فصل بیست و دوم

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

‘You understand your position, Miss Hobhouse. I have already warned you -‘

Valerie Hobhouse interrupted Sharpe. ‘That what I say will be used in evidence. I’m prepared for that. You’ve got me on the smuggling charge. But this other information means that I’ll be charged in connection with a murder.’

‘Making a statement may help you, but I can’t promise that.’

‘I don’t really care. I never intended murder or wanted it. What I do want is a clear case against Nigel. Celia knew too much, but I could have managed that. Nigel didn’t give me time. He killed her and then told me what he had done. The same thing happened with Mrs Nick.

He had found out that she drank, that she couldn’t be trusted - so he met her somewhere on her way home, and poisoned her drink. Then there was Pat. He came up to my room and told me what had happened.

He told me what I had to do - so that both he and I would have an alibi. I was caught by then. but now I only care about one thing - to make sure that Nigel gets punished.’

‘I’m not sure that I understand.’ began Sharpe.

‘You don’t need to understand. I’ve got my reasons.’

Hercule Poirot spoke very gently. ‘Mrs Nicoletis, she was - your mother, was she not?’

‘Yes,’ said Valerie Hobhouse. ‘She was my mother.’