Chapter 21 Chapter 21

Chief Inspector David sat back in his chair and looked at the two women sitting across from him.It was past midnight, and the police had been coming and going for a while, doctors, fingerprinters, and an ambulance came to take the body away.Everything is now concentrated in this room at the Bertram Hotel which has been dedicated for legal purposes.Chief Inspector Davy sat on one side of the table.Bess Sedgwick and Elvira sat on the other side.A policeman sits conspicuously by the wall taking notes.Sergeant Wardle sat near the door. "Daddy" looked thoughtfully at the two women in front of him, mother and daughter.He noticed that superficially they looked very much alike.He understood how, in the fog, he had at first mistook Elvira for Bess Sedgwick.But now, looking at them, he found their differences more attractive than their similarities.Apart from skin color, they are not much alike.But he has a strong impression that here are two different versions of a person: the positive and the negative.Everything about Bess Sedgwick is positive.Her vibrancy, her energy and her magnetic pull.He adored Lady Sedgwick, always adored her.He adores her courage and is always thrilled by her exploits."Sooner or later something will happen to her like this," he had said in the Sunday papers, but she always saved herself.He didn't think she could possibly succeed, but she did.He especially admired her indestructible qualities.She'd been in a plane crash, a couple of car crashes, and fell hard from her horse twice, but she was here anyway.Vibrant and energetic, a character who turns heads every moment.He was overwhelmed with admiration for her.One day, for sure, she will suffer a fiasco.You can only live a magically protected life for so long.His eyes moved from the mother to the daughter.He felt strange, he felt very strange.

In Elvira Black, he thought, everything was hidden.Bess Sedgwick lives by imposing willpower on life.Elvira, he guessed, had a different way of life.She obeys, he thought.She is obedient.She smiles meekly, but behind that, he thought, she slips through your fingers. "Cunning," he said to himself, appraising the situation. "I think that's the only way she's going to be successful. She can't have a thick skin or force herself. I think that's why it never occurred to the people who looked after her what bad things she might do." He wondered what she was doing before she slipped down the street to Bertram's Hotel so late in the fog.He intended to question her immediately.But he felt that the answers he got were probably untrue. "That's the poor child," he thought, "the only way to protect herself." Is she here to see her mother or to find her mother?Very likely, but he didn't think so.Never believed this.Instead, he thought of the big racing car tucked around the corner—the one with the license plate FAN2266.Ladislas Malinowski must be somewhere nearby because his car is there.

"Okay," Father said to Elvira, very concerned and fatherly, "well, how are you feeling now?" "I'm fine," Elvira said. "Okay. If you're okay, I'd like you to answer a few questions. Because, you know, time is of the essence with things like this. You get shot twice and one is killed. We want to get as many clues to find out who killed him." "I'll tell you everything I know, but it's all so sudden. And there's nothing to see in the fog. I don't know myself who this could be - or even what he looks like. So , it looks so scary."

"You said this was the second time someone tried to kill you. Does that mean there was another attempt like this in your previous life?" "Did I say that? I can't remember." Her eyes rolled uneasily. "I don't think I said that." "Oh, you know, you did," said Father. "I guess I'm just -- hysterical." "No," said "Pop," "I don't think you are. I think you meant it." "I might be cranky," Elvira said.Her eyes went away again. Bess Sedgwick moved.She said softly: "You'd better tell him, Elvira."

Elvira gave her mother a quick, uneasy look. "Don't you worry," said Father reassuringly, "we cops know very well that girls don't tell their mothers or guardians anything. We don't take those things very seriously, But we have to understand because—you know—they're going to help." Bess Sedgwick says: "Did it happen in Italy?" "Yes," said Elvira. "Father" said, "You used to go to high school there, didn't you? Or an instrumentation school--I don't know what people call it now?" "Yes. I'm at the Contessa Martinelli school. There were eighteen or twenty of us."

