Mortal Remains

Inside was a large old metal cashbox. And a money-belt made of canvas webbing. The cashbox was closed but not locked, although it was fitted with a lock holding a key; the metal surface showed a blur of fragmentary prints. The officer edged up the lid; the box was empty.

The money-belt had two webbing pockets furnished with large stud fasteners of some plastic material. Both pockets were open, both empty. The webbing offered no hope of prints but the studs showed blurred traces. The officer dealt with the prints on box, key and studs though there was little prospect of any useful result. Without being asked, Gareth volunteered in a matter-of-fact tone, ‘You’ll be needing fingerprints from Jill and me for elimination.’ The offer was accepted and acted upon without comment.

Jill had known nothing of the secret drawer nor had she touched the chest in recent times. Gareth had never previously set eyes on the money-belt but he had once heard his grandfather mention it. That would be a year or two ago, one day when Gareth had expressed concern that his grandfather might be robbed if he carried sizeable amounts of money on him in the course of his deals. His grandfather had told him he needn’t worry, he always wore a money-belt in such circumstances; he hadn’t produced the belt to show Gareth nor had he indicated where it was usually kept.

Jill told the Chief she had known of the existence of the belt; Gareth had mentioned it to her, though she had forgotten about it until just now when she saw it in the drawer.

Had either Gareth or Jill ever mentioned the secret drawer or the money-belt to anyone else? Gareth answered at once, very positively: he was certain he had never spoken of either to anyone else, not even to his wife.

Jill didn’t answer right away. When the Chief repeated his question she admitted, after further hesitation, that she had once mentioned the belt to Norman. There had been a case in the local paper a few months back, a youth convicted of handbag snatching. She had commented on the case to Norman, and it was then she had mentioned the money-belt.

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