The Deadly Curse Read Online Free PDF Page B

certainly Flinzer. We already had evidence of a distinguishing mark – a scar – and when we’d reunited the head with the body, both Mrs Flinzer and the valet, Simpkins, were able to swear it was Flinzer’s corpse.’
    Mina helped herself to more cake. ‘Tell me, Inspector, have you yet formed a theory about this dreadful crime? Do you believe that the spirit of Karnos – or his protectors – has returned to take revenge on the art dealer? Or is that too outré a conclusion for the Metropolitan Police?
    Delland looked at her shrewdly. ‘It’s an unusual case, Mrs Harker – although I’m aware that you and your husband, and of course the Professor, are not unacquainted with the bizarre and outlandish. In the circumstances I’m happy to share my thoughts on the matter. And of course Miss Wilton is an expert in important aspects of this case, so I’d value her opinion.’
    Sarah nodded in acknowledgement as the detective continued.
    ‘I see little reason to suspect that any abnormal powers are at work here. The Professor and Mr Harker have already told me that Flinzer had started selling off the contents of the tomb that he’d inherited from the late Sir Edward Wilton. Nothing illegal about that, but Flinzer was known to us at the Yard as rather a fly cove. We think several stolen paintings have gone through his hands, but nothing’s ever been proved. Suppose he’d taken one of his less honest colleagues into his strongroom, perhaps to agree a price for the relics, and there’d been a falling-out between them. His companion could have picked up the weapon and used it on Flinzer.’
    I held up my hand. ‘If I may interject, Inspector, why would this theoretical assailant then haul the corpse all the way back to the bedroom, and leave its head in the strongroom? Why not just make a run for it there and then?’
    ‘Well sir, as I see it there are several possibilities. I think it most likely that the murderer did remove the body and intend to return for the head, perhaps in an attempt to separate the crime from any association with the strongroom, and hence the world of art dealers. Then something disturbed him – a real or imagined noise, perhaps – and he had to leave the head where it was.’
    ‘What about the bloodstains?’ Van Helsing said. ‘There was a large amount of blood on the bedroom carpet, and very little around the head in the strongroom. Surely if the murder had occurred in the way you suggest, the opposite would be the case.’
    ‘That’s a good point, Professor,’ Delland replied. ‘But supposing the assailant had cleaned up the blood in the strongroom, in order to conceal the true location of the crime – that is, before he knew that the head would be left behind to give the game away? I agree that my theory is not ideal, but then I’ve hardly started my investigation.’
    At that point there was a knock on the drawing room door and Van Helsing’s housekeeper entered, closely followed by a police constable. I recognised the officer as one of the two who had been on duty at Flinzer’s house earlier in the day.
    ‘Beg pardon, sir, but I thought I should show Constable Jeffries up right away. Says he has something urgent for the inspector.’
    ‘Thank you, Hilda, you may leave us,’ Van Helsing said. ‘Inspector Delland, do you wish to speak to your man in private?’
    The detective demurred, and PC Jeffries soon explained the purpose of his visit. Less than an hour ago a telegram had arrived addressed to Mr Theodore Flinzer. Jeffries, on duty with his colleague, had decided on his own initiative to bring it straight to his superior, who he knew to be taking tea with us.
    ‘You’ve done well Jeffries. Wait in the hall for me – we’ll go back to Islington together.’
    Delland swiftly scanned the telegram, then passed it to each of us in turn.
     
    To Mr Theodore Flinzer : from Dr Harold Levin , Curator , Edinburgh Museum of Ethnography : Monday November 9th 1897