
COOPER: If anyone comes closer, I’ll break his head.
THACKERAY: is that how you killed him?
MRS BAKER: Did you, Cooper? Did you?
DOCTOR: Will you please put the gun down, Cooper?
THACKERAY: Did you hit him with one of his own guns? A heavy one like that? Perhaps it was that one in
your hand. Was it, lad? Tell us. It’ll save us a big search later.
COOPER: I’m going through this door now. If anybody moves, they’ll get hurt.
THACKERAY: You’re not going anywhere. I have a sergeant and two policemen outside this house.
COOPER: I’m not stupid. You came alone. (He turns to the Doctor.) Doctor?
DOCTOR: Yes?
COOPER: Give me the keys of your car.
THACKERAY: (Pause) Do as he says, Doctor.
DOCTOR: Here you are then.
COOPER: Good. I’m only going to borrow the car, you understand.
THACKERAY: I won’t ask you again, lad. This is the last time. Put the gun down. You can’t leave.
COOPER: Can’t I. Just watch.
MRS BAKER: Let me get at him.
DOCTOR: Stop it, Mrs Baker. (He puts his arm around Mrs Baker.)
MRS BAKER: Let me go, Doctor.
THACKERAY: Hold on to her, Doctor. All right, Cooper. You’ve had your chance. Go, if you have to.
COOPER: I will. And don’t try to follow me.
(The door opens. Sergeant Silver and two police-constables enter.)
THACKERAY: Well done, Silver! Get him!
(Sergeant Silver gets hold of his head; the police-constables get hold of each arm.)
COOPER: Let go.
THACKERAY: Hold him.
COOPER: I’ll kill him.
DOCTOR: Look out.
MRS BAKER: Oh, stop him, stop him.
COOPER: All right, all right, all right. You’re breaking my arm.
THACKERAY: Nicely done, lads. All right, Silver.
SILVER: Yes, sir
THACKERAY: Right, you two lads. Take him away.
SILVER: What about this, sir? (He points to the gun on the floor.)
THACKERAY: Don’t touch that gun, lad. Leave it on the floor just now.
MRS BAKER: Was that the gun he used to–
THACKERAY: To kill your husband. It’s possible. If we find some small hairs on it from the back of your
husband’s head…
DOCTOR: Then you’ll know it is.
SILVER: I’m glad you asked for two extra men, sir. How did you know he was going to be violent?
THACKERAY: A man who tries to murder someone three times isn’t likely to be gentle, Sergeant. Not even
with me!
3 Dangerous Medicine
This was, perhaps, Inspector Thackeray’s most difficult case. In most investigations there are two, perhaps
three, suspects. In this case four or five people had the motive and the opportunity to commit the crime.
But this case is difficult for another reason. Frequently a detective finds it hard to collect information. (We
talked about that problem before the last case.) In this investigation, the problem was the opposite. Everyone
wanted to talk. Some people talked too much. But they did not always say the things that Inspector
Thackeray needed to know. The Inspector collected, then, a lot of useless information.
In the end he solved the case by asking himself five important questions:
– Who had a motive to commit the crime?
– Who had an opportunity to commit the crime?
– When did it happen?
– What exactly happened?
– Who could not have done it?
The clues in this case were not easy to find. The mistakes that the murderer made were only small ones.
Sergeant Silver’s notes helped the Inspector to find these mistakes. He was later able to use them as
evidence.
Shortly after this case, Inspector Thackeray was made “Detective Chief Inspector” and Sergeant Silver was
promoted to “Inspector”.

Characters
Inspector Thackeray
Sergeant Silver
Mrs Williams, the housekeeper
Doctor Brown, the family doctor
John Edwards, the dead man’s nephew
Ann Edwards, the dead man’s niece
Alan Price, her boy friend

Scene 1
(The house of Alec Granger, a rich businessman. Inspector Thackeray, who has just rung the bell, is waiting at
the door with Sergeant Silver.)
THACKERAY: Well, it’s a lovely house. From the outside, at least.
SILVER: D’you think they heard the bell?
THACKERAY: It’s always the same in these big houses. It takes them half an hour to walk to the front door.
SILVER: Ah. There’s somebody coming now.
THACKERAY: Good morning, madam.
MRS WILLIAMS: You’re the police?
THACKERAY: Yes, I’m Inspector Thackeray, and this is Sergeant Silver.
MRS WILLIAMS: Please come in.
THACKERAY: We had a phone call from Dr Brown. Is he still here?
MRS WILLIAMS: Oh yes. I’m the housekeeper, Mrs Williams. Dr Brown is still in the sitting-room, with the
body. Till take you to him now.

Scene 2
(They go into the living-room of the house.)
MRS WILLIAMS: Dr Brown… The police are here.
DOCTOR: Ah. Thackeray. I’m glad you could come.
THACKERAY: How are you, Doctor Brown? I haven’t seen you since that Portland Flats murder.
DOCTOR: Ah, yes. The rich businessman and the game of chess. I remember that well. But that was more than
five years ago, wasn’t it?
THACKERAY: You didn’t meet Sergeant Silver then, did you? He really solved that case, you know.
DOCTOR: Sergeant.
SILVER: Morning, sir.
DOCTOR: I’m terribly sorry to drag you out so early. But I think it’s a job for the police.
SILVER: This gentleman in the chair?
MRS WILLIAMS: Mr Alec Granger. He owns this house. Or did.
THACKERAY: How long’s he been dead?
DOCTOR: He must have died last night… Oh, between nine o’clock and ten o’clock. I couldn’t be more exact
than that.
THACKERAY: Who found him?
MRS WILLIAMS: I did.
THACKERAY: When was that?
MRS WILLIAMS: At half past eight this morning, just before I phoned Dr Brown.
THACKERAY: All right, Doctor. You examined Mr Granger, then you phoned me. You must have had a good
reason.
DOCTOR: Yes. I have. His capsules.
SILVER: Mr Granger’s medicine, sir?
DOCTOR: Yes. Perhaps first I’d better explain exactly what they are.
THACKERAY: Just a minute. Where are these capsules?
MRS WILLIAMS: They’re in the bathroom cupboard. They’re always kept there.
THACKERAY: Right. First of all like to have a look at them.
MRS WILLIAMS: I’ll show you the way.
DOCTOR: No need, Mrs Williams. I’ll take the Inspector up.
THACKERAY: Mrs Williams, why don’t you talk to the Sergeant here. Tell him all about this morning.
