Chapter 3 Chapter Three Looking Behind

"There, here," said Miss Kennet, setting the breakfast tray on a table next to Miss Marple's. "Mrs. Buntry called," said Miss Kennet, "about half an hour ago. She wanted to speak to you." "My friend is calling," said Miss Pope, "and I want to answer. What happened?" "Someone died in the middle of the Goldstein Hall fund-raising yesterday. A Mrs. Bakerk lived around the corner from us. I don't think you knew her." "Mrs. Bakerk?" Miss Marple was full of surprise. "I know her. I fell down the other day, and she ran out to pick me up. She was very kind. What's the matter?"

"I don't know. She was invited there because she was the secretary of the John Ambulance Association. It is said that she had a drink of something and died five minutes later." "It's dreadful," said Miss Marple. "Is there something wrong with her heart?" "They say she's been in good spirits, that's all I can tell you. They haven't sent her home yet." Miss Marple looked puzzled. "What are you talking about, you haven't sent her home yet?" "The doctor said there was going to be an autopsy. An autopsy—whatever you want. That's funny," she added.

"What do you mean funny?" asked Miss Marple. "Oh, there must be something hidden behind this incident." "Is her husband in great distress?" "As white as a sheet of paper, never have I seen a man so sad—that's it." Miss Marple listened carefully with her ears pricked up, tilting her head slightly to one side like a curious bird. "Is he faithful to her?" "He did everything she said, but let her do her own way." "Don't you like her?" asked Miss Marple. "I don't know her and I don't like her. She's not my type. She's too nosy."

Miss Marple thought for a moment and said: "This kind of people live in danger—though they don't know it." "What a ridiculous thing, I don't quite understand you," said Miss Kennet. Just as she was talking, Mrs. Buncui arrived, panting slightly. "Jane, I have a lot to tell you," she said. "What do you think of Hitt's death?" "Can you tell me what happened?" said Miss Marple. "She came in very happy and full of energy, and about fifteen minutes later she sat down in a chair and said she was not feeling well, a little out of breath, and died not long after. What do you think?"

said Miss Marple. "The question depends on what the medical experts say?" Mrs. Buntry nodded her assent. "There will definitely be an investigation and an autopsy, but Dr. Stanford went home and called the police." "Who told you?" asked Miss Marple curiously. "Old Bragg," said Mrs. Buntry. "He didn't tell me directly. You know he went to see Dr. Stamford's garden that night, and he was carrying some things into his study, and heard him make a report to the police at March Bingham," said Mrs. Buntry. "Did you see her husband? He looked like he was going to poison her?"

"It's hard to say," continued Mrs. Buntry. "Does he remind you of Majestic Smith or Betty Jones or something a few years ago?" "No," said Miss Marple, "he reminds me of no one," she added. "But she does." "Who—Mrs. Baecock?" "Yes," said Miss Marple. "She reminds me of someone named Alice Wade." "What is Alice Wade like?" "She has no idea what the world is like or what people are like. She never thinks about them. So, you know, she has no defense against what happens to her." "I don't understand what you're talking about," said Mrs. Buntry.

"It's hard to explain," said Miss Marple apologetically. "The main reason is being too self-centered," she added. "You can be kind, unselfish, even considerate. But if you're like Alice Wade, you never know what's going to happen to you." "Could you be more clear?" said Mrs. Buntry. "Oh, let me tell you an analogy, let's say you go to a store, and you know the owner of the store has a son who's doing nothing, and he's standing there listening to you tell his mother you've got some money at home, and then, there's One night you went out and forgot to take something home, and it turned out that the villain was in your house, and the theft was discovered, so he turned around and beat you with a stick."

"It can happen to almost anyone," said Mrs. Buntry. "Not quite," said Miss Marple. "Most people are defensive. But Alice Wade never thought of anyone but herself—she's the kind of person who tells you everything," she said after a pause. "I think Hit Baker is that kind of guy." Mrs. Buntry said, "You mean she's one of those people who gets involved in something and doesn't know it?" "It's dangerous not to know that," said Miss Marple. "That's the only reason I can think of for her being killed, if, of course," added Miss Marple, "we assume there was a murderer."

