5 Chapter

　　After the coffee and sandwiches，Inspector Walsh called Roger Clarkson to the office．Roger came in and sat down．The Inspector began at once．

　　'Now，Mr Clarkson．Why was your mother angry with you last night？'

　　'This house is very big，'Roger said．'It was a lot of work for Mother．I wanted her to move．But no，she loved this house and garden．She didn't want to move．'

　　'Tell me about your job，Mr Clarkson．Your mother is dead and now you're rich．Do you need money？'

　　Roger's face was suddenly afraid．'What are you saying？I didn't kill my mother．I need money，that's true．A friend and I want to build ten houses here，in this garden．We can get a lot of money for them．So．I wanted Mother to sell this house．It's true．But Mr Briggs wanted half the garden，too，you know，for his farm．'

　　Inspector Walsh moved a pencil on the table．'Tell me，what happened upstairs？You went to your mother's room？'

　　'Yes，I did．I wanted to say goodnight to my mother．'

　　'Did you talk about the house again？'

　　'Yes，I did．Again，she said no．She loved the house and didn't want to sell it．'

　　Inspector Walsh watched Roger for a minute．'I see．We found the empty bottle of sleeping tablets，Mr Clarkson，in Diane's room．'

　　Roger's face did not change．'Oh？Someone put them there．Diane did not kill my mother，I know that．She found the body．'

　　'Very well．I would like to see Diane next．'

　　Roger got up and left the room．

　　Inspector Walsh stood up and put his hands in his pockets．He went to the window and looked out at the trees．Why was Roger Clarkson afraid？Was it important？He looked at Sergeant Foster．

　　'Tomorrow morning，go to Mr Clarkson's office-you have the name，'he said．'Ask some questions about him，about his job，friends，money．'

　　Sergeant Foster wrote it down．'Yes，Inspector．'

　　'A good day for tennis，Sergeant？'

　　Sergeant Foster laughed．'Don't say that．It's not easy，you know．I don't like sitting here looking at the sun．'

　　Diane came into the room and sat down．She looked at Sergeant Foster and smiled．'I saw you at the Tennis Club last month，I think．You play very well．'

　　Sergeant Foster's face went red．Inspector Walsh looked at him．'Oh yes．A fast and exciting player is Sergeant Foster．'

　　Diane smiled again at Sergeant Foster and his face went redder．

　　'Well，Miss Clarkson，'Inspector Walsh said，'I want you to talk about last night．'

　　Diane stopped smiling．'Oh，I can talk about last night．I can't stop talking about it．We were all angry．Mother went to bed early and I made hot milk for her．We were all in the kitchen，and Peter Hobbs came in He nearly broke the back door down．'Diane stopped．

　　'Yes？'

　　'He was very angry about a letter．He wanted to kill Mother．Are you going to talk to him？'

　　'We're going to talk to everyone．'

　　'Good．Tom Briggs came into the kitchen，too．Are you going to talk to him？'

　　'I'm asking the questions，Miss Clarkson．When did you take the milk upstairs？'

　　'I went up after Roger．'She stopped for a minute．Then she began again．'I didn't like my mother，Inspector．She killed my father，you know．Last winter，after Christmas，she drove the car into a tree and killed my father．'

　　Inspector Walsh watched Diane's face carefully．'I see．So you wanted to kill your mother？'

　　Diane laughed．'I wanted to kill her，but I didn't．I can tell you a lot of things about this family，Inspector．Everyone wanted Mother to die．Uncle Albert wanted her money for his wife，Annie．And then my brother．He needs a lot of money．He has an expensive house and an expensive car．And think of Jackie．Do you know that Jackie didn't like Mother？A long time age，a nice boy worked here．He was the gardener．Jackie loved him very much，but Mother said no．A gardener was not a good husband for a Clarkson girl！'

　　Inspector Walsh listened quietly．All this was very interesting but was it important？Perhaps．What a happy family the Clarksons were！

　　'We found the empty bottle of sleeping tablets in your room，'Inspector Walsh said quietly． He watched her face carefully．

　　Diane stood up suddenly，her face angry．'What？I didn't put it there！I'm not going to listen to this！'She ran out of the room．

　　'Well，well，well，'Inspector Walsh said．'She likes you，Sergeant．You need to be careful．'

　　Sergeant Foster laughed but his face went red again．

　　'Someone put sleeping tablets in Molly's hot milk，'the In-spector said．'All the family were in the kitchen last night．Peter Hobbs and Tom Briggs were there，too．One of them killed Molly．'

　　Inspector Walsh got his hat and coat．'Come on．We need to talk to Peter Hobbs and Tom Briggs．Let's get some more coffee first．I'd like a sandwich，too．I'm hungry again！'

　　5

　　用完咖啡和三明治后，沃尔什探长叫罗杰·克拉克森到办公室，罗杰走进来坐下。探长马上就开始了提问。

　　“嗨，克拉克森先生，你母亲昨晚为何生你的气？”

