Chapter Twenty-four #3
“Then if two vials went missing, one is still at large.” I glanced around the room. “Has anyone looked in those drawers?”
In the first drawer we opened lay all the materials for the medicine Dr. Penhollow had made for Martha Rallison, including about one third of a vial of phosphorus.
“This is consistent with the amount that ought to be left over after making the three bottles of medicine for his patient,” Dr. Bertram said.
“I do not think this is the missing vial.”
Since we found no more in the stillroom, we returned to the drawing room, where Ada and Isaac Penhollow anxiously awaited us. Sergeant Hewitt told them of our findings.
“Does this mean you still suspect Ada?” Isaac Penhollow was remarkably surprised, considering they’d given us little reason not to suspect her.
“You had the opportunity, ma’am,” the chief said. “And moving the body like you did …”
“We told you why we did that,” Ada said, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I can see that it was wrong, but I didn’t kill him.”
George rose from his seat and, taking my arm, drew me back a few steps. “You know more about this investigation than anyone,” he whispered. “What do you think? Is there anyone else who could have done it?”
Instinct was telling me it was someone else, but reason argued that I was out of my depth and ought not to trust my instincts. George’s green eyes bore into mine. He trusted them. “Ada is logically the most likely suspect, but I’m not convinced of her guilt.”
I thought about the children’s story and how they had come up with their culprit.
I had no Ghost of Christmas Present to blame this on, but there was someone with similar qualities—a seemingly disaffected third party who had a motive and very possibly an opportunity.
Someone who was every bit as careful with the post as Dr. Penhollow was with his journal.
And her name kept coming up.
“There is someone else we should consider.”
Both Penhollows, Sergeant Hewitt, and Dr. Bertram turned to stare at me. I must have spoken louder than I’d intended.
I cleared my throat. “Yes, well, Mr. Penhollow, you mentioned earlier that you and Mrs. Penhollow were not the only people to frequent this house. You named Beatrice, Maude, and Dotty Digby.”
Both Penhollows nodded.
The sergeant’s brow furrowed. “Dotty Digby?”
“Indeed,” I said. “Earlier today I had a conversation with Maude, who told me that Mrs. Digby made herself quite at home in this house, even going to the kitchen to make tea when Maude was away.” I gazed at the sergeant. “The kitchen, which is right next to the stillroom.”
“I know where the kitchen is,” he growled. “You’re not suggesting that Dotty poisoned the nog?”
Ada gasped and Isaac placed an arm around her shoulders.
“Mrs. Digby took great pride in handling the post. If two vials of phosphorus were missing from Dr. Penhollow’s order, she would have filed the proper paperwork. But she didn’t. I believe she took the vials herself.”
“That drug went missing in March,” Hewitt said with a heavy dose of doubt. “Do you suppose she planned to kill the doctor back then but, for some reason, waited nine months to do it?”
I laced my fingers together to keep my hands from fidgeting.
“That I couldn’t say. It wouldn’t surprise me if she took most of the order to keep Dr. Penhollow from using it on her friend.
” I glanced at Ada. “Forgive me, Mrs. Penhollow, but I don’t think Dotty trusted your husband’s skill and wanted to ensure he wouldn’t inadvertently kill Martha. ”
Hewitt frowned. “Nevertheless, you suspect she used the drug to kill him. Again, I have to ask, why did she wait so long?”
I glanced at Dr. Bertram. “I hate to do this, Doctor, but Dotty Digby is one of your patients, isn’t she? She seemed quite weak when I saw her last. Is her illness fatal?”
While the doctor’s lips moved in a fishlike manner, his face flushed, then paled. Finally, he found words. “I—I couldn’t possibly discuss my patient’s medical diagnosis with you.”
“We’re investigating a murder, Doctor.” Hewitt took a threatening step toward the young man, who visibly trembled.
“Yes.” Bertram nearly yelped the word. “I told her about a month ago that she should get her affairs in order.”
“That was about the time she began calling on me,” Ada said.
Dr. Penhollow must have been one of those affairs. “We determined that only one vial of phosphorus was used in the nog,” I said. “If Dotty is the poisoner, then she likely has the other vial hidden away somewhere.”
Hewitt crossed his arms. “Well, Sir Robert, it looks like I’ll be needing a warrant.”
Robert blinked, then gazed at the sergeant a moment until comprehension dawned. “Yes, of course. That would be my job.”
I took George’s arm and pulled him aside. “The Digbys are at a Christmas celebration at the Rallisons’ home. If Hewitt finds the drug, will he go there to arrest her?”
“If she’s guilty, she ought to be arrested, don’t you think?”
Still, an arrest under those circumstances would bring heartache to both families. There must be a way to soften the blow. I smiled at George. “How would you like to take me to a party?”