MRS WILLIAMS: Very well.
THACKERAY: Right, Doctor. You lead the way.
(The Doctor and the Inspector go out.)
SILVER: Now then, Mrs Williams. You came into the room at half past eight. Tell me exactly what happened.
MRS WILLIAMS: Well, I came in the door. The room was still dark, of course. I walked across to the window,
and opened the curtains. Then I turned round and saw Mr Granger just sitting there.
SILVER: Have you moved him at all?
MRS WILLIAMS: No, I haven’t. He was sitting there just like that. In his usual chair.
SILVER: This book on the floor beside him –was this here too?
MRS WILLIAMS: Yes. He must have dropped it. Poor Mr Granger. He must have been very ill. He always
looked after his books so carefully. Many of them are quite valuable, you know.
SILVER: Yes, and all these old paintings too –the tables and chairs here– they must have cost thousands.
MRS WILLIAMS: I love this house and all these beautiful things in it. And Mr Granger was always so good to
me. I feel all empty now that he has died.
SILVER: How long have you worked here, Mrs Williams?
MRS WILLIAMS: I’ve been his housekeeper for thirty years. Thirty wonderful years.

Scene 3
(The Doctor and the Inspector are walking towards the bathroom.)
DOCTOR: Oh yes, she’s an excellent housekeeper. She did everything for him, you know.
THACKERAY: So Mrs Williams gave him his capsules?
DOCTOR: Usually, I think. She used to be a nurse, you know.
THACKERAY: Oh, did she? What was wrong with Granger?
DOCTOR: Heart trouble.
THACKERAY: Bad?
DOCTOR: Very. It was difficult to deal with. He was in hospital with it last year.
THACKERAY: But if his heart just failed, why did you phone us?
DOCTOR: Ah, this is the bathroom. (He opens the door.) The capsules are in a bottle in that cupboard. I’ll open
it and you can have a look.
THACKERAY: There are so many bottles here. Which one?
DOCTOR: The big one. Next to the syringe. On the bottom shelf.
THACKERAY: Next to the syringe? Oh yes. I can see now. It’s that big bottle, isn’t it? I shan’t touch it. There
may be fingerprints on it.
DOCTOR: You can see through the glass.
THACKERAY: Yes. Three green capsules.
DOCTOR: That’s the trouble. There should be four.
THACKERAY: Why’s that?
DOCTOR: It’s like this. Every Monday morning, I give him a new bottle of capsules. I count them into the
bottle. Seven. One capsule for every day of the week. Seven. Never more. Never less.
THACKERAY: And today’s Thursday.
DOCTOR: Right. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday –three gone. There should still be four in the bottle.
THACKERAY: All right. Suppose he takes an extra one. What then?
DOCTOR: He dies in about fifteen minutes.
THACKERAY: Did he know that?
DOCTOR: Certainly. He had to know.
THACKERAY: So if someone gave him two instead of one?
DOCTOR: He’d never take them. He knew the danger.
THACKERAY: So you want the police doctor to open him up?
DOCTOR: Yes. I think your people should look inside the stomach. Then we’ll know whether he really took
two capsules.
THACKERAY: Mrs Williams knew about these capsules. Did anyone else?
DOCTOR: Two other people at least. His nephew and his niece. John and Ann Edwards.
THACKERAY: Did they all know that an extra capsule would kill him?
DOCTOR: Oh yes. Besides, it’s written there on the bottle.
THACKERAY: Could anyone buy extra capsules, d’you think?
DOCTOR: Good heavens, no. You can’t get these things in a shop. They usually only give them to people in
hospital. They’re experimental. The very latest thing. They’re changing them all the time.
THACKERAY: How d’you mean?
DOCTOR: Well, look at those in the bottle for example. They’re the green ones. They’re new. Granger got them
for the first time this week. They’ve got slightly less nitrine in them.
THACKERAY: What did he have before?
DOCTOR: Red ones. He’s always had red ones. Until Monday.
THACKERAY: They look soft, like green jelly.
DOCTOR: Yes, they are soft. There’s a space inside for the medicine.
THACKERAY: What does it look like?
DOCTOR: The medicine? Oh, a bit like water, I suppose. The capsule’s about half full of it. The outside slowly
breaks up in the stomach, and the medicine runs out.
THACKERAY: So. One capsule keeps him alive. Two capsules kill him. Right?
DOCTOR: That’s it.
THACKERAY: Well, if he did take two, we have quite a problem. How d’you persuade a man to take
something that’s going to kill him?
DOCTOR: That’s a question you’ll have to answer, not me.
THACKERAY: Perhaps it’s time we asked Mrs Williams then. Or perhaps she’s told my Sergeant the answer
already.

Scene 4
(The dining-room. Sergeant Silver is questioning Mrs Williams.)
SILVER: Now then, Mrs Williams. This table here. It’s been set for three people. Last night’s dinner, was it?
MRS WILLIAMS: Yes. Mr Granger always had people to dinner on Wednesday night.
SILVER: Who?
MRS WILLIAMS: Usually his nephew, Mr John Edwards. And his niece, Miss Ann Edwards.
SILVER: But only two of these meals were eaten. Nobody’s touched this third plate. Who didn’t come?
MRS WILLIAMS: I’m afraid I don’t know.
SILVER: You don’t know? But weren’t you here last night?
MRS WILLIAMS: Oh no, Wednesday’s my half-day off. After lunch I always prepare dinner for three. Usually
a simple cold meal like this one.
SILVER: And where did you go?
(The Doctor and Inspector Thackeray enter.)
MRS WILLIAMS: Oh… Inspector! I didn’t hear you both come down.
THACKERAY: Go ahead, Mrs Williams. I’d be glad to hear the answer myself. Where did you go?
MRS WILLIAMS: I went to my sister’s.
DOCTOR: Is that the one with the little shop, in Middleton?
MRS WILLIAMS: Yes, Doctor. I caught the three o’clock bus. I went to Mary’s and stayed the night.
SILVER: So you didn’t get back till this morning?
MRS WILLIAMS: That’s right.
SILVER: Mr Granger had dinner with either his niece or his nephew last night, sir.
THACKERAY: Well, we’d better see them, hadn’t we?
SILVER: Where can we find them, Mrs Williams?
MRS WILLIAMS: Well, Miss Edwards works at the airport. At least, she’s an air hostess. Perhaps she’s the one
who stayed away. She couldn’t come last week either. She flies all over the world, you know. Such a nice
girl. She’s going to be so unhappy when she hears about this.
