Back from the Dead
After Patrick told all the guests his yachting story they wondered if Madeleine Short had disappeared for ever.
Henry said, “I have an idea. I think one of the ladies has the poison in her handbag.”
Charles Sayre, who had seen Cherry Scrimshaw hiding the trinket box and had popped it back into her handbag, stood up and said, “Yes, gentlemen, I know who the murderer is. She had the poison in her handbag and still does.”
“That’s just rubbish,” said Cherry.
“Well, will you empty the contents of your handbag on to the table?”
“Of course I will. I’ve nothing to hide.”
Cherry emptied her handbag, and out tumbled the trinket box.
“Oh, my God!” she screamed.
She was a very good actress. In fact, she screamed so loud that Raj Peshwari was shocked. She had seemed so quiet and petite and sweet, but she was suddenly like a wild animal.
“What!” he exclaimed.
Henry had the tiny little key, so he opened the trinket box and there was the bottle of poison.
“So it was you!” exclaimed Raj Peshwari.
He had really liked Cherry, but he wasn’t so sure now.
“It’s just a game, Raj!”
“But where is Madeleine Short?”
“Crikey, I don’t know, Raj! She probably got bored and went home.”
“I think I might know,” piped up Raj.
Suddenly Dr Rama Singh appeared. He’d finally stopped speaking on the phone. He saved the day by speaking to Raj in Gujarati about his wife in India.
“How are you getting on with Cherry?” asked Rama Singh.
“Well, she murdered Madeleine, so I guess I don’t want to be with the murderer.”
Dr Singh started to laugh, and he couldn’t stop.
“It was just a game,” he laughed.
“Well, when Madeleine reappears from out of the wardrobe I’ll forgive her.”
“OK,” said Dr Singh. “Perhaps Cherry could be an actress. That sounds like a good profession for her. What does she do?” he asked.
“She’s training to be a doctor.”
“I don’t think she should with a bottle of poison in her handbag.”
“It’s only a game, Dr Singh - remember,” said Raj Peshwari.
Meanwhile Madeleine Short finished singing in the jazz club, and got ready to leave. She was wondering how she would get home. She walked outside Jezebel’s Jazz Club and stood for a few seconds debating what to do. She believed the watch could somehow transport her back.
She was just looking at it, when suddenly a van pulled up and Mabble Merlin got out. He was dressed in 1920s clothes, and as she looked the van was suddenly transformed into a 1920s taxi.
“Are you looking for a lift home, Madeleine?” he asked. “Well, look no further.”
Madeleine jumped into the taxi, Mabble Merlin pressed a button and the car whizzed along through the night.
Mabble Merlin asked if Madeleine had enjoyed singing in the nightclub and if it had been a dream come true.
“That was such a blast!” said Madeleine. “I have had the best night ever. But I think Mike will be glad to have me back again, and so will the guests.”
The car whizzed down back lanes and round bends, and it hardly touched the road. Madeleine looked out of the car window and noticed a full moon. It was October 31st - Halloween - the night when strange things happen.
Soon Mabble Merlin reached the Laugherty home. He and Madeleine walked up to the front door and rang the doorbell. They could hear the noise of the cocktail party going on inside.
Miles opened the door.
“We’ve looked high and low for you, Madeleine,” he said. “I’m glad to see you.”
“Miles, can you just say to the others that I fell asleep upstairs in one of the closets?”
“Of course I can, Madeleine.”
Madeleine walked into the room and Mike said, “Oh, hello, honey, I’ve missed you tonight.”
“I fell asleep in the closet upstairs.”
“Oh, dear! I thought you must be asleep upstairs somewhere, honey,” said Mike.
Cherry turned to Raj Peshwari and said, “Are you happy now Madeleine’s back safe and sound?”
“Very happy! So how about you and me?”
“Well, I’m interested in you,” said Cherry.