An Appetite for Murder Read Online Free Page B

company is still in the same building, but old Mr Finn died some years ago, as did Mr Browne, and all the others I knew when I worked there have left. Gibson – well he was sixty-five at the time of the robbery and I was told that he was never well enough to come back to work, so he can scarcely be alive now. Of the other three clerks, Minster left to become a publican, and Elliott and Whibley went to join an accountancy firm, Anderson and Walsh. Anderson was Whibley’s uncle.’
    ‘Whibley?’ said Frances, startled at the familiar name. ‘Is that the Thomas Whibley who died recently?’
    ‘Yes, and that was rather upsetting because I went there and spoke to him only two days before he died.’
    Frances paused to consider this unexpected development. She always entertained a suspicion of coincidences, but in the busy world of Bayswater finance it was perhaps not too surprising when two individuals were acquainted. There seemed to be no obvious connection between a fourteen-year-old robbery and the controversy surrounding the reasons for Mr Whibley’s recent death, but the opportunity to interview someone who had recently spoken to the deceased man was too good to miss. ‘Tell me about your visit to Mr Whibley,’ she requested.
    ‘I went to see him because out of all the people at J. Finn Insurance, only he and Mr Finn knew Susan at all well. We had sometimes dined together. I hoped he had heard from her or knew something of what she did after I was convicted, but he was unable to help me.’
    ‘Did he seem unwell to you?’ asked Frances. ‘I appreciate that you could not have been aware of any recent deterioration in his health, but in view of the allegations that have been made about him in the press I would value your observations.’
    ‘Oh, are you enquiring into that?’ he exclaimed. ‘The most terrible things have been said!’
    ‘I like to keep informed of all matters of current interest in Bayswater,’ replied Frances, evenly.
    Sweetman nodded. ‘Of course. Well, I can tell you that I was very shocked by his appearance. He was always rather portly, but since I last saw him he had become enormously fat and looked quite aged, although he was not yet fifty. He did not look like a man destined to live long, although of course I could not have anticipated …’ he sighed.
    ‘So,’ said Frances, looking at her notes, ‘of the employees of J. Finn Insurance who might have known or heard about Mrs Sweetman; Mr Finn, Mr Whibley and Mr Browne are deceased, and in all probability Mr Gibson is too. Did Mr Browne have any family?’
    ‘No, he was a bachelor and lived alone.’
    ‘And was Mr Whibley able to tell you where the others were to be found?’
    ‘Yes, Minster is now the landlord of the Cooper’s Arms, a small beer house on the corner of Bott’s Mews, a very low establishment. He inherited some money and used it to start the business. I did try to see him, but he made it very plain that he thought I was a criminal and told me to leave. He was never a very pleasant individual and the years have not improved him.’
    Frances raised her eyebrows. ‘Mr Minster inherited money? From whom, and how much?’
    ‘Yes,’ said Sweetman, ‘I had thought of that, too. Even at the time I wondered if it was he who stole the money. Whibley also suspected him, but I suppose Minster was able to account for his movements, for there was never any suggestion of his being arrested. I don’t know about the inheritance and Whibley couldn’t tell me any more, but it does appear that out of all the employees of the company Minster is the only man to have suddenly acquired any wealth shortly after the robbery. Elliott went to work for Anderson and Walsh as a clerk. Whibley started as a junior accountant and eventually became a partner. Later, when his uncle, Mr Anderson, died, he inherited the business. Elliott married the widow who was a great deal younger than Anderson and not only left well provided for, but is very