Dial M for Murder Page #7

Wait a minute.

I think I've got it.

Remember when your bag was stolen?.

-Yes.

-Wasn't the key inside?.

Yes, but it was still there

when I got it back.

Now, just a moment.

I'd like to hear about this.

-What sort of bag?.

-A handbag, inspector.

My wife lost it at Victoria Station.

But I got it back from the lost and found

two weeks later.

-Was anything missing?.

-All the money was gone.

-Anything else?.

-No.

-No papers or letters?.

-No.

-Are you quite sure about that?.

-Yes.

And your latchkey was in your handbag

when you lost it?.

Yes, but it was still there

when it was returned.

But whoever stole the money

could have copied the key.

Where was the bag found eventually?.

At Victoria Station.

Wasn't that where you said

you saw this man, sir?.

When did you lose the bag?.

Wasn't it that weekend

we went to visit Peggy?.

Yes, it was. I remember now.

He was sitting in the restaurant.

-Was that where you left your bag?.

-Yes...

...and didn't I say something about,

"There's someone from college?."

-I don't remember.

-That's how he got in.

He made a duplicate and

returned the original to the bag.

Before you go any further with this,

how did he get in through the street door?.

-The street door is never locked.

-I see.

Well, he could have had

your key copied.

And he could have used it

to open the door.

But, of course, he didn't.

-Why not?.

-Because if he had...

...the key would still have

been on him when he died.

But no key was found when

we went through his pockets.

We seem to be back

just where we started.

Well, not quite.

Well, then how did he get in?.

We'd better get all this down on paper.

I'd like you both to make an official

statement before the inquest.

My office is only

moments from here.

Perhaps you could come now.

-Tony. Marg--

-Mark, this is inspector Hubbard.

-Inspector, this is Mark Halliday.

-He was with me last night.

-How do you do?.

-Mr. Halliday.

As you were with Mr. Wendice last night,

you may help us.

Now, did you notice what time

it was he went to the phone?.

Yes. Matter of fact,

it was three minutes after 11.

How did you come to notice that?.

Mr. Wendice's watch had stopped.

Some of us compared times.

Thank you. See, it was when

Mrs. Wendice came in here...

...to answer his call

that she was attacked.

Did you phone Margot

before or after your boss?.

Tony, I know what I wanted to ask you.

Why did you telephone me last night?.

Now, just one moment,

before I lose the thread of this.

Now, at three minutes past 11,

you left your party to phone your boss.

Yes, I used the lobby pay phone.

How long were you on

the phone to your boss...

...before you called your wife?.

I never did speak to him.

I couldn't remember his number, so I rang

my wife to look it up in the address book.

You mean, you hauled me out of bed

to get his number?.

I had to. My boss was flying

to Brussels this morning.

I wanted to remind him of something.

It was rather important.

Wasn't there a directory

in the hotel?.

Yes, but his country number

wouldn't be in that directory.

-And did you phone him?.

-Oh, no.

When I heard

what happened here...

-...I forgot all about it.

-Yes.

Mr. Halliday,

Mr. and Mrs. Wendice are coming...

...to my office now

to make their statements.

Would you give me your address, sir?.

I may want to get in touch.

-Certainly.

-I'll just get my coat.

-I'm staying at Carfax Hotel.

-Just write it down there, will you?.

Your telephone number

as well.

-You ever been over here before, sir?.

-Yes. Yes, about a year ago.

-There you are, sir.

-Thank you.

Mr. Wendice, there's quite a crowd

in front of the house.

I was going to suggest

we left by the garden.

-Isn't there a gate at the far end?.

-Yes.

The gate may be locked.

-Would you mind taking a look, sir?.

-Certainly.

How much does he know

about you and Mrs. Wendice?.

-I beg your pardon?.

-You wrote a letter to Mrs. Wendice...

...from New York. It was found

in the dead man's inside pocket.

I didn't mention it because I wasn't sure

how much Mr. Wendice knew.

Have you any idea how it got there?.

No.

-Where's Tony?.

-He's just gone into the garden.

Mrs. Wendice,

when you lost your handbag...

-...did you lose a letter as well?.

-No.

Margot, it was found

in the dead man's pocket.

You did lose it, didn't you?.

Yes, I did.

I asked you that before, didn't I?.

Yes, but you see,

my husband didn't know about it.

This man was blackmailing you,

wasn't he?.

It's no good.

Tony will have to know.

-No.

-It's the only thing we can do.

After Mrs. Wendice

lost my letter...

...she received these two notes.

Last October?.

How many times have you

seen this man?.

I've never seen him!

-Mr. Halliday, come with us.

-Yes, of course.

Mrs. Wendice...

...when you make your statement...

...there may be other

police officers present.

I shall warn you first

that anything you say...

...will be taken down

and may be used in evidence.

Now never mind what you've

told me so far.

We'll forget all about that.

But from now on, tell us exactly

what you know about this man...

...and exactly what happened last night.

If you try and conceal anything at all...

...it may put you

in a very serious position.

I wish you'd explain

what you mean by this.

I will.

Now, do you admit

that you killed this man?.

Well, you say you did it

in self-defense.

Unfortunately, there were no witnesses...

...so we've only your word for that.

But I heard it all, inspector,

over the telephone.

What exactly did you hear, Mr. Wendice?.

I heard a series of faint cries.

Did you hear anything to indicate

that a struggle was going on?.

What I did hear, inspector, is perfectly

consistent with what my wife told me.

So all you really know of the matter

is what your wife told you, isn't it?.

Now, you suggest that this man

came to burgle your flat.

But there's no evidence of that.

There is evidence, however,

that he was blackmailing you.

-Blackmail?.

-Yes, I'm afraid that's true, Tony.

And you suggest he came in

by the window.

And we know that he came in

by that door.

But he can't have come in that way.

That door was locked.

And there are only two keys.

My husband had his with him.

Mine was in my handbag.

Here.

You could have let him in.

Are you suggesting

she let him in herself?.

At present, that appears to be

the only way he could've entered.

Don't you even believe I was attacked?.

How do you think I got

these bruises on my throat?.

You could have caused

those bruises yourself.

A silk stocking was found

outside the window.

It had two knots tied in it.

Does that mean anything to you?.

I suppose it must have been

the stocking he used.

We found the twin stocking

hidden underneath this blotting pad.

Can you explain why

your attacker should do that?.

No.

Those stockings were yours?.

-No!

-We know they were.

One of the heels had been darned

with some silk that didn't quite match.

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