فصل نهم

Chapter nine

Poirot noted the family similarity between Carol and her brother when Raymond Boynton came into the room. Raymond’s face was serious, but he didn’t seem nervous or afraid.

‘Your sister Carol has spoken with you?’ Poirot asked gently. Raymond nodded. ‘Yes. If you overheard our conversation in Jerusalem I don’t blame you for being suspicious. I can only say that the conversation was - was madness!

Planning to kill my stepmother - oh, how can I explain? - we were under so much stress that just talking about it made us feel better!’

Hercule Poirot nodded his head slowly. ‘That,’ he said, ‘is possible.’

‘In the morning it all seemed - rather stupid! I swear to you, Monsieur Poirot, that I never thought about it again. The facts are that I spoke to my mother just before six o’clock, when she was alive and well.

I went to my tent, had a wash and joined the others in the marquee. From that time neither Carol nor I moved - everyone could see us. So my mother’s death was natural - heart failure - it couldn’t be anything else!’

‘But Miss King,’ said Poirot quietly, ‘said that when she examined the body - at six-thirty - your mother had been dead for at least an hour, if not longer.’

Raymond stared at him, totally shocked. ‘Sarah said that?’ he gasped. ‘But - it’s impossible! She must be mistaken! My mother was alive just before six and I spoke to her.’

He leaned forward. ‘Monsieur Poirot, people die every day - especially people with weak hearts - and there is nothing strange about it.

Mother’s death only seems suspicious because you overheard what I said.’ Poirot shook his head. ‘You are wrong,’ he said. ‘There is other evidence - poison taken from the medicine bag of Dr Gerard.’

‘Poison?’ Ray stared at him. ‘Poison?’ He looked completely shocked. ‘Is that what you suspect?’

Poirot said quietly, ‘So your plan was different?’

‘Oh, yes.’ Raymond answered without thinking. ‘This changes everything . I - I can’t think clearly.’

‘What was your plan?’

‘Our plan? It was -‘ Raymond stopped suddenly, and his eyes became wary. ‘I don’t think,’ he said, ‘that I’ll say any more.’

‘As you please,’ said Poirot. As he watched the young man leave the room, on his paper he wrote R.B. 5.50. Then he wrote a list.

Boyntons and Jefferson Cope leave the camp about 3.05

Dr Gerard and Sarah King leave the camp about 3.15

Lady Westholme and Miss Pierce leave the camp 4.15

Dr Gerard returns to the camp about 4.20

Lennox Boynton returns to the camp 4.35

Nadine Boynton returns to the camp and talks to Mrs Boynton 4.40

Nadine Boynton leaves Mrs Boynton and goes to the marquee about 4.50

Carol Boynton returns to the camp 5.10

Lady Westholme, Miss Pierce and Jefferson Cope return to the camp 5.40

Raymond Boynton returns to the camp 5.50

Sarah King returns to the camp 6.00

Mrs Boynton’s body is discovered 6.30