I.
The wall clock struck two in the afternoon when tea was served in Oliver Bennet's apartment. The moment of peace after lunch was perfect for the usual conversations about neighbour Molly Brinson's new coat, about the Lowens who had moved in three weeks earlier, or about the opening of a new Italian restaurant. In any case, Oliver Bennet, a retired professor of classical philology with an oval head and meticulous gestures, was happy to host his friend, the slightly eccentric Miss Nadine Glasworthy, in the comfort of his apartment. Although they were different in many ways, they got along almost perfectly. He - a respected university professor - was committed to the asceticism of a professional life that has lasted almost forty years. On the other hand, Miss Glasworthy was Bennet's complete opposite. Her graying hair was messily combed into a bun while her well-groomed body was hidden by a tweed skirt stained with ink and drops of black coffee. It was obvious that she was a very successful author of crime novels. It was precisely this success that made her the most recognized member of the London literary scene. Although Bennet was skeptical at first, he had to admit that his friend's crime works were brilliant and therefore his sweet reading sin.
Just as he was about to boast that he had just read her latest novel, Miss Glasworthy sighed heavily:
"This for is exhausting me."
Bennet took his Persian cat - Catherine the Great - and gently placed her on his lap, saying:
"Autumn is relaxing. What more could a person need than a warm living room, a cup of tea and good company?"
"True," she said, "But it's so boring to spend these days alone! I need some action, not this idle sitting!"
"Do you think it's easier for me?" he laughed sarcastically, "Since I retired, my life has been reduced to just this cat and yawning."
"That's not the same, at least you have company," she snapped, "Catherine the Great... And Miss Richardson!"
Just then, the efficient Miss Richardson, Oliver Bennet's long-time secretary with her distinctive red hair and elegant figure, joined them in the living room.
"What a gloomy day outside..." she sighed, taking off her raincoat.
"For all around us!" Nadine exclaimed.
"Terrible!" the secretary remarked.
"Finally someone!" Nadine replied, "Do you know that Oliver doesn't even complain about this horror of autumn? And I say that the day that will change everything should dawn sooner!"
The doorbell rang. Miss Richardson rolled her eyes and said:
"Who's bothering now?!"
A moment later, Bennet's friend, Inspector Contwell, joined them.
"Welcome," Bennet cheered.
"Would you like some tea?" offered Miss Glasworthy politely.
"No, thank you," he refused.
"What brings you here, my friend?" Oliver asked.
"Looking for a break," he laughed, "I've been in the office all day, I need an hour or two to clear my head."
"What's new in Scotland Yard?" asked the secretary.
"Every day there's something new. We just got a new case today," he explained, adjusting himself on the sofa, "The disappearance of Mr Delargy. The whole city has been buzzing about it. All the newspapers are full of headlines about the case."
"Interesting," said Bennet, "and he disappeared just like that?"
"That's right. His disappearance was a day that changed everything in London bureaucracy," explained the inspector, "We're currently in the process of finding someone outside the police who will investigate the case and help us solve it, we need someone unofficial."
At these words, Nadine looked at her friend enigmatically, and without any explanation he knew what was on her mind.
II.
As they drove through the picturesque countryside of Helmsdale, Bennet and Nadine listened attentively to the police's findings on the whole case so far.
"The Delargys are considered to be a typical middle-aged couple," explained Inspector Contwell as they approached their destination. "He is a stiff banker, and she is a bit of an unintelligent person."
"Boring!" Nadine remarked.
"Have you spoken to her?" Bennet asked.
"That will be your first task," the inspector smiled at them, "She has refused to speak to the police, the press hunt is taking a toll on her."
"What are we supposed to do? Nadine asked curiously.
"You should pretend to be a country couple offering support and sympathy, and you will find out all about what has been going on," the inspector explained in his professional style.
"I feel as if I have plunged into one of my novels," Bennet's friend exclaimed, "This is truly the day that changed everything!"
III.
Charlotte Delargy did indeed confirm the village gossip. She was a shy woman with a pale face and lifeless blue eyes. Her chestnut hair was styled in a bun and a string of shiny pearls adorned her neck. Despite everything, she was a pleasant person. She received the "guests" graciously, and tea was soon served in the drawing room.
"Thank you, Martha," she thanked the maid who soon left, "and thank you very much for coming. This whole situation is wearing me out so much."
"I believe, my dear," Miss Glasworthy replied gently, "Whole London is buzzing about your husband's disappearance."
"Oh, that's terrible!" she said, on the verge of tears, "My Matthew... I still can't believe he's gone..."
She buried her face in her hands.
"That must be painful," Bennet sighed.
Charlotte Delargy nodded several times.
"And how did it all happen? The press says your husband just disappeared," said Nadine, "Did that really happen?"
"Thank God they didn't lie about that," she said gruffly, "Yes, he just disappeared. He was supposed to have a meeting with Mr Marlborough that afternoon."
"Did your husband act... strange that day?" asked Bennet.
"Not at all," she replied, "The meeting was supposed to be at five that afternoon. Two hours before that we had coffee and listened to my favourite 1812 Overture together. He went to his study, then came back and said he was going to take a walk to the country to send a few letters."