DOCTOR: And John Edwards works at Harper’s Bank, in the High Street.
SILVER: Thank you sir.
THACKERAY: Mrs Williams, don’t throw away the food from any of these plates, will you?
MRS WILLIAMS: Why’s that, sir?
THACKERAY: I have my reasons.
DOCTOR: Perhaps someone put the medicine into Mr Granger’s food. That’s what you’re thinking, Inspector,
isn’t it?
THACKERAY: That’s right.
MRS WILLIAMS: Oh what a terrible thing to say.
DOCTOR: Forget it.
SILVER: Why, Doctor?
DOCTOR: That medicine may look like water. But it tastes terrible.
THACKERAY: You’d notice it in food?
DOCTOR: Notice it? You’d have to wash your mouth out.
THACKERAY: Oh well. That’s the end of another idea. Right. Next, a visit to Mr John Edwards, I think. We’re
more likely to find him than Miss Edwards.
MRS WILLIAMS: Oh dear. I haven’t had time to phone him about poor Mr Granger. I think I’ll do that now.
THACKERAY: Mrs Williams!
MRS WILLIAMS: Yes?
THACKERAY: Don’t phone anybody. I don’t want anyone to know that he is dead. Do you understand?
MRS WILLIAMS: Well… yes.
THACKERAY: It’s very important.
MRS WILLIAMS: Very well.
THACKERAY: Some of my men will be here in a few minutes. They’ll take the body away. Meanwhile,
Sergeant Silver and I have business at Harper’s bank. With Mr John Edwards.

Scene 5
(Harper’s Bank. Mr Edwards’s office.)
JOHN EDWARDS: I’m sorry I kept you waiting, gentlemen. The bank’s very busy this morning. I’m afraid I’ll
only be able to give you five minutes. Please sit down.
THACKERAY: Thank you, sir.
JOHN: Now. What can I do for you gentlemen? Do you want to open an account?
THACKERAY: We’re not here on business, Mr Edwards. We’re police.
JOHN: Oh?
SILVER: We thought you could help us with a few facts, sir.
JOHN: I’m afraid we don’t usually answer questions about the bank’s clients.
THACKERAY: This isn’t about one of your clients. It’s about your uncle, Mr Granger.
JOHN: Oh?
THACKERAY: When did you last see him sir?
JOHN: Last night. I had dinner with him. I say! There’s nothing wrong, is there?
SILVER: Dinner, you said. What time was that, sir?
JOHN: I got there about eight o’clock. And I left early at half past nine. I thought he was rather tired.
THACKERAY: You didn’t quarrel at all?
JOHN: Good heavens, no.
THACKERAY: What were you talking about, just before you left?
JOHN: Oh, just family things.
THACKERAY: Would you mind telling us exactly?
JOHN: Well… if you must know… we were talking about my sister’s marriage.
SILVER: That’s Miss Ann Edwards, isn’t it?
JOHN: Oh. You know her.
SILVER: She wasn’t at dinner with you then, sir?
JOHN: No. She’s an air hostess. She’s not always free.
THACKERAY: What’s this about a marriage, sir?
JOHN: To Alan Price.
THACKERAY: Who’s he?
JOHN: He works for a newspaper. He’s a journalist.
SILVER: Alan Price–I’ve seen that name before. Doesn’t he write about crime for the Evening Standard?
JOHN: (Pause) That’s right. My uncle thinks he’s the wrong man for Ann, I’m afraid.
THACKERAY: Why’s that, sir?
JOHN: Well, for one thing, he owes rather a lot of money. And, well, Uncle Alec thinks she could marry
someone better than a crime reporter.
THACKERAY: Your uncle has met Mr Price, then?
JOHN: Yes. Ann sometimes brought him with her on Wednesday evenings. We always try to have dinner with
Uncle Alec then. But it was no good. Price only talked about himself. Then he tried to borrow some money.
THACKERAY: What did your uncle think about that?
JOHN: Not very much. He certainly never invited him again.
THACKERAY: So your uncle thinks Price is interested in his money, not his niece.
JOHN: Yes. I must say I agree with him, but it’s not my business, of course. And it isn’t really yours either, is
it?
SILVER: So Miss Edwards is rich, then, is she?
JOHN: Really! Is there no end to these questions?
THACKERAY: Try to help us sir. You have my word. It is important.
JOHN: Very well then. She’s not rich now, but she will be when my uncle dies. He’ll be leaving her plenty of
money.
SILVER: How d’you know that, sir?
JOHN: I deal with all his papers. They’re at the bank here. Do you think I’m telling lies or something?
THACKERAY: No, certainly not. But we do have to check. Tell us, who else would get money?
JOHN: Well, I would. His money will be shared between Ann and myself. Except for five thousand pounds –
that goes to the doctor.
THACKERAY: Dr Brown, eh?
JOHN: Oh, and the house and everything in it –that goes to Mrs Williams, the housekeeper.
THACKERAY: One day, she’ll be rich then?
JOHN: One day.
THACKERAY: So. We’re talking about many thousands of pounds.
JOHN: Oh yes. My uncle was rich. Very rich.
THACKERAY: How much do you expect to get, for example?
JOHN: Well, that depends. He had a lot of money in different companies. I’d guess… at least a hundred
thousand pounds.
THACKERAY: Hmm. That is a lot.
JOHN: But what is all this about? Why all these questions?
THACKERAY: Just tell me this, Mr Edwards. Who gave your uncle his medicine last night?
JOHN: His medicine? You mean those green things he gets from Dr Brown?
THACKERAY: That’s right. The capsules.
JOHN: The capsules? He had to take one every evening, or something like that. Didn’t he?
THACKERAY: That’s right.
JOHN: I don’t really know. He went up to the bathroom after coffee.
THACKERAY: What time was that?
JOHN: After coffee. Oh about nine o’clock.
SILVER: Are you saying he took the capsule himself?
JOHN: Yes. Yes, I remember now. He did say he was going for his medicine then.
SILVER: But you didn’t see him take it.
JOHN: No, I didn’t. There is something wrong, isn’t there?
THACKERAY: Yes, I’m afraid there is. (Pause) Mr Edwards, I want you to prepare yourself for a big shock.
(Pause) Your uncle is dead.
