Henrietta Who? Read Free Page A

one came in after I checked up yesterday morning.”
    They went back to the front room and considered the bureau again. Henrietta pointed to a deep score in the old wood.
    â€œMy mother never did that. She’d have sent for a locksmith first.”
    â€œYes.” Now he could see the bureau, that was patently true. No one who owned a nice walnut piece like this would ever spoil it in that way just to get inside. “What did she keep in there, miss, do you know?”
    â€œAll her papers,” said Henrietta promptly. “Receipts, wireless license—that sort of thing …”
    â€œMoney?”
    â€œNo, never. She didn’t believe in keeping it in the house—especially a rather isolated one like this.”
    â€œJewelry?”
    Henrietta shook her head. “She didn’t go in for that either—she never wore anything that you could call jewelry. My father’s medals, though. They were in there.”
    Henrietta’s gaze travelled from the bureau to the mantelpiece and a silver framed photograph of an Army sergeant—and back to the bureau. “They’re in a little drawer at the side. I’ll show you them if you like.”
    â€œNo,” said Hepple quickly. “Don’t touch it, miss.”
    She dropped her hands to her sides.
    â€œFingerprints,” said Hepple. “It may not be worthwhile but you can’t be sure until you’ve tried.”
    â€œI hadn’t thought of that …” Her voice trailed away.
    â€œNow, miss, about last night.” Constable Hepple was nothing if not persistent.
    â€œThey brought me home in a police car sometime in the early evening I think it was. I didn’t hear—about Mother until nearly lunch time and it took me a while to get back to Berebury. Then I was there for quite a bit.”
    â€œYes, miss.”
    â€œThey didn’t want to leave me here alone the first night but I promised I’d go across to Mrs. Carter if I wanted anything.”
    â€œBut,” agreed Hepple gently, “the Carters are away. I called there this morning.”
    â€œThat’s right. Only I didn’t know that until I banged on her door and didn’t get an answer. So I came back here.”
    â€œAlone?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œYou’re sure you didn’t come into this room?”
    â€œNot until this morning.”
    â€œYou heard nothing in the night?”
    â€œI didn’t hear anyone levering the bureau open if that’s what you mean. And I’m sure I would have done.”
    They both regarded the splintered lock.
    â€œYes,” said Hepple, “you would.”
    â€œBesides which,” said Henrietta, heavy-eyed, “I can’t say that I slept much last night anyway.”
    â€œNo, miss,” the policeman was sympathetic, “I don’t suppose you did.”
    â€œAnd this couldn’t have been done quietly.”
    â€œSo,” said Hepple practically, “that means that this was done before you got back yesterday evening, which was Wednesday, and after your mother left home for the last time—which was presumably some time on Tuesday.”
    â€œThat’s right,” agreed Henrietta. “If she’d had to do it, she’d have told me in a letter—and if she’d found it done I’m sure she would have told the police.”
    â€œCan’t understand it at all, sir.” Police Constable Hepple rang his headquarters at Berebury Police Station as soon as he left Boundary Cottage. He was put onto the Criminal Investigation Department. “Mind you, we don’t know what’s gone from the bureau—if anything. The young lady isn’t familiar with its contents. Her mother always kept it locked.”
    â€œDid she indeed?” said Detective-Inspector Sloan.
    â€œAnd there’s no sign of forced entry anywhere.”
    â€œExcept the bureau.”
    â€œThat’s right, sir.”