[MaC] Revelations?

[Margaret Dean]

Brenda McCartney wrote:
> 
> --- Mel Mason <goldfired at oxmust.co.uk> wrote:
> 
> >
> > >> > > "Or perhaps suggesting an officer was her way of
> > >> > > trying to further protect the father," Braham mused
> > >> > > aloud. "Perhaps it was not an officer at all. And
> > >> > > perhaps Fitzroy somehow found out who it was. That
> > >> > > could mean just about any man in this room could be
> > >> > > guilty."
> > >
> > > Cyril cocked a dubious eyebrow over his spectacles.
> > >
> > "Saying it was an officer in war-time isn't really telling us much,"
> > agreed Oswald.  "But perhaps it's a start.  I'm in the frame, I know. 
> > I'm a Colonel - and I was present in the room when both murders were
> > carried out.
> >
> > "However, not everyone was.  And we still haven't solved the mystery
> > of how Nola Diamond was killed, when Mr Barowenski claimed to be in
> > the room all the time - with only one brief break."
> >
> > Anton was glowering.
> >
> > >> > "Bringing us back to the beginning." James put in,
> > >> > somewhat glumly. "Not like one of those mystery novels,
> > >> > is this now?" His tone was not mocking, but recognizing
> > >> > of the bind they were all in.
> > >>
> > >> "Yes- we're back at the very beginning," Nicola said
> > >> in a harsher tone of voice than had come from her all
> > >> night. She rose and began counting points off on her
> > >> fingers. "We have NO idea who killed Nola," index
> > >> finger, "NO idea who poisoned Fitzroy," middle finger,
> > >> "the authorities are on their way, probably not in
> > >> time to save him," ring finger, "and every single
> > >> person in this room had the opportunity to kill at
> > >> least one of them! We're all going to the gallows!"
> > >> She counted off her pinky finger and ran a hand
> > >> through her hair in frustration.
> > >>
> > >> "I need a cigarette," she muttered to herself, opening
> > >> her purse. She pulled out a small shopping bag and
> > >> went to stuff it back inside, then stopped and stared
> > >> at it for a moment. Her brow furrowed, as if she were
> > >> deep in thought. Suddenly, her face contorted and she
> > >> looked around the room. "But who...?" she asked
> > >> herself. No- no, she wasn't sure yet... but...
> > >
> > > "There is one other thing..." Cyril ventured from his corner of the
> > > room.  He reached into his pocket and pulled something small and
> > > metallic out of it.  "Does anyone recognize this?"  He holds a
> > > single earring in his palm.
> > >
> > > [OOC: Mel, help!  I forgot the description and I can't seem to find
> > > the right email message!]
> > >
> > [OOC - oh, I think the owner will recognise it]
> >
> > Anton Barowenski gave a short exclamation.
> >
> > "Where did you find this?"
> 
> The exclamation from Anton surprised Cyril.  He had expected it from
> someone else.  He turned to look at the pianist suspiciously.  "On the
> floor in the front doorway of your flat, Anton.  When I returned to my
> own flat early this evening, I saw someone enter yours from the front."
> 
> He turned to the rest of the room.  "I thought nothing of it because no
> one was dead yet.  When I found out about Miss Diamond, I went back to
> check the front hallway, thinking perhaps that door had been used as an
> escape route.  This was on the floor near it."
> 
> Cyril's tone turned contemplative.  "Now, I suppose it could have been
> there for days, but on the other hand, what stylish lady would come to
> a Christmas party wearing only one earring?"  He scanned the room, but
> left it to others to pinpoint the person in question.

Pinpointing was hardly necessary as Marion Mauberley's hand went
to her left ear in the automatic gesture of a woman who has just
realized she's missing an earring.  And indeed, the gold star
remaining in her right ear was an exact match for the one in
Cyril Beaman's hand.

Marion lowered her hand, looked over at Anton and then at Cyril. 
"I told you we should have spoken up, Anton," she said.

Then she went on steadily, to the company at large, "It's true
that I slipped out earlier this evening to see Mr. Barowenski
about a ... private matter.  I'll leave it to him to say what
that was, if he wishes.  We went out on the terrace to talk, and
yes, it took longer than a few moments.  When I came back out
again, the lights were out."  Her eyes lowered for the first
time.  "I've been thinking ever since that it must have been
while we were out on the terrace that ... it happened."  She
looked up again and said more calmly.  "But I certainly didn't
kill Miss Diamond.  I had no reason to, I barely knew her.  And
since Anton was with me, he can't have done so either."


--Margaret Dean
  <margdean at erols.com>