"You think someone was trying to kill you. How did it go?" "Well, someone sent me a big box of chocolates and sweets and stuff, along with a card with a sentence in Italian in fancy script. It said 'To Bellissima Signorina', that's what it was anyway .Me and my friends...well...we had a good laugh about it, don't know who sent it." "Did that come in the mail?" "No, it's not. It couldn't have come in the mail. It's in my room. Someone must have put it there." "I see. I think a waiter was bribed. I'm sure you didn't let Contessa or something handle it, did you?"

A slight smile appeared on Elvira's face. "No, no. Of course we didn't. Anyway, we opened the box and the chocolates were lovely. You know, there's a lot of them, and some violet cream chocolate. It's a chocolate with a crystal violet on top, My favorite kind. So of course I ate a few of those first. Then, at night, I felt bad. I didn't think it was chocolate, I just thought maybe it was something I had for dinner." "Is anyone else feeling bad?" "No, just me. Well, I was very sick, but by the second night I was fine again. Then, a day or two later, I ate the same chocolate and the same thing happened again So I talked to Bridget about it. Bridget is a very good friend of mine. We looked at the chocolates and there was a hole in the bottom of the Violet Cream chocolate that was plugged up again, so we thought someone Poisoned it, and they just put it in violet cream chocolate so the only one eating it is me."

"No one else feels uncomfortable?" "No." "So it's likely that no one else ate those violet cream chocolates?" "No. I don't think they'll eat it. It was a gift from me, you know, and they know I like those violets, so they'll keep those for me." "That fellow took a chance, and whoever he was," said Father, "the whole place might be poisoned." "Absurd," said Mrs. Sedgwick suddenly, "it is absurd! I never heard of such cruelty." Chief Inspector Davy made a slight gesture with his hand. "Please don't interrupt," he said, and then to Elvira, "I find this very interesting, Miss Blake. You still didn't tell that Contessa?"

"Oh no, we didn't tell her. She's going to make a big fuss about it." "What do you do with the chocolate?" "Throw them away," Elvira said, "these are lovely chocolates," she added, a little relieved. "Did you try to find out who sent these chocolates?" Elvira looked embarrassed. "Well, you know, I think it might be Guido." "Really?" said Chief Inspector Davy cheerfully. "Who is Guido?" "Oh, Guido..." Elvira paused.She looks at her mother. "Don't be a fool," said Bess Sedgwick, "tell Chief Inspector Davy about Guido, whoever he is. Girls your age have Guidos in their lives. I guess you Where did you meet him?"

"Yes. He was there talking to me when we went to the theater together in the car. He was a nice guy, very attractive. I saw him a lot in class. He used to pass me notes." "I suppose," said Bess Sedgwick, "that you have lied a lot, and contrived with some friends, that you might try to get out and see him? Is that so?" It seemed that this blunt confession put Elvira at ease. "Sometimes Guido finds a way—" "What's the other part of Guido's name?" "I don't know," Elvira said, "he never told me." Chief Inspector Davy smiled at her.

