Death at Hallows End by Leo Bruce Page A

drawn any large sum from his English bank account recently?
    12. What happened at Monk’s Farm to make Grossiter suddenly determine to leave all his money to charities?
    13. Where were the Neasts and Darkin on the Sunday morning? At church and chapel respectively?
    14. What about Humphrey Spaull? Did he in fact (as it appears) follow Grossiter to Hallows End? Where was he and where was his girlfriend that Monday afternoon and evening? Did he know of his 10,000 pounds?
    15. What were the relations between Humby and Molly Caplan? And between Thripp and Molly Caplan? Where was Molly Caplan that Monday?
    16. How did Humby’s car get from the crown of the road, where Stonegate saw it, to the side of the road where it was found next morning?
    17. What did the Neasts do after market?
    18. What time did they reach the lane? Had the car already been moved then?
    19. Does the family of Hickmansworth, whose land comes right up to the church, know anything at all?
    20. Has Puckett told all he knows? His is the only dwelling in Church Lane before Monk’s Farm.
    21. Was the relationship between Humby and the Rector just auld acquaintance?
    22. Did Whiskins tell anyone he was expecting Humby?
    23. Or that he had not arrived?
    â€œA nice little lot,” said Carolus as they finished. “But they’re all really supplementary questions. The main ones remain as they have been from the beginning: One, is Humby alive or dead? Two, where is he or his corpse? Three, did Grossiter die naturally or not?”
    â€œThat’s about it,” said Snow. “Thanks. I will have another. I should like to know what some of my stuffier colleagues would say about me playing parlour games like this, Mr. Deene. Yet, you know, it has clarified my ideas a bit.”
    â€œGood.”
    â€œThe first thing, as you say, is
where is Humby
? Ultimately that’s the only thing. It’s what we started with and the answer when we find it…”
    â€œIf
we find it.”
    â€œâ€¦ will clear up all the rest. Of course we shall find it. A man can’t just disappear and leave no trace.”
    â€œIt has happened,” said Carolus.
    â€œI don’t think it could happen today, Mr. Deene. Forensic science has developed fast in the last ten years. We can’t prevent crime, but it’s not often we fail to find out who is guilty. Besides, there is Interpol.”
    â€œI hope you’re right. May I clear up one little point on which forensic science will certainly have thrown light? Did you find traces of any activity round Humby’s car when your people reached it on the Tuesday morning?”
    â€œThat has been one of the most disappointing aspects of the whole thing. There was nothing. Admittedly it rained in the early hours of the morning but even so if anyone had driven over the grass edge, or if there had been any violent struggle some trace would surely have been found of it.”
    â€œThanks,” said Carolus. “Now one thing more. I know you must have made a pretty thorough search of the farm and bungalow.”
    â€œWe have.”
    â€œWhen?”
    â€œOn the Thursday. We couldn’t have got a search warrant before then. These disappearances, you know—they’re so frequent and usually so easily explained that it’s hard to take them seriously.”
    â€œDid you find anything interesting?”
    â€œAlmost nothing. One pair of boots, Cyril’s, had traces of the clay which lies under about two foot of soil in that area. Butthere are places on the Neasts’ land where it could have been picked up. Otherwise nothing at all.”
    They talked cordially for a time and agreed to meet again, possibly at Hallows End, before Snow took his leave.
    Next morning at eleven, Carolus set out for Hallows End. He drove from Mace’s Garage, intending to time his journey. This could not give him any accurate knowledge of how long Humby had taken to reach the lane but he