JOHN: Dead? Oh no! Poor Uncle Alec. Why didn’t you tell me at the beginning? And what are all these
questions about? You don’t think he was killed, do you? How did it happen?
SILVER: That’s just what we’re trying to find out, Mr Edwards. How it happened. Was he all right when you
left him?
JOHN: Certainly.
THACKERAY: Did he come to the door with you?
JOHN: No. I let myself out.
THACKERAY: What was your uncle doing when you left him? Think carefully, please. This could be very
important.
JOHN: He was sitting in his usual chair. And he had a book in his hands. He was just starting to read it.
THACKERAY: Did you close the front door after you, sir?
JOHN: Of course I did. Really, Inspector, what a question!
THACKERAY: So no one could have come in by that door later.
JOHN: No. Not without a key.
THACKERAY: Do you have a key to the house?
JOHN: No, I don’t.
THACKERAY: Who does?
JOHN: Just Uncle Alec and Mrs Williams, I think. Perhaps Ann has. I really don’t know.
SILVER: Do you live alone, Mr Edwards?
JOHN: Yes.
SILVER: No one saw you arrive home, I suppose?
JOHN: No.
SILVER: In fact, no one saw you after you left Mr Granger?
JOHN: No. Oh… Well, yes.
SILVER: Who?
JOHN: Alan Price.
SILVER: Where?
JOHN: Outside Mr Granger’s house. Near the gates. He was standing beside his car.
THACKERAY: Did Mr Price see you, sir?
JOHN: I think so. When I came out, he began to walk towards me. Then he turned back and got into his car.
(Pause) You know, I really think you should stop the questions now. There’ll be all kinds of things for me to
do at the house. And there’s all this work on my desk. You really must excuse me.
THACKERAY: Yes sir. We’ve finished now. If you remember anything else, you’ll let us know, won’t you?
JOHN: Yes, certainly. Where can I reach you?
THACKERAY: If it’s in the next hour or so, try the Evening Standard.
JOHN: Oh yes. Alan Price. That’s a good idea. Ask him what he was doing outside that house. I’d like to know
that myself.

Scene 6
(The Evening Standard. Mr Price’s office.)
ALAN PRICE: Alan Price speaking. Hello? You rang me before. Well, I’ve just got in… Oh it’s you. Well,
well.
(The door of the office opens. Inspector Thackeray and Sergeant Silver enter.)
SILVER: Excuse me.
ALAN: Hold on, will you? Yes?
THACKERAY: Mr Alan Price?
ALAN: Wait outside. I’m busy just now. On the phone.
THACKERAY: It’s all right, sir. We’ll just sit down here.
ALAN: Would you mind waiting?
THACKERAY: We are waiting. Have a seat, Silver. Go on, sir; finish your phone call.
ALAN: Hello?… I’d better ring back later… I have to get rid of a pair of jokers. They’ve just walked in here.
What?… Yes. It lands at 13.50. An hour-and-a-half from now. Is it important?… No!… Really? Oh well.
That explains it… Yes. They’re here now. Sitting in front of me… I’ll ring you later. Goodbye. Well well
well!
THACKERAY: An interesting conversation, Mr Price.
ALAN: All my conversations are interesting, Inspector. It is Inspector Thackeray, isn’t it?
THACKERAY: It is.
ALAN: I remember you now. I’ve seen your photograph in the newspaper. You’re the detective who always
tries to avoid interviews, aren’t you? But your friend? I don’t think I’ve seen him before.
THACKERAY: This is Sergeant Silver.
ALAN: Silver. Yes… Yes, I’ve heard that name. You’re the young assistant, aren’t you? You helped the
Inspector on that big train robbery case, didn’t you?
SILVER: That’s right.
ALAN: Well well well! Let me tell you a little about myself. I write about crime, you know.
SILVER: We’ve heard.
ALAN: Oh, really? Mr Edwards told you that, did he?
THACKERAY: What makes you think that?
ALAN: Well, you have seen him, haven’t you?
THACKERAY: I didn’t say that.
ALAN: Oh, come on, Inspector. You don’t have to keep secrets from me. We’re both in the same kind of job:
crime. It makes brothers of us all.
SILVER: A few questions, Mr Price, if you’re ready.
ALAN: Ready? I’m always ready for questions, Sergeant. And here’s the first one: how did Mr Granger die?
SILVER: I’m sorry? I don’t understand.
ALAN: Oh dear. Is he usually so slow, Inspector? Mr Granger –you know him, Sergeant. How did he die?
THACKERAY: He’s dead, is he?
ALAN: Oh, come on now, Inspector. Of course he is.
THACKERAY: How d’you know that?
ALAN: Aha. That’s my business.
SILVER: It’s also our business, Mr Price.
ALAN: So you think somebody killed him?
THACKERAY: I think it’s our turn to ask some questions now, Mr Price.
ALAN: You may be right. I’m not doing very well with mine. All right. I’m all ears.
THACKERAY: What makes you think Mr Granger was killed?
ALAN: Well, you wouldn’t be here if he’d just died of his bad heart, would you?
SILVER: That’s no answer.
ALAN: It’s the only answer you’ll get.
THACKERAY: It’s not good enough, though.
ALAN: Well, let’s just say it’s my business to know these things. I’m a journalist. I write about crime, you
know.
SILVER: So you keep telling us.
ALAN: But surely you don’t think I did it?
THACKERAY: Did you, Mr Price?
ALAN: Oh dear, oh dear. I usually find it easy to get straight answers. You’re the most difficult pair I’ve ever
questioned.
THACKERAY: Try a straight answer to this question. Where were you at half past nine last night?
ALAN: Well, I think I was in my car.
THACKERAY: To be exact, you were standing outside the gate of Mr Granger’s house. What were you doing?
ALAN: You are serious, aren’t you?
SILVER: Would you just answer the question, Mr Price?
ALAN: Well, well. I was right. John Edwards has been talking. I suppose he saw me outside the gates.
THACKERAY: This is the third time of asking, Mr Price. I won’t ask you again. What were you doing?
ALAN: I was waiting for Ann Edwards.
SILVER: There now. That was almost no pain at all, was it? Ready for another question now? Or would you
like a rest?
ALAN: My dear Sergeant Silver. I was talking to the Inspector. You just write everything down, and keep quiet.
You’re the clerk, not the detective.
THACKERAY: Stop it, both of you. Mr Price, Miss Edwards doesn’t live at her uncle’s, does she?
ALAN: No, she has her own place in town.