"You mean you're not going to tell us? That's all right. If it mattered at all, I'm sure we'd be able to find out verbatim without your help. But why do you think this young man—he Might like you—would want to kill you?" "Oh, because he used to make threats like that. I mean, we used to fight. He used to bring friends with him and I pretended to like them better, so he got really, really crazy and angry. He said I was like You better be careful. I can't make him think that way!—He'll kill me if I'm unfaithful to him! I just think he's being too dramatic and dramatic." Elvira suddenly Laughing in anticipation, "But it's pretty funny, I don't think it's real or serious." "Well," said Chief Inspector Davy, "it seems to me very unlikely that such a young man as you describe would actually poison the chocolate and send it to you." "Well, I thought so, actually," Elvira said, "but it must have been him, because I couldn't see anyone else, and that disturbed me. Then, when I got back here, I closed the Got a note—" She broke off. "What kind of note?" "It came in an envelope and it was typed out. It said: 'Be careful, someone is trying to kill you.'" Chief Inspector Davy raised his eyebrows. "Really? Very strange. Yes, very strange. It makes you uneasy. Are you afraid?" "Yes. I started—started to wonder who was trying to kick me out of his way. So I figured out how to find out if I was really very rich." "Go ahead." "Then, another thing happened in London a few days ago. I was in a tube station and there were a lot of people on the platform. I think someone was trying to push me onto the tracks." "My dear boy!" said Bess Sedgwick, "don't lie." "Papa" made a slight gesture again. "Yes," Elvira said apologetically, "I hope it's all in my imagination...I don't know...I mean, after what happened tonight, it all seems like It's true, isn't it?" she said eagerly, turning suddenly to Bess Sedgwick. "Mother! You probably know. Is there someone trying to kill me? Could there be? Have I any enemies?" "Of course you have no enemies," said Bess Sedgwick impatiently. "Don't be a fool. Nobody wants to kill you. Why would they?" "Then who shot me tonight?" "In this fog," said Bess Sedgwick, "you might be mistaken for someone else. That's possible, don't you think so?" she said to Papa. "Yes, I think it's quite possible," said Chief Inspector Davy. Bess Sedgwick was watching him intently.He almost imagined her lips moving and saying "Go on". "Well," he said cheerfully, "let's settle down now and discuss something else. Where did you come from tonight? What are you doing walking down Bond Street on a foggy night like this?" "I went to Tate this morning for an art class and then went to lunch with my friend Bridget. She lives in Onslow Square. We went to a movie and by the time we got out the fog had come down — — was thick and getting worse. So I figured I'd better not drive home." "you drive?" "Yes, I took my driving test last summer. However, I don't drive very well and don't like driving in fog. So Bridget's mother said I could spend the night there, so I gave Mildred Cousin on the phone - I live at her place in Kent -" "Father" nodded. "—I said I meant to spend the night there, and she said it was wise of me to do so." "And then?" "Father" asked. "Then the fog seemed to lighten up suddenly. You know there's always patches of fog. So I said I'd better drive to Kent. I said good-bye to Bridget and started, but then the fog came back. I didn't like it. I got lost in a very thick fog and didn't know where I was. After a while I realized I was round the corner of Hyde Park and I thought to myself: 'I can't get there in this fog Kent.' At first, I thought I'd go back to Bridget's, but then I realized I didn't know where to go. Then I realized I was very close to this hotel, and when I got back from Italy, Uncle Derek took me to live here, so I thought: 'I'll go there, I'm sure they can find me a room.' It was easy, I found a place to park the car and went back to the street Come to the hotel." "Did you run into anyone or hear anyone moving around?" "It's funny you say that, because I did hear people moving behind me. Of course, there must be a lot of people going to and from London. But in this fog, that makes you nervous, I stopped and listened. I heard but couldn't hear any footsteps, so I thought it was my imagination. I was very close to the hotel by then." "and then?" "Then, suddenly, someone fired a shot. I told you, the bullet seemed to go right by my ear. The doorman standing outside the hotel came running up to me, pushed me behind him, and—then— Another bullet . . . he—he fell, and I screamed." She was shaking now. "Hold on, boy," said Bess in a low, firm voice, "Hold on." It was the voice Bess Sedgwick used for her horse, but it worked just as well for her daughter.Elvira winked at her, straightened up a little, then calmed down again. "Good girl," said Bess. "And then you came," Elvira said to "Pop," "you blew the whistle and told the police to take me to the hotel. As soon as I came in, I saw—I saw Mama." She