A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie Read Free Book Online

that up just before you came. A little over three months. Quite good credentials, the usual permits, etc.”
    â€œAnd you found him satisfactory?”
    Without seeming to do so, Craddock marked the infinitesimal pause before Rowlandson replied.
    â€œQuite satisfactory.”
    Craddock made use of a technique he had found efficacious before now.
    â€œNo, no, Mr. Rowlandson,” he said, gently shaking his head. “That’s not really quite the case, is it?”
    â€œWe-ll—” The Manager seemed slightly taken aback.
    â€œCome now, there was something wrong. What was it?”
    â€œThat’s just it. I don’t know.”
    â€œBut you thought there was something wrong?”
    â€œWell—yes—I did … But I’ve nothing really to go upon. I shouldn’t like my conjectures to be written down and quoted against me.”
    Craddock smiled pleasantly.
    â€œI know just what you mean. You needn’t worry. But I’ve got to get some idea of what this fellow, Scherz, was like. You suspected him of—what?”
    Rowlandson said, rather reluctantly:
    â€œWell, there was trouble, once or twice, about the bills. Items charged that oughtn’t to have been there.”
    â€œYou mean you suspected that he charged up certain items which didn’t appear in the hotel records, and that he pocketed the difference when the bill was paid?”
    â€œSomething like that … Put it at the best, there was gross carelessness on his part. Once or twice quite a big sum was involved. Frankly, I got our accountant to go over his books suspecting that he was—well, a wrong ’un, but though there were various mistakes and a good deal of slipshod method, the actualcash was quite correct. So I came to the conclusion that I must be mistaken.”
    â€œSupposing you hadn’t been wrong? Supposing Scherz had been helping himself to various small sums here and there, he could have covered himself, I suppose, by making good the money?”
    â€œYes, if he had the money. But people who help themselves to ‘small sums’ as you put it—are usually hard up for those sums and spend them offhand.”
    â€œSo, if he wanted money to replace missing sums, he would have had to get money—by a hold-up or other means?”
    â€œYes. I wonder if this is his first attempt….”
    â€œMight be. It was certainly a very amateurish one. Is there anyone else he could have got money from? Any women in his life?”
    â€œOne of the waitresses in the Grill. Her name’s Myrna Harris.”
    â€œI’d better have a talk with her.”
    III
    Myrna Harris was a pretty girl with a glorious head of red hair and a pert nose.
    She was alarmed and wary, and deeply conscious of the indignity of being interviewed by the police.
    â€œI don’t know a thing about it, sir. Not a thing,” she protested. “If I’d known what he was like I’d never have gone out with Rudi at all. Naturally, seeing as he worked in Reception here, I thought he was all right. Naturally I did. What I say is the hotel ought to be more careful when they employ people—especially foreigners. Because you never know where you are with foreigners. I suppose he might have been in with one of these gangs you read about?”
    â€œWe think,” said Craddock, “that he was working quite on his own.”
    â€œFancy—and him so quiet and respectable. You’d never think. Though there have been things missed—now I come to think of it. A diamond brooch—and a little gold locket, I believe. But I never dreamed that it could have been Rudi.”
    â€œI’m sure you didn’t,” said Craddock. “Anyone might have been taken in. You knew him fairly well?”
    â€œI don’t know that I’d say well. ”
    â€œBut you were friendly?”
    â€œOh, we were friendly—that’s all, just friendly. Nothing serious