THACKERAY: All right. Why should you wait outside her uncle’s house?
ALAN: I tried to phone her. Couldn’t get through. But it was a Wednesday. She usually went to her uncle’s for
 dinner. So I went there.
THACKERAY: Why did you wait outside?
ALAN: Old man Granger didn’t like me.
SILVER: You surprise me.
THACKERAY: So you expected her to come out.
ALAN: I hoped she would.
THACKERAY: Why did you want to see her?
ALAN: It’s… er… rather personal.
THACKERAY: Oh, come along, Mr Price. We’re all brothers in crime. We can keep a secret, you know.
ALAN: Well… We had an argument about a week ago. I haven’t seen her since.
SILVER: What was the argument about?
ALAN: Do I have to tell him?
THACKERAY: Tell me, lad. I’ll understand.
ALAN: Well. It was stupid really. She’d been trying to phone me, and I was always busy. So in the end she
came here, to the office.
SILVER: And?
ALAN: Well. You know how it is. You’ve seen my secretary?
THACKERAY: The young lady in the outside office?
ALAN: Yes. Well. She was here with me. If you’ve seen her, you’ll know.
THACKERAY: She’s rather pretty, isn’t she?
SILVER: If you like that kind of thing.
ALAN: Well, we were laughing. A few jokes. You know what I mean. Just a bit of fun. Ann didn’t seem to
understand. She got the wrong idea, I think.
THACKERAY: Was she jealous?
ALAN: Jealous? She was really angry. And then I had to make her wait until I finished my story. That made her
worse, of course. When I took her out to dinner an hour later, she never said a word. It was all a complete
waste of time. You know what women are like.
THACKERAY: So after a week, you decided to end the quarrel.
SILVER: By giving her a nice surprise outside her uncle’s house
ALAN: The police are really quite human these days, aren’t they?
THACKERAY: Mr Price–just the facts, please, Miss Edwards didn’t come out?
ALAN: No. John Edwards came out instead.
THACKERAY: Did you speak to him?
ALAN: I was going to ask him if Ann was in the house. Then I changed my mind.
SILVER: Why?
ALAN: I decided to have a look myself.
THACKERAY: You went into the house?
ALAN: No. I got back in the car, and drove down the path, and then right round the house. Twice.
THACKERAY: What did you expect to see?
ALAN: Her car. It wasn’t there though, and the place was all dark.
THACKERAY: You’re certain about that?
ALAN: Oh yes. I told you, I drove round it twice. There wasn’t a light on anywhere. Don’t you believe me?
SILVER: Believe you! Huh. I’ve read too many of your stories.
THACKERAY: This photograph on your desk. Is this young lady Miss Edwards?
ALAN: Yes. Hey –why am I telling you all this about Ann and me? I thought this was about Granger?
THACKERAY: Did you like Mr Granger?
ALAN: Me? No Not much.
SILVER: Why not?
ALAN: He loved two things in his life. First, himself. Second, his money.
THACKERAY: Wasn’t he kind to Miss Edwards?
ALAN: Kind? He invited her to dinner once a week. Gave her a present on her birthday. But he wouldn’t…
THACKERAY: Yes? Go on, Mr Price. He wouldn’t what?
ALAN: He wouldn’t help us to get married.
SILVER: Help you? How?
ALAN: With money of course. So we thought it would be better to wait.
THACKERAY: Until he died?
ALAN: Yes. Ann liked the old man, you know. She didn’t want to hurt him. I didn’t want to hurt him either, of
course. It seemed stupid to hurt him and lose all that money.
THACKERAY: Which money?
ALAN: Oh, Inspector, please! You know. He was leaving half of his money to Ann.
THACKERAY: If she didn’t marry you?
ALAN: Yes. Something like that.
THACKERAY: So now you’ll be very rich.
ALAN: Yes. When we get married.
SILVER: And when will that be?
ALAN: I don’t know. As soon as possible, I suppose.
THACKERAY: And now I must ask you again. How did you know Mr Granger was dead?
ALAN: Inspector Thackeray. I’m a journalist. I print a lot of stories. And do you know why? Because people
tell me things. They trust me. They know I’ll keep their names secret. I pay them and I forget them.
THACKERAY: When we came in, you were on the phone. That wasn’t a newspaper story. Somebody was
telling you about me. Who was it?
ALAN: Inspector, I can’t tell you that. I’ve got my good name –my reputation– to think about.
SILVER: There are tears in my eyes.
THACKERAY: Who are you protecting, Mr Price?
ALAN: For the last time, Inspector–
THACKERAY: Would it be Miss Edwards?
ALAN: How d’you mean?
THACKERAY: You’re clearly protecting someone. Was that Miss Edwards who phoned you just now?
ALAN: Why d’you think that?
THACKERAY: Did she know her uncle was dead? How did she know?
ALAN: Ann loved her uncle.
SILVER: But you didn’t, did you?
ALAN: Certainly not. I’ve never pretended I did.
THACKERAY: And you were outside his house last night. Do you have a key?
ALAN: No.
THACKERAY: But perhaps Miss Edwards has.
SILVER: Did you use her key, Mr Price?
ALAN: Oh, come on, now!
SILVER: Did you steal it from her? Or did she give it to you?
ALAN: This is nonsense. N-o-n-s-e-n-s-e. Nonsense. Write that down in your notebook, Sergeant.
THACKERAY: You said she was jealous. Perhaps she thought she was losing you. Perhaps she decided to
marry you as quickly as possible.
ALAN: Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps!
SILVER: But to marry you, she needed money. And there was one easy way to get money. Lots of it. For a few
minutes’ work.
ALAN: You’re not saying Ann did it, are you?
SILVER: Did she? While you kept guard outside?
ALAN: Now that is the end. That is too much.
THACKERAY: Was it you then, Mr Price? All alone?
SILVER: Did you go into the house after John Edwards left?
ALAN: I’ve told you. I drove away.
THACKERAY: Yes. You’ve told us. But did anyone see you?
ALAN: There was no one else there.
SILVER: Exactly.
THACKERAY: What time did you get home, Mr Price?
ALAN: I didn’t go straight home. I came back here to the office.
THACKERAY: When did you get here?
ALAN: About ten o’clock.
THACKERAY: Ten o’clock? Granger’s house is only a quarter of an hour from here.
SILVER: And you took half an hour?
ALAN: Well, perhaps it was sooner. I don’t look at my watch all the time.
THACKERAY: You’re not very sure about last night, are you?