"And he didn't seem frightened, worried?" asked Miss Glasworthy.
"No," she answered.
"What happened afterwards?" continued Bennet.
"While Matthew was out, Mr Marlborough came. He was half an hour late. I showed him into the study and told him to wait," she explained, "Half an hour passed, then another half an hour, but my husband didn't come back. Mr Marlborough was already furious and he left in a nervous mood. I was terribly embarrassed."
"So, the police concluded that it was a disappearance?" Nadine asked.
Charlotte nodded.
"What business relationship did your husband and Marlborough have?" Bennet asked.
"They've been rivals for a long time," she said, "Although they own a bank together, they're not on good terms. Matthew played Marlborough off over some shares in a shipping company. That was some years ago. They've been at odds ever since. I think he came to exchange some South African shares for a directorship in the bank."
"Did your husband do much business with South Africa?" Miss Glasworthy asked.
"Yes," she replied, taking a sip of tea, "He spent three months in Johannesburg last winter. He brought me beautiful diamond earring from there. He always brought me jewellery from his travels."
Nadine and Bennet nodded several times. Mrs Delargy sniffed softly and asked:
"Do you believe in sixth sense? I felt it on Friday when he disappeared. I had a feeling something bad was going to happen. And it did!"
IV.
The next morning police officers made a thorough search of the lake. The morning was chilly and misty, not at all inviting for being outside the warmth of the country cottages. While they were searching, Bennet and Miss Glasworthy sniffed out what was going on nearby. They walked along the shore. Suddenly, a piercing female scream was heard. When they arrived, they were shocked by the sight - Contwell was holding a wet and crumpled coat in his hands while Mrs Delargy was sobbing and screaming:
"That's my husband's coat!"
V.
The prison cell of the London prison was cold and damp, not at all like the offices in which Mr Marlborough was accustomed to staying.
"I swear to you on the grave of my late mother, I did not kill him!" he shouted.
"We believe you, sir," said Ms Glasworthy, "It's just important that you answer a few questions for us, alright?"
He nodded hesitantly.
"Is it true that you were late for your meeting with Mr Delargy?" asked Bennet.
"Yes. The train was delayed. But when I got there, Matthew was not home anyway. His wife told me that he had not returned from his walk," he explained.
"Is there any chance you met him on your arrival?" Nadine asked.
"No way," he replied sharply, "I went straight to his house as soon as I got off the train."
"And you didn't meet anyone?" asked Bennet.
Marlborough shook his head.
VI.
It was late evening and fog was once again enveloping the Helmsdale landscape. Mrs Delargy was sitting on the large terrace. She was absently puffing on a cigarette, wrapped in a luxurious Arab shawl. At one point she abruptly stubbed out her cigarette. She strode into her husband's study, even though she knew it would upset her. She hesitated for a few moments.
"Should I stay or should I go back downstairs?" she asked herself.
She decided to stay. She walked quickly to the artwork above the desk. She moved the artwork away in the hope of checking the safe, and then - shock, disbelief, panic.
"Martha!" she called out the maid's name, "Quick, call the police! The safe! Everything - everything is stolen!"
VII.
Bennet and Nadine arrived at Scotland Yard at the urgent call of Inspector Contwell, and not even the persistent rain that made the autumn day even grayer prevented them from doing so.
"The news is shocking," said the inspector when he received them in his office.
"Tell us quickly, what's happening?" ordered Nadine impatiently.
"This morning my secretary informed me," he began, "that a package had arrived at Scotland Yard at my office address."
"What have you received?" Bennet asked.
The inspector pulled out a cardboard box, and from it he took out a small ring with a motif of a Sahara camel.
"A ring!" clicked Nadine.
"Delargy's, I suppose," said Bennet.
The inspector nodded.
"What do we know about the sender?" Nadine soon asked, "Was it sent anonymously?"
"Surprisingly, no. Mr Edward Keating sent the parcel," inspector Contwell replied dryly.
"What do we know about him?" Oliver Bennet asked, studying the ring.
"In a short letter, he said that he wished to remain unknown to the public, but that he felt it necessary to send the police what he had found," said the inspector, "He is known in the village as a local tramp and a drunkard."
"And where did he find the ring?" asked Bennet.
The inspector paused shortly. He looked at them significantly.
"Keating swears that he found the ring on the shore of the lake," said the inspector.
"And that's exactly where... where Mr Delargy's coat was found!" Bennet snapped.
VIII.
The next morning Nadine and Bennet were back at the Delargy home. They found Mrs Delargy there - she was so shocked she could barely speak.
"We had to come as soon as we hard what had happened," Nadine said carefully.
"You don't know how hard it is to be alone in a situation like this..." the lady sighed.
"You're not alone," Bennet assured her, "Your husband is thinking of you."
A glimmer of hope in her expressionless eyes:
"You think he is alive?"
"Of course he is," Nadine smiled, "Now, tell us what happened yesterday."
Before she could begin, Oliver Bennet interrupted her by asking:
"Would you mind if we went into Mr Delargy's study?"
