Page 43 of Murder at Hambledon Hall
It took two hours, but I eventually spoke to someone who knew the name Crippen. A waitress cleaning tables after the lunch-time rush at a chophouse told me that a Mr. Crippen often dined there, either alone or with colleagues from work. Hopefully he was the nanny’s brother, the one who’d lost his wife and asked his sister to keep house for him.
“He always orders pork chops with mashed potatoes and beer. He’ll probably be here tonight at around five, since it’s Friday.”
“Where does he work?”
“He’s a clerk in one of the solicitors’ offices near here, but I don’t know which one.”
I thanked her and continued my search for Mr. Crippen, only to stop after an hour. There were two solicitors’ offices in the vicinity of the chophouse. I decided not to inquire at either of them. I preferred not to speak to him at his place of work. I’d return to the chophouse at five.
I told Harry as much when I spoke to him at his office. I’d found myself stopping in Soho after leaving Marylebone. Visiting Harry was a far more palatable option than returning to the hotel.
I found him writing a report. “Have you finished an investigation?” I asked.
“I have. The missing money was located where the shopkeeper left it. He’d simply forgotten it was there. Poor fellow’s getting on a bit, and his mind’s going, so his wife says.”
I took a seat opposite him. “I’m glad it wasn’t theft.” I waited while he finished his report, pretending to read a newspaper but actually admiring him. He drew his brows together as he concentrated and tapped a finger on the page when he couldn’t think of a word.
When he finished, he set the paper aside for the ink to dry. “Is this a social call or do you need my assistance for the investigation?”
“Both.”
The answer took him by surprise. He looked pleased. His face soon fell, however. “Are you all right, Cleo?”
“I’m a little out of sorts. Investigating friends of my family isn’t as easy as I thought it would be. In fact, it’s troubling me that I may discover the killer is one of them.”
“Have you made a breakthrough?”
I told him about my conversation with Mrs. Browning, including her hints of jealousy. “I think she was a little in love with Shepherd. Whether or not she acted on that, I don’t know. I can’t imagine she did. She seems too much of a snob to stoop to swooning over the gamekeeper.”
Harry smiled crookedly. “His lower position could have been part of the attraction.”
“She also told me that the former nanny left the Kershaws’ employ to move back to London to keep house for her brother after his wife died. She let slip that he lives in Marylebone. I’ve spent the last few hours asking after him and finally found out that he often dines at a chophouse after work.”
“I thought you said his sister is keeping house for him. Why is he dining out often?”
“Perhaps she’s not a very good cook. The waitress said Mr. Crippen will probably be there tonight after work. I plan to ask him where I can find his sister. According to Mrs. Browning, Miss Crippenwasin a relationship with Shepherd, but its end wasn’t the reason she left Hambledon Hall. I’d like to know if that’s true, and if Miss Crippen has any thoughts on who may have wanted to kill him.”
“You mean beside herself?”
“Indeed.”
“What if Crippen declines to tell you anything about his sister?”
“I’ll use my persuasive charms on him.”
Harry grinned. “Poor chap doesn’t stand a chance.”
“Will you come with me? If you don’t have any plans already, that is. I don’t want you to change anything for me. I can manage a suspect in a chophouse alone.”
He leaned forward. “Cleo, I don’t have any plans tonight. I will happily dine with you.”
My spirits momentarily lifted before flattening again. “I’m afraid I can’t stay to eat. I have to dine with my suspects at the hotel restaurant at eight. My interrogation of Mr. Crippen will be brief. I simply need to find out where his sister lives.”
He sat back. It could have been my imagination, but he seemed a little flat now, too.
“I’m sorry, Harry. I wish I could stay, but this is important to the investigation, as well as my family.”
He smiled again. “It’s important to keep your uncle happy. Anyway, it sounds like a jolly evening ahead for you with a few of your suspects in one place.”