turned Watch Bess Sedgwick. "That more or less gives us an update," said Father.He shifted a little in the chair. "Do you know a man named Ladislas Malinowski?" he asked.His tone of voice was calm, casual, without any noticeable change.He didn't look at the girl, but he noticed—for his ears were working at full capacity—she took a quick, light breath.His eyes were not on his daughter but on his mother. "No—" said Elvira after just not too long, "I don't know you." "Oh," said "Pop," "I thought you might know him. I thought he might have been here tonight." "Really? Why should he have been here?" "Well, his car's here," said Father, "so I think he might be here." "I don't know him," said Elvira. "I was mistaken," said "Father." "Of course you do?" He turned to Bess Sedgwick. "That's natural," said Bess Sedgwick. "I've known him for many years," she continued, smiling slightly. "You know, he's a madman, drives like an angel or a devil - one day he's going to break his neck. Had a bad crash a year and a half ago." "Yeah, I remember seeing the reports about it," said "Pop," "and he hasn't played again yet, has he?" "No, not yet, and maybe he never will be." "Do you think I can go to bed?" Elvira asked pitifully. "I'm—really tired." "Of course, you must be tired," said "Father." "You've told us everything you can think of?" "Oh yes." "I'll go with you," Bess said. The mother and daughter walked out together. "She must know him," said Father. "Do you really think so?" asked Sergeant Wardle. "I know. She had tea with him in Battersea Park a day or two ago." "How do you know this?" "The old lady told me—she was very distressed. Didn't think he was a good friend for a young girl. Of course he wasn't." "Especially if he and this mother..." Wardle stopped suddenly sensitively, "it's just people's gossip..." "Yes. Maybe true, maybe not. Likely." "In this case, which one is he really after?" "Father" ignored this, saying: "I want to get him, very much. His car's here--around the corner." "Do you think he might be staying in this hotel?" "No, that doesn't fit the scene. He shouldn't be here. If he's here, it's to see the girl. I think she must have come to see him." The door was pushed open, and Bess Sedgwick reappeared. "I'm back again," she said, "because I wanted to talk to you." She looked at him and at the other two. "I wonder if I can talk to you alone? I've told you all I know, but I want to speak to you privately." "Of course you can," said Chief Inspector Davy.He motioned with his head, and the young detective picked up the record book and went out, Wardle following him. "Well?" said Chief Inspector Davy. Lady Sedgwick sat down opposite him again. "That ridiculous story about the poisoned chocolate," she said, "is utter nonsense and absolutely absurd. I don't believe any of that ever happened." "Don't you believe it?" "Do you believe?" "Daddy" shook his head suspiciously, "You think your daughter made it up?" "Yes. But why?" "Well, if you don't know why," said Chief Inspector Davy, "how should I know? She's your daughter. You probably know better than I do." "I don't know her at all," said Bess Sedgwick sadly. "She was two years old when I left my husband, and I haven't seen her since, and I have nothing to do with her." "Oh, yes. I know that. I find it very strange. You know, Mrs. Sedgwick, the courts usually award custody of young children to a mother if she asks, even if she is in a divorce case." The one who should be responsible. Maybe you didn't ask for custody then? You didn't want it?" "I think—better not to." "why?" "I don't think that's — it's not safe for her." "Morally speaking?" "No, not morally. There is a lot of infidelity in today's society. The children will definitely realize it and grow up with it. No, actually, I'm not a safe person to live in. With people. The life I lead will not be a safe life. It's just the way it is, you have no choice. I was born to live a dangerous life, and I don't follow the rules or play by the rules. I think, Elvira would be better off and happier if she had been brought up in a proper English traditional way. Protected, cared for..." "But minus the maternal love?" "I think if she learns to love me it's going to give her grief. Oh, you may not believe me, but that's how I feel." "I can understand. Do you still think you're right?" "No," said Bess, "no. I feel now that I might be completely wrong." "Does your daughter know Ladislas Malinowski at all?" "I'm sure she doesn't. She said so. You heard her." "I heard her say it, yes." "Then, so what?" "You know, she's terrified as she sits here. We're in this line of business and you see fear, and she's terrified—why? Whether the chocolate thing is real or not, there must be an attempted murder Her. The story in the subway is probably true..." "That's ridiculous. Like a thriller..." "Perhaps. But it does happen, Mrs. Sedgwick. More often than you think. Can you tell me who might have tried to kill your daughter?" "No one—there can't be anyone!" she said emotionally. Chief Inspector Davy sighed and shook his head.