ALAN: Perhaps not. But I was never inside that house.
SILVER: But somebody was. And if Miss Edwards has a key she can walk in any time she wants. And
somebody has just rung you and told you Alec Granger is dead.
ALAN: Well, it couldn’t be Ann.
THACKERAY: Why not?
ALAN: She’s in Rome.
THACKERAY: Ah. So much trouble for one little fact.
ALAN: So she couldn’t have rung me just now.
SILVER: That’s not quite true either. They do have telephones in Rome, you know.
ALAN: Oh, he’s not going to start all over again, is he? Look, I’m telling the truth. That phone call was not
from Ann. Now will you just forget all about her? And will you both leave my office? I have nothing else to
say. And I have a lot of work to do.
THACKERAY: One last thing, please. You spoke about a time, on the phone. 13.50 hours.
SILVER: That’s right, sir. He did. He said “it lands at 13.50”. He must have meant a plane. I think there’s a
plane from Rome at that time.
ALAN: I told you. I have nothing more to say.
THACKERAY: Very well, Mr Price. We’ll leave you. I think we’ll take a little drive to the airport now.
SILVER: Just to watch the planes coming in, you understand.
THACKERAY: Good morning, Mr Price. Don’t work too hard on crime, will you. It can be dangerous.

Scene 7
(The airport waiting-room. Inspector Thackeray and Sergeant Silver are sitting at a table. A plane is just
landing.)
SILVER: D’you know where to expect Miss Edwards?
THACKERAY: Yes. She comes through this gate here. And she shouldn’t be very long now. Her plane landed
ten minutes ago.
SILVER: D’you really think she can help us? Rome’s a long way away.
THACKERAY: We’ll just have to wait and find out. Just think about those times, Silver. Granger died between
nine and ten o’clock last night. That’s what the doctor said. Where was everybody then? That’s the first
thing.
SILVER: John Edwards was at Granger’s house for half that time.
THACKERAY: Yes. And Mrs Williams was at her sister’s in Middleton. But it’s only half an hour’s bus ride
back to Granger’s house.
SILVER: Price was outside the house for quite a long time. And that just leaves Ann Edwards.
THACKERAY: Does it? What about Dr Brown? Where was he?
SILVER: Oh. Here’s Miss Edwards now. Coming through the gate.
THACKERAY: Miss Ann Edwards?
ANN: Yes?
THACKERAY: Good afternoon, miss. I’m Inspector Thackeray, Manchester C.I.D. This is Sergeant Silver.
We’d like to ask you a few questions.
ANN: Oh. Well… All right. Will it take long?
THACKERAY: Oh no. About ten minutes, perhaps. Would you like something to drink?
ANN: Well, yes, please. A coffee.
SILVER: Milk and sugar?
ANN: Yes, please.
SILVER: I’ll get it.
ANN: Thank you, Sergeant. That’s most kind of you. (Sergeant Silver goes to the coffee bar.)
ANN: What’s it all about, Inspector?
THACKERAY: We’re hoping you can help us. You’ve just arrived from Rome?
ANN: Yes. I’ve just come off the plane.
THACKERAY: When were you last here in Manchester?
ANN: Last night.
THACKERAY: Really?
ANN: Yes. My plane left at half past ten last night.
THACKERAY: And when did you get to the airport here?
ANN: About twenty minutes before that. Between five and ten past ten.
THACKERAY: Only twenty minutes? That’s a bit late, isn’t it?
ANN: Yes, it is. I wasn’t supposed to go at all. But one of the other hostesses fell ill. And the airport telephoned
me.
THACKERAY: What time was that?
ANN: About a quarter to eight.
THACKERAY: What did you do?
ANN: Well, first I rang my brother John. We were both supposed to go to Uncle Alec’s for dinner. I told him I
couldn’t come.
THACKERAY: So you rang him just after quarter to eight?
ANN: Yes. Just before he left.
THACKERAY: Do you have a car, Miss Edwards?
ANN: Yes.
THACKERAY: It only takes about twenty minutes from your flat to the airport here. You could have arrived at
the airport at ten past eight. What happened to the other two hours?
ANN: Oh, Inspector! I had to get ready, of course. I had to wash my hair. Get some clean clothes. Press my
uniform.
(Sergeant Silver comes back with the cup of coffee.)
SILVER: Here’s your coffee, Miss Edwards.
ANN: Oh, thank you.
SILVER: How long since you were here in Manchester?
THACKERAY: Miss Edwards didn’t leave till ten-thirty last night.
SILVER: Oh.
THACKERAY: Did you see anyone at all last night?
ANN: No. Not till I started work here. I was too busy.
THACKERAY: You didn’t even see Mr Price?
ANN: Alan? No. Why?
THACKERAY: He was seen outside your uncle’s house at half past nine.
ANN: Was he really?
SILVER: Why do you smile, Miss Edwards?
ANN: He must have thought I was there. We’ve had a bit of a quarrel. I haven’t seen him for a week. He must
have wanted to be friends again.
THACKERAY: Miss Edwards, may I ask you a rather personal question?
ANN: Well… That depends.
THACKERAY: Are you going to marry Mr Price?
ANN: I say! That is rather personal, isn’t it?
THACKERAY: Well?
ANN: There’s nothing the matter, is there? He’s not in trouble?
SILVER: Nothing that we know about, miss.
ANN: Oh. Good. Well, I’d marry him now. But… it’s my uncle.
THACKERAY: What about him?
ANN: Well, he’s always been a kind of father to me. My parents died years ago. He says I’m not old enough to
get married. He thinks I should wait a few years. He’s not very sure about Alan. That’s the real trouble.
SILVER: And what are you going to do, miss?
ANN: I’ll try waiting. Uncle Alec may change his mind. Alan can be very nice when you really know him.
SILVER: Hmm, I’m sure, miss.
THACKERAY: Miss Edwards, do you have a key to Mr Granger’s house?
ANN: Yes, I do. But why? What is all this? Has someone stolen something?
SILVER: Oh no, miss.
ANN: I’m answering all your questions. And you haven’t told me anything.
AIRPORT LOUDSPEAKER: A message for Detective Inspector Thackeray.
SILVER: It’s for you, sir.
AIRPORT LOUDSPEAKER : Would Detective Inspector Thackeray please come to the Enquiry Desk?
ANN: It’s just over there.
AIRPORT LOUDSPEAKER: Detective Inspector Thackeray to the Enquiry Desk please.