"You don't think it's possible for her to blackmail someone?" Mrs. Buntry reminded. "Oh, no, she is a good woman with a kind heart, and she would never do such a thing. I wonder if I killed the wrong person." Miss Marple thought about it. At this moment the door opened, and Dr. Hedak came in, followed by Miss Kennet, giggling. "Aha, are we done yet," Dr. Hedak said, looking at the two women. "Let me see how your health is doing. In addition, the sudden death of Gao Shiding happened. In fact, the killing intent has been planted long ago. Everyone wants to know the results of the investigation."

"When will the investigation begin?" Miss Pope asked. "The day after tomorrow," said Dr. Hedak.After speaking, he walked out. "I like him better than Stanford," said Mrs. Buntry. "Me too," said Miss Pope. "He's a close friend," she thought, "and I think he's here to 'cheer' me." "It's murder, so it's true," said Mrs. Buntry. "I actually saw it happen." "Excellent," said Miss Pope. "You can tell me exactly what happened when she arrived." "I was taken indoors," said Mrs. Buntry. "A man of no rank took me in."

"Who took you in?" "Oh, a thin looking young man. I think he was Marina Gray's secretary or something. He took me in and led me up the stairs where there was a membership meeting." "Upstairs?" said Miss Poppy in surprise. "Wow, they've remodeled the whole thing, knocked out the dressing rooms and bedrooms and combined them into the hall, which looks very attractive." "I see, who's there?" "Marina Gray, she's slim in her lime green dress, lovely, charming. And her husband, and that woman, Ira Jelinski, who I told you was their social secretary There were about eight or ten other people there, some I knew, some I didn't know, a few I think were from the theater business, and two were the priest and the wife of Dr. Stanford, who came later The Colonel, Mrs. Clitlin, and the Hay Sillivers, and one who might have been a member of the press, a young woman with a camera behind her back." Miss Marple nodded. "Hit Bakerk and her husband came after me. Marino Jurley said some polite things to me, and then another, oh, I remember--Priest--Hee Here comes T. Backcock and her husband, you know she's the secretary of John's Ambulance, and someone seems to say something, complimenting her on her work, and Marina Gray says something, and then Mrs Backcock Started a tirade about how she met Marina Gray a few years ago and I have to say she's a real nasty woman and she has no finesse with her words. I don't believe any movie star likes being mentioned her age .Of course, I'm sure she didn't think of that." "You mean she's angry?" "No, no, that's not what I mean, in fact I don't think she's listening, she's looking at the wall behind her. With an inexplicable look—" "Dally, tell me," said Miss Marple, "perhaps I think it's important." "It was a frozen look," said Mrs. Buntry desperately, "as if she saw something--oh, dear, it's hard to describe. Do you remember 'Lady Chartres'?" The poem? Edge of Broken Mirror: 'Death has come upon me'." "Her expression is reined in," Miss Marple said after a moment's reflection. "And look at the wall behind Mrs. Baecock. What's on the wall?" "Oh! Some kind of picture, I think," said Mrs. Buntry, "Italian. I think it's the Virgin Mary, but I'm not sure. In this picture Maria is holding a smiling baby." Miss Marple frowned. "I don't understand why a picture like this would make her look that way. Did anyone keep going up the stairs at that time"" "Oh, yes, and more." "Do you remember who it was?" "You mean she might be watching the guests upstairs?" "Oh, that's possible, isn't it?" said Miss Marple. "Yes, of course—let me think about it. It's the mayor and his wife and a well-dressed entourage, one of whom is very young with a funny beard, and a girl with a camera behind her back, She was filming people on the stairs who came up to shake Marina's hand, two of them I don't know, I think they were from the theater industry, and the other was Grace, from Rolle Farm. There may be others, but Now I don't remember." "Sounds like there's little hope of understanding," said Miss Marple. "What happened next?" "I think Jason Luther touched her elbow quietly, because she seemed to gather all of a sudden, smiled at Mrs. Baecock, and said something inconsequential." "What about the future?" "In the future, Jason Luther will serve them drinks." "What kind of drink?" "Tackley, I think. He said it was his wife's favorite drink, and he gave her a drink, and gave the Backcock woman a drink too." "It's very interesting," said Miss Marple. "Very interesting indeed. What happened next?" "I don't know because I took a couple of chattering women to visit the bathrooms. The next thing I know is that the secretary came and said someone was sick."