"Oh, of course not," she replied.
A moment later they found themselves in the same room where she had screamed in shock the night before.
"As you can see," she said, pointing to the study which was covered in yellow police tape, "the police were here early this morning."
As she explained what had happened, Nadine and Oliver examined the safe, which had clearly been forced open and all its contents stolen. Only the boxes that had once held jewellery were left.
"Terrible!" exclaimed Nadine.
"Who could've done that?" added Bennet theatrically.
"I have no idea," said the lady, "I just want this agony to end as soon as possible."
As Nadine and Mrs Delargy continued their conversation, Bennet looked around the room and noticed - at the far end of the room - a luxurious bed.
"Excuse me," he said, "but I have a question for you, Mrs Delargy."
"Yes?" she smiled kindly.
"Mr Delargy and you don't sleep in the same room?" he asked her.
"Oh," she blushed, "It's true. I think it's been like that for a year. Matthew had begun to work a lot at night. He insisted that we sleep separately because he would work until the wee hours of the night and didn't want to disturb me. I'm a very light sleeper."
And while the two women fell back into conversation, Bennet approached the desk and began to open drawers at random. At first he found only paper and stationery, but at the bottom he found about twenty razor blades and several bottles of spirit gum."
"Those bankers are strange creatures..." he sighed and closed the drawer.
IX.
It was tense in Bennet's apartment. Miss Glasworthy was anxiously caressing Catherine the Great. Oliver Bennet sat at his massive desk playing with a deck of cards. They both stared at the telephone on the desk as if it were the crucifix in the Lateran Basilica. The phone rang loudly.
"Hello, Miss Richardson?!" he shouted into the receiver.
"Mr Bennet," the secretary's voice chirped on the other end of the phone line, "You did it!"
Bennet thanked his secretary.
"So, we were right?" Nadine asked with jollity.
"We were," he confirmed, "The case is solved."
X.
The solution to the case had to be explained to Mrs Delargy and Gerald Marlborough. A call from Miss Richardson made it possible, and the two of them joined Oliver and Nadine in the living room.
Bennet cleared his throat and said:
"Mrs Delargy, Mr Marlborough... The time has com to tell you the truth..."
Charlotte looked up.
"My husband is... dead?!"
Miss Nadine shook her head.
On the contrary. Your husband is alive. And he was.... very close all the time."
Marlborough started like a sleepy cat.
"Impossible! Clothes found in the lake, the ring! The safe robbed!"
Bennet smiled an enigmatic smile.
"Exactly. Everything perfectly staged to look like a disappearance. But - it was a play!"
"A play?!" Charlotte paled.
Nadine walked slowly around the living room.
"Your husband," sh began, "was a man of extraordinary intelligence, but also of extraordinary impudence. For years he embezzled bank money and bought jewellery that was presented to you as a gift. He knew that one day it would be discovered, so he did what his cold-blooded mind knew best - he disappeared!"
"You mean... he faked his disappearance?!" Marlborough screamed.
Bennet nodded. He turned to Charlotte and asked:
"Do you remember that afternoon when you and your husband were drinking coffee and listening to your favourite piece of music?"
"The 1812 Overture, Tchaikovsky," she stammered, "But what does that have to do with it?"
"It does!" Nadine snapped! "What is special about that piece of music?"
"It's loud..." the lady answered slowly, "It has guns -"
Bennet interrupted her:
"Exactly! In fact, while the guns were roaring, Delargy broke into his own safe and thereby covered up the sound. He took your jewellery, and the sound of guns was his ally."
"That's why... I didn't hear anything," she shivered.
Marlborough answered, his voice trembling and tense.
"But the ring?"
"Of course. That's why you were the perfect distraction for the police. The ring was deliberately left by the river to be found - and it was found by Edward Keating!"
"Isn't he no more than a drunkard?" Charlotte asked.
"That's right," Nadine confirmed, "But something more. He's your husband."
"Edward Keating dosn't exist in civil records - my secretary checked that - your husband invented him. Matthew Delargy didn't spend three months last year in Johannesburg, he was in prison! There was political unrest there last winter and it was impossible to travel there. In prison he came up with the whole character of the tramp who will be the key to this mystery!" said Bennet.
Marlborough sighed:
"He was right under our noses!"
"And the only detail that convinced us of all this was that you didn't sleep in the same room, " said Bennet, "Because every night he had to shave his beard with razor blades and stick on a wig and a false mustache. He couldn't risk being seen as a tramp!"
Marlborough could barely sit up.
"So... Everything was fake?"
"Everything," said Bennet.
Charlotte Delargy hid hr face in her hands.
"Don't dispair, ma'am. You were just a victim of your husband's plan. But better times will come," Nadine said.
"Charlotte," Marlborough said undr his brath, "I... I've always wanted to ask you... Now I finally can... Do you want to... Continue a future with me?"
"Oh, Gerald!" she laughed and they hugged each other tenderly.
Nadine and Oliver looked at each other without saying a word, knowing that they had the same thing on their minds - a day had dawned that would change everything in the lives of these two people, but also in their shared detective future.