Murder in a country house

The true story of the murder of a rich businessman. June 22nd 1938 was Jeremy Travers’ sixtieth birthday. He had dinner at his country with his wife, Amanda, his daughter, Barbara, his business partner, Gordon Smith, and his secretary, Claudia Simeone. Next morning when Amanda Travers went to her husband’s bedroom she found him in bed… dead

Inspector Granger arrived at about 9:00. He was a tall man with a big black moustache. Amanda, Barbara, Claudia, and Gordon were in the living room. The inspector came in.‘Mr Travers died between midnight last nigtht and seven o’clock this morning’ he said.’ Somebody in this room killed him’.He looked at them one by one but nobody spoke.

‘Mrs Travers. I want to talk to you first. Come into the library with me, please.’Amanda Travers followed the inspector into thelibrary and they sat down.‘What did your husband do after dinner last nigth?’‘When we finished dinner Jeremy said he was tired and he went to bed.’‘Did you go to bed then?’‘No, I didn’t. I went for a walk in the garden.’‘What time did you go to bed?’‘About quarter to twelve.’‘Was your husband asleep?’‘I don’t know, inspector. We… we slept in separate rooms.’

‘Did you heard anything when you were in your room?’‘Yes, I heard Jeremy’s bedroom door. It opened. I thought it was Jeremy. Then it closed again. I read in bed for half an hour and then I went to sleep.’‘What time did you get up this morning?’‘I got up at about 7.15. I had breakfast and at 8.00 I took my husband a cup of tea. I found him in bed. He was… dead.’

‘Tell me, Mrs Travers, did you love your husband?’‘Jeremy is… was a difficult man.’‘But did you love him, Mrs Travers?’‘No, inspector, I hated him.’

‘What did you do after dinner yesterday evening?’

‘After dinner? I played cards with Gordon, and then I went to bed.’

‘What time was that?’

‘It was about half past eleven. I remembered I looked at my watch.’

‘Did you hear anything in your father’s room?’‘No, I didn’t hear anything’‘Did you have any problems with your father?’‘No, no problems at all. My father was a wonderful man and a perfect father.‘Thank you, Miss Travers’

Then the inspector questioned Barbara Travers.

Next the inspector questioned Gordon Smith:‘What did you do after dinner, Gordon?’

‘I played cards with Barbara. Then she went to bed.’

‘Did you go to bed then?’

‘No, I stayed in the sitting room and I had a glass of whisky. Then I went to bed.’

‘What time was that?’

‘I don’t remember exactly. I didn’t look at the time.’

‘Did you hear anything during the night?’‘No, I didn’t. I was very tired. I slept very well.’‘You and Mr Travers were business partners, weren’t you?’‘Yes, inspector, it is.’‘And now it is your business.’‘Listen, inspector, I did not kill Jeremy. He was my partner and he was my friend.’

Finally the inspector questioned Claudia Simeone.

Inspector: What did you do yesterday evening, after dinner?Claudia: I went to my room and I had a bath and I went to bed.Inspector: What time was that?Claudia: About 11.00Inspector: Did you hear anything?Claudia: Yes. I heard somebody go into Jeremy’s room. It was about 12.00.Inspector: Who was it?Claudia: It was Amanda, his wife.Inspector: Are you sure? Did you see her?Claudia: Well no, I didn’t see her, But I’m sure it was Amanda.

Inspector: You were Mr Travers’ secretary, Claudia?Claudia: Yes, I was.Inspector: Were you just his secretary?Claudia: What do you mean?Inspector: Were you in love with Mr Travers?Claudia: No, I wasn’t.Inspector: The truth please, Claudia.Claudia: Very well, inspector. Yes, I was in love with him and he said he was in love with me. He said he was stupid. I believed him. He used me, inspector! I was very ungry with him. Inspector: Did you kill him?Claudia: No, inspector, I loved Jeremy.

Before dinner, Gordon had a drink with Jeremy in the library

Gordon Cheers, Jeremy. Happy birthday.

Jeremy Ah, thanks, Gordon.

Gordon Listen, Jeremy, I want to talk to you about Barbara.

Jeremy Barbara? What´s the problem?

Gordon It’s not exactly a problem. I am in love with her, and I want to marry her.

Jeremy Marry Barbara? Marry my daughter! Are you crazy? Never. You don’t love Barbara. You only want her money!

Gordon That not true, Jeremy. I love her.

Jeremy Listen to me. If you marry Barbara, when I die all my money goes to Claudia.

Gordon To Claudia? To your secretary?

Jeremy Yes, it is.

Amanda Dinner everybody!

At midnight Gordon finished his whisky and went upstairs.

Jeremy Who was it? Gordon?

Baltore, ManuelaRivero, Kevin