　　“房子太大了，”罗杰说。“妈妈得干许多活，我希望她搬家。可是不行，她爱这所房子和花园，她不想搬。”

　　“克拉克森先生，告诉我有关你工作的事，你母亲死了，现在你富有了。你需要钱吗？”

　　罗杰的脸突然露出害怕的神色。“你在说什么？我没有杀我的妈妈。我需要钱，这是真的。我和一个朋友想在这儿的花园里建10所房子，这事能使我们赚许多钱，所以我希望妈妈卖了这所房子，这是真的。可是布里格斯先生也想要半个花园当他的农场，这你是知道的。”

　　沃尔什探长在桌上摆弄着铅笔。“告诉我，楼上发生了什么事？你去你母亲的房间了吗？”

　　“是的，我去了。我想对妈妈道一声晚安。”

　　“你又谈起了房子？”

　　“是的，我说了。她又说不行，她爱这所房子，她不想卖掉它。”

　　沃尔什探长看了罗杰一会。“明白了。克拉克森先生，在黛安娜的房间里我们发现了安眠药的空瓶。”

　　罗杰没变脸色。“哦？有某个人把它们放在那里了。黛安娜不会杀妈妈，我知道这事，是她发现了尸体。”

　　“很好。下一个我想见见黛安娜。”

　　罗杰站起来离开了房间。

　　沃尔什探长站起来把手放进口袋。他走到窗前看着外边树。为什么罗杰·克拉克森会害怕？这重要吗？他看着福斯特警官。

　　“明天早上，去克拉克森先生的办公室——你知道他的名字。”他说。“问些有关他的情况，工作、朋友、钱。”

　　福斯特警官记了下来。“好的，探长。”

　　“打网球的好天气，警官？”

　　福斯特警官笑道。“别说这个，你知道，这种天气可不容易遇到。我不喜欢坐在这儿看太阳。”

　　黛安娜走进房间坐下来，她看着福斯特警官并冲他笑。“我想，我上个月在网球俱乐部见过你，你打得很棒。”

　　福斯特警官的脸变红了。沃尔什探长看着他。“哦，是的。那位打得激烈、兴奋的球员就是福斯特警官。”

　　黛安娜又朝着福斯特警官笑，他的脸变得更红了。

　　“好了，克拉克森小姐，”沃尔什探长说。“我想请你谈谈昨晚的事。”

　　黛安娜收住了笑容。“哦，我可以谈谈昨晚，我的确是要谈谈。我们都生气了。妈妈早早就上了床，然后我端了杯热牛奶给她。我们都在厨房，随后彼特·霍布斯进来了，他几乎把后门给砸倒了。”黛安娜停住了。

　　“接着呢？”

　　“他对那封信很生气，他想杀妈妈。你会和他谈谈吗？”

　　“我们会找每个人谈。”

　　“很好。汤姆·布里格斯也进了厨房。你要和他谈谈吗？”

　　“克拉克森小姐，我提几个问题。你什么时候端牛奶上楼的？”

　　“在罗杰之后。”她停了一会，然后她又说。“我不喜欢妈妈，探长。你要知道，她杀了我父亲。去年冬天，圣诞节后，她开车撞着一棵树，害死了我父亲。”

　　沃尔什警官仔细看着黛安娜的脸。“我明白了，所以你要杀死你母亲？”

　　黛安娜笑了。“我是想杀她，但是我没干。探长，我可以告诉你有关这个家的许多事。每个人都希望母亲死。艾伯特姨父想要她的钱给他妻子安妮。还有我的哥哥，他需要很多钱。他有一所昂贵的房子和一辆昂贵的轿车。再想想杰基。你知道杰基不喜欢妈妈吗？很久以前，一个不错的男孩在这儿工作，他是个园丁，杰基非常爱他，可是妈妈不同意。一个园丁对克拉克森家女孩来说不是个好丈夫！”

　　沃尔什探长平静地听着。这些都很有趣，可是它们重要吗？也许如此。克拉克森家是一个多么快乐的家庭！

　　“我们在你的房间找到安眠药的空瓶，”沃尔什探长平静地说，他仔细看着她的脸。

　　黛安娜突然站起来，她一脸怒气。“什么？我没有放在那儿！我不要听这些！”她跑出房间。

　　“好了，好了，好了，”沃尔什探长说。“她喜欢你，警官，你得小心点。”

　　福斯特警官笑笑，他的脸却又变红了。

　　“有人把安眠药放在莫利的热牛奶里，”探长说。“所有人昨晚都在厨房。彼特·霍布斯和汤姆·布里格斯也在那儿。他们中有人杀了莫利。”

 

　　沃尔什探长戴上帽子穿上外衣。“走吧，我们需要和彼特·霍布斯和汤姆·布里格斯谈谈。咱们得先喝点咖啡，我还想要块三明治。我又饿了！”

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