THACKERAY: I won’t be a minute. (He gets up and goes to the Enquiry Desk.)
ANN: All right, Sergeant. There’s something wrong, isn’t there? What is it?
SILVER: I’m afraid we have some bad news for you, Miss Edwards.
ANN: Oh no! Not Alan? You don’t mean Alan?
SILVER: No, miss. It’s your uncle. I’m afraid he’s dead.
ANN: But… when?
SILVER: Last night, miss.
ANN: And… how?
SILVER: That’s what we’re trying to find out.
ANN: Oh, I should have been with him last night. Was John with him when he died?
SILVER: It seems not, miss.
(The Inspector returns. He sits down again.)
THACKERAY: Sorry about that. Just a phone call.
ANN: Your Sergeant has just told me about Uncle Alec.
THACKERAY: Ah. Yes. I’m very sorry, Miss Edwards.
ANN: I must go there immediately.
THACKERAY: May I ask you just one more thing, miss? You’ve told us you rang your brother last night. Did
you speak to anyone else on the phone?
ANN: No. Nobody.
THACKERAY: Did anyone try to telephone you?
ANN: It’s possible. You see, I live on the second floor of a large block of flats. And there’s only one telephone
between, oh, twelve of us. Some nights it’s very busy and when people try to telephone me they can’t always
get through.
THACKERAY: Was anyone with you? Did anyone see you at home?
ANN: No. Why do you ask?
THACKERAY: Oh, you know what policemen are like, miss. We have to check everything. But we’ve finished
our questions now, Miss Edwards.
ANN: Can I go now? I’m rather tired. (She stands up.)
THACKERAY: Yes, of course.
(The two policemen stand up.)
SILVER: We can drive you back to town if you like.
ANN: I have my own car, thank you. Good afternoon.
SILVER: Goodbye.
THACKERAY: Good afternoon, Miss Edwards.
(Miss Edwards leaves.)
SILVER: Well, sir? What was the message?
THACKERAY: The police doctor’s examined the body.
SILVER: And?
THACKERAY: It’s what we thought. Dr Brown was right. Granger did take a double supply of medicine.
SILVER: Two capsules. So somebody did kill him.
THACKERAY: Oh yes. But I’ve known that for a long time.
SILVER: Have you? I haven’t. You don’t also know who did it, do you?
THACKERAY: I think so. But I’m not sure that I can prove it yet.
SILVER: Why not, sir?
THACKERAY: The real problem is… How? How could anyone make him take two capsules?
SILVER: That’s certainly a difficult one.
THACKERAY: I’ve got to find out how it was done.
SILVER: Perhaps another talk with the doctor would help.
THACKERAY: Yes. Possibly. And then there are one or two loose ends to tie up.
SILVER: Perhaps my notebook would help there, sir. I’ve written down every conversation we’ve had.
THACKERAY: Yes. I think your notebook would help, Silver. Let’s go straight back to the station. You can
read it all out to me there.
SILVER: All right, sir.
THACKERAY: And tomorrow morning I think I’ll ask everyone to Granger’s house.
SILVER: What for, sir?
THACKERAY: More questions. There are one or two things I’d like to check. We don’t want to arrest the
wrong person, do we?
Inspector Thackeray Explains
(The living-room of Mr Granger’s house. The next morning. Inspector Thackeray, Sergeant Silver and Alan
Price are waiting.)
ALAN: How much more time before we start, Inspector? It’s five past eleven already.
THACKERAY: I’m afraid you’ll just have to wait a little longer, Mr Price.
ALAN: My newspaper won’t wait though.
SILVER: It’ll have to.
ALAN: I’ve got a story to write before this afternoon.
(Mrs Williams enters.)
MRS WILLIAMS: I’ve just telephoned the bank from Mr Granger’s office next door, Inspector. Mr Edwards is
on his way. He won’t be long.
SILVER: Ah there’s the bell now.
MRS WILLIAMS: Yes, that’ll be him. I’ll go.
(She goes out.)
SILVER: (shouting) Be sure to come back in here with him, won’t you Mrs Williams? We need you too.
(Mrs Williams enters followed by Mr Edwards. )
JOHN: Sorry I’m late. The bank’s very busy and it’s quite a long way to Uncle Alec’s.
ALAN: Come on, then. Sit down. Perhaps we can start now. Now then Inspector. Who killed Alec Granger?
JOHN: Killed?
ALAN: That’s what you’re going to tell us, isn’t it?
MRS WILLIAMS: Surely it was an accident.
ALAN: Accidents don’t interest the police.
JOHN: If Uncle Alec was killed, he killed himself.
SILVER: You think he committed suicide.
THACKERAY: He had no reason.
JOHN: He was worried about Ann marrying Mr Price here.
ALAN: She’d promised she would wait for a few years.
SILVER: And you don’t commit suicide for something which might happen in a few years’ time.
MRS WILLIAMS: And anyway Mr Granger liked life. He’d fought hard enough to stay alive when he was in
hospital last year.
THACKERAY: No, Mr Edwards. Your uncle didn’t kill himself. I think we can forget that.
JOHN: What happened then?
THACKERAY: Somebody gave him some extra medicine.
SILVER: An extra capsule.
THACKERAY: But your uncle didn’t know that.
SILVER: At first, he didn’t know anything was wrong. And then suddenly, he died.
THACKERAY: Now. I’m going to ask you a very important question. I want you to answer very carefully.
JOHN: What’s that?
THACKERAY: Who knew that Mr Granger was dead on that morning?
MRS WILLIAMS: Well, I did of course.
SILVER: Ah yes. But you discovered the body.
THACKERAY: So that doesn’t really count.
SILVER: But, Mr Price. You knew that he was dead, didn’t you?
ALAN: Me!
THACKERAY: Surely you haven’t forgotten? You made no secret of it when we came to see you yesterday.
SILVER: “So you think somebody killed him.” Those were your own words. I have them here in my notebook.
JOHN: Why did you say that, Mr Price?
ALAN: That’s my business.
THACKERAY: I must warn you, Mr Price if you don’t tell us, you’re in serious trouble.
ALAN: Nothing to say.
THACKERAY: Right. Sergeant?
MRS WILLIAMS: Oh, stop all this. It’s all my fault.
JOHN: You?
THACKERAY: Hmm. I thought it might be.
MRS WILLIAMS: It was because of Ann. Miss Edwards. I tried to telephone her, Inspector, after you’d left.
