We were just fooling about.’ And then she says: ‘Anyway, if anybody asks you questions, tell them it is quite all right.’ And then she says: ‘Come on, Norma’ and took her arm and led her along to the elevator, and they all went up again.
“But Micky said he was a bit doubtful still. He went and had a good look round the courtyard.” Mr. Goby lowered his eyes and quoted from his notebook: cc ‘I’ll tell you, I found something, I did!
I found some wet patches. Sure as anything I did. Drops of blood they were. I touched them with my finger. I tell you what I think. Somebody had been shot — some man as he was running away… I went upstairs and I asked if I could speak to Miss Holland. I says to her: “I think there may have been someone shot. Miss” I says.
“There are some drops of blood in the courtyard.” “Good gracious,” she says, “How ridiculous. I expect, you know,” she says, “it must have been one of the pigeons.” And then she says: “I’m sorry if it gave you a turn. Forget about it,” and she slipped me a five pound note. Five pound note, no less! Well, naturally, I didn’t open my mouth after that.’ “And then, after another whisky, he comes out with some more. ‘If you ask me, she took a pot shot at that low class young chap that comes to see her. I think she and he had a row and she did her best to shoot him. That’s what I think. But least said soonest mended, so I’m not repeating it.
If anyone asks me anything I’ll say I don’t know what they’re talking about’.” Mr.
Goby paused.
“Interesting,” said Poirot.
“Yes, but ifs as likely as not that it’s a pack of lies. Nobody else seems to know anything about it. There’s a story about a gang of young thugs who came barging into the courtyard one night, and had a bit of a fight — flick-knives out and all that.” “I see,” said Poirot. “Another possible source of blood in the courtyard.” “Maybe the girl did have a row with her young man, threatened to shoot him, perhaps. And Micky overheard it and mixed the whole thing up — especially if there was a car backfiring just then.” “Yes,” said Hercule Poirot, and sighed, “that would account for things quite well.” Mr. Goby turned over another leaf of his notebook and selected his confidant. He chose an electric radiator.
“Joshua Restarick Ltd. Family firm.
Been going over a hundred years. Well thought of in the City. Always very sound.
Nothing spectacular. Founded by Joshua Restarick in 1850. Launched out after the first war, with greatly increased investments abroad, mostly South Africa, West Africa and Australia. Simon and Andrew Restarick — the last of the Restaricks. Simon, the elder brother, died about a year ago, no children. His wife had died some years previously. Andrew Restarick seems to have been a restless chap. His heart was never really in the business though everyone says he had plenty of ability. Finally ran off with some woman, leaving his wife and a daughter of five years old. Went to South Africa, Kenya, and various other places. No divorce. His wife died two years ago. Had been an invalid for some time.
He travelled about a lot, and wherever he went he seems to have made money.
Concessions for minerals mostly. Everything he touched prospered.
“After his brother’s death, he seems to have decided it was time to settle down.
He’d married again and he thought the right thing to do was to come back and make a home for his daughter. They’re living at the moment with his uncle Sir Roderick Horsefield–uncle by marriage that is. That’s only temporary. His wife’s looking at houses all over London. Expense no object. They’re rolling in money.” Poirot sighed. “I know,” he said. “What you outline to me is a success story! Everyone makes money! Everybody is of good family and highly respected. Their relations are distinguished. They are well thought of in business circles.
“There is only one cloud in the sky. A girl who is said to be ‘a bit wanting’, a girl who is mixed up with a dubious boy friend who has been on probation more than once.