Three Character Girl

Miss Barrowby

"Inspector, I beg you to tell me what happened. I don't know anything."

"By pleasure. The old woman got sick after dinner last Tuesday. His condition is very worrying. Sawan - convulsions - and more. Doctor called. When the doctor arrived, the old woman died. Allegedly deceased due to sawan attack. Well, doctors are less sure of the cause of death to see the state of the patient. With hesitation the doctor gave an explanation, even used a subtle expression, and confirmed that he could not provide a death certificate. As far as the family is involved, here lies the problem. They're waiting for the results of the body check. The doctor immediately gave us the information - along with the police surgeon he did the autopsy - and the results were beyond doubt. The old woman died of strychnin in high doses."

"Aah!"

"It's reality. Heinous deeds. The question is who poisoned him. It must have swallowed the poison just before his death. At first we thought the poison was put into his dinner - but, frankly, this idea doesn't make sense. They ate artichoke soup served in large bowls, fish pies, and apple tarts. "Miss Barrowby, Delafontaine, and his wife together ate the dish. Miss Barrowby had some kind of guardian sister - a girl of mixed Russian blood - but she didn't eat with the family. He got the leftovers from the dining room. There was also a waiter. But that night he went outside. He left the soup on the stove and the fish pie in the oven, while the cake was cold. All three members of the family ate the same dish - apart from this I guess you would never hear a strychnin pass through the throat that way. Strychnin is bitter like bile. Doctors say these toxins can be felt in a solution of one in a thousand. That's how it is."

 "Coffee?"

"Coffee is more likely, but the house doesn't drink coffee." "I understand your point. Indeed, it seems that this problem is not solved. What did Miss Barrowby drink at dinner that night?" "White water."

 "More is impossible."

"It's a little confusing, isn't it?"

"He's got money" I mean the old woman."

"I think he's very rich. We have not yet obtained any definite details. The Delafontaine couple was short of money. This is what we can conclude. Miss Barrowby helps with the maintenance costs of the house." the saga commissioner smiled faintly.

Then he said, "So you suspect Delafontaine's husband and wife. Which one?"

 "I'm not saying I suspect any of them for sure. But the truth is in favor; they're just close relatives and Miss Barrowby's death gives them some money. I seriously doubt them. We know how humans are!"

"Sometimes like an animal - that's right. No more eating or drinking Miss Barrowby?"

 "Well, actually - "

 "A, voil?! I'm guessing you're keeping something a secret, like you said - soup, fish pie, apple tarts - b?tise! Well, we're getting to the point."

"I don't know about that. Actually Miss Barrowby swallowed the medicine before dinner. Not in tablet form, but in capsule form. The medicinal powder was wrapped in rice paper, you know"! One hundred percent safe for digestion."

"intriguing. There is nothing easier than filling the capsule with strychnin. This medicine slides into the esophagus with a glass of water. And it doesn't feel anything."

 "Rubber. The question is, the nurse is the one who gave the drug to the deceased." "That Russian girl?"

"really. Katrina Rieger's. For Miss Barrowby the girl was her helper, the nurse who accompanied her. All told too, I guess. Get this, get that, rub my back, pour my medicine, hurry to the drugstore - those kind of jobs. You know how old women are like him - they mean well, but they need some kind of slave!" the saga commissioner smiled.

"Note attention" Inspector Sims continued his sentence. "The reality does not fit the conditions. Why did the girl have to poison him" Miss Barrowby is dead.

Now the girl is unemployed and it is not easy to get a job right now - let alone she is uneducated or has other skills."

"Even so," said the commissioner of the saga expressed his opinion, saying,

 "if the capsule box is placed carelessly, everyone in the house can take advantage of the opportunity."

 "We're investigating this, commissioner saga. I have no objection to informing you that we are seeking information - secretly. When the recipe was last made, where the recipe was usually kept; patience as well as various strenuous preparations - this is what we had to do in the end. There's also Miss Barrowby's lawyer who made the last will. I will interview him tomorrow. Then the bank manager. There's still a lot to do." the commissioner of the saga stood up.

 "Inspector Sims, please tell me how this goes. I'd be very grateful. This is my phone number."

 "Surely, commissioner saga. Two people think better than one. After all you must be involved in this case - you've already received Miss Barrowby's letter."

***

The next day there was a call for the commissioner of the saga. "saga commissioner" Here Inspector Sims. Things we're dealing with are starting to show the bright spots."

"Really" I'm asking you to explain."

 "Well, this is the first tree - and the decisive one. Miss B. bequeathed only a small portion of her wealth to her niece; another to K; taking into account K.'s immense care and kindness - as mentioned in her will. This fact changes the course of the matter."

A face was quickly drawn in the mind of the commissioner of the saga. A scowling face and an excited voice said,

 "The money belongs to me. That's what he wrote in his will, then that's how it will be." The legacy was no surprise to Katrina. He knew it before.

"Second point" Inspector Sims continued.

"Nobody but K. took care of the medicine."

"You sure?"

 "The girl herself does not deny. What do you think?"

"It's amazingly interesting."

 "We just need one more thing - proofs of how he obtained strychnin. It's not hard."

 "So far you haven't managed to get it?"

 "I'm just getting started. The body check was just done this morning."

 "What happened to the body check?"

"Back off a week."

 "And the girl - K.?"

"I held him in suspicion of not wanting to take any risks. It's possible that he had friends in the village who were trying to get him out of this case."

"No," said the commissioner of the saga.

"I don't think he has any friends."

"Really" What's the reason you said that, commissioner saga?"

"That's just my thinking. No other 'trees', borrow your term?"

"Nothing really fits. Not long ago Miss B. seemed to be playing with her inheritance - by cutting back some money. This issue is somewhat ridiculous, but I don't see that his actions affect the main problem - not for now, this is what I mean."

"Maybe you're right. Well, thank you very much. You're so good to call."

"No need to thank me. I always keep my word. I know you are interested in this case. Who knows you can help me crack it."