She really loved her uncle. I thought I ought to tell her straightaway.
SILVER: But she wasn’t at home.
MRS WILLIAMS: No. And I didn’t know when she’d be back. I just had to find out. So I rang Mr Price. He
often knows where she is.
ALAN: She wanted to talk to Ann quickly, Inspector. I wanted to know why.
THACKERAY: So you told him that Mr Granger was dead, Mrs Williams.
MRS WILLIAMS: Yes.
THACKERAY: And you told him about me. You said the police were asking questions. And seeing Mr
Edwards.
MRS WILLIAMS: Yes. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I just wanted to ask about Miss Edwards, really.
JOHN: You can’t blame her for that, Inspector.
SILVER: Why couldn’t you tell us all this, Mr Price?
MRS WILLIAMS: I told him not to. The Inspector had warned me not to make any telephone calls.
ALAN: And I do have my honour to think about, Sergeant.
THACKERAY: Your honour. Mm. You were outside this house on Wednesday night, Mr Price
ALAN: That’s right.
SILVER: And you drove round the house in your car.
ALAN: Twice.
THACKERAY: What did you see?
ALAN: I told you. Nothing. The place was completely dark.
THACKERAY: Did you see when the lights were switched off?
ALAN: No. I didn’t notice exactly.
SILVER: But the lights were on when you were waiting outside the gate.
ALAN: Oh yes. Otherwise I wouldn’t have stayed.
THACKERAY: And they were off when you went to the house.
ALAN: Yes.
MRS WILLIAMS: They weren’t on the next morning either. The room was quite dark when I got in.
THACKERAY: Now that’s very strange, Mr Edwards, isn’t it?
JOHN: Is it? Why?
THACKERAY: Because, just as your uncle started to read, the lights went off.
JOHN: Did they?
SILVER: That’s what you told us. You said he started to read as you were leaving.
THACKERAY: But you can’t read when the light’s out, can you?
JOHN: I suppose not.
THACKERAY: And you can’t go upstairs and take an extra capsule in the dark either.
SILVER: So who switched the light out?
THACKERAY: (Pause) But that’s not the only strange thing about your story.
JOHN: What do you mean by that?
THACKERAY: You knew about Mr Granger’s death long before we told you in the bank yesterday.
JOHN: That’s nonsense. How could I?
MRS WILLIAMS: I didn’t tell him Inspector. I only telephoned Mr Price.
ALAN: And I never spoke to him all day.
JOHN: You see.
SILVER: Then why did you say “My uncle was rich.”
JOHN: Well he was. What’s wrong with that?
THACKERAY: Nothing, except you said it before we told you of his death.
SILVER: Was rich. Not “My uncle is rich”, but “My uncle was rich.”
JOHN: I never said that. You’ve made a mistake, Sergeant.
THACKERAY: No. You’ve made the mistake, Mr Edwards.
SILVER: And you made another straight after. “He had a lot of money in different companies”, you said.
THACKERAY: Had, had, had, Mr Edwards. You were already talking about a dead man.
SILVER: But we only mentioned his death later.
MRS WILLIAMS: Oh, Mr Edwards!
ALAN: It’s only a word, Inspector. You’ll need some better proof than that.
THACKERAY: But that wasn’t the only thing you knew, Mr Edwards. You knew about the medicine.
JOHN: We all knew about that.
MRS WILLIAMS: That’s quite true, Inspector. Everybody knew about Mr Granger’s capsules.
SILVER: I wonder. Did you know about the capsules, Mr Price?
ALAN: Of course.
SILVER: Then let me ask you simple question. What colour were they?
ALAN: Colour? I’ve no idea.
THACKERAY: Mrs Williams?
MRS WILLIAMS: Green. They were new ones. He began taking them this week. I gave them to him on
Monday and Tuesday.
SILVER: Mr Edwards, you also knew the colour of the new capsules. How?
JOHN: I didn’t. This is the first I’ve heard of it.
THACKERAY: Your notebook again, Sergeant.
SILVER: When asked about Mr Granger’s medicine, you said, “You mean those green things from Dr Brown?”
THACKERAY: Yes. Those green things, Mr Edwards. How could you know that?
MRS WILLIAMS: Yes. How could you Mr Edwards? You hadn’t come here earlier this week.
THACKERAY: And they had always been red before.
JOHN: Well… I knew… because… because I gave him the capsule myself. That’s right. I gave him the
medicine.
THACKERAY: That’s not what you told us yesterday.
SILVER: No sir. “Mr Granger went up to the bathroom alone” –that’s what you said yesterday. According to
you, he took the medicine himself and you didn’t even see it.
THACKERAY: Well now, Mr Edwards. One story yesterday, and another story today. Which are we to believe?
JOHN: What I’m saying now is true. Now.
SILVER: Then why did you lie to us yesterday?
JOHN: I… I was afraid. Yes, I was afraid.
ALAN: What were you afraid of?
JOHN: Them. The police.
THACKERAY: But why, sir?
JOHN: I thought you might accuse me.
SILVER: Accuse you?
JOHN: Yes.
THACKERAY: Is that the real reason you were afraid?
JOHN: Yes. It’s true. You might think that I’d killed him.
THACKERAY: But if that’s true, you already knew he was dead.
JOHN: I… I don’t know… I’m all confused… You’re making me say these things. You all heard him.
MRS WILLIAMS: Mr Edwards, the Inspector has only asked questions. What are you saying?
ALAN: He’s saying he killed Alec Granger.
JOHN: I didn’t do it. I tell you, it’s not true.
SILVER: Come along, sir. It’s best if you tell us now.
JOHN: I didn’t kill him. I didn’t. How could I? Uncle Alec would never have taken two capsules. He knew that
it would kill him.
THACKERAY: But he didn’t take two capsules. He only took one. The capsules were soft, Dr Brown said. And
each cone was only half full. So it was easy. Mr Edwards used the syringe.
ALAN: Which syringe?
MRS WILLIAMS: Of course. The syringe in the medicine cupboard next to the bottle of capsules.
SILVER: He stuck the needle of the syringe into one capsule. He then drew the medicine out of it.
MRS WILLIAMS: And emptied it into another capsule.
ALAN: And threw the empty capsule away. Very clever.
JOHN: But not clever enough.
THACKERAY: John Michael Edwards, I’m arresting you for the murder of Alec Lindsay Granger. I must warn
you that anything you say…