MURDER AT ST.MEAD

Mr. Rochester's sudden death created quite a sensation in St.Mead. Only last Friday, he had celebrated his 90th birthday with a special CREAM TEA for his family & a few close friends. 

On Sunday, a special IFTAR had been arranged by his only son Toby, who had just returned from ACCRA. It had been a sensation when Toby flew in from London in his own GUNSHIP, although no one quite knew what Toby's profession was. Toby had arranged the catering & personally supervised the menu.

Miss. Marple was invited to join. Apart from Toby & his Muslim wife Rehana, both George & Georgina were also there. They were Mr.Rochester's late valet's children & he was their GODPARENT. At the dinner table, amidst the REDOLENCE of traditional Islamic food, the tension was palpable as Toby continued to glare & scowl OBTUSELY, at his father. 

George was a quiet man, who SLOGged all day to maintain Mr. Rochester's large estate. His routine included daily sessions of YOGA & weekly HIKING trips across the St. Mead hillock to inspect their stable farm on the other side. Georgina managed the ALPHA to DELTA of the Estate. Her SPEAK EASY nature helped in keeping their accounts & business up to date & profitable.

It was she, who ensured that they had the necessary LICENCE to sell their horses at the Derby next month, in the annual auction. The Government had ENACTED this law only recently about requiring a pre permit. 

After the main meal & before the dessert, Mr. Rochester called Miss Marple aside & whispered to her. The FIRE ALARM in her brain sounded & she turned around, just in time, to see Toby eavesdropping. Subsequently, in the POWDER ROOM, Regina also tried to ingratiate herself, but Miss. Marple kept a tight lip.

Imagine every one's surprise, when Mr. Rochester did not wake up from his sleep on Monday. Mr. Darmouth, the local GP was sent for, who decared the death as natural heart failure & issued the death certificate. 

The FUNERAL was arranged for late Tuesday. The family planned for a wake on Monday evening. Mr.Rochester's casket was arranged in the TABERNACLE next to the village cathedral & almost everyone came to pay their last respects.

Miss. Marple had her doubts & met with Inspector Haddock on Monday afternoon, at the precinct. She told him, how Mr.Rochester had told her the previous night, that he planned to change his will on Wednesday & wanted her to attest it as a witness. In an OUTLINE, he had told her, he wanted to leave his Estate to George & Georgina & only his stocks & funds to Toby, as he suspected him of illegal activities in Accra. But Inspector Haddock did not want to OPEN A CAN OF WORMS without any proof.

However, as Miss.Marple neared the casket resting on a shallow wooden RAMP, she noticed that Mr. Rochester's cheeks seemed unnaturally hollow & saggy. Just the other day, she had seen him with filled out cheeks. She felt uneasy as she returned home.

Late at night, the BRAINWAVE hit her. She remembered her last visit to her DENTIST. Her TOOTH ENAMEL had eroded & she had gone for fixing a crown cap. Her dentist had casually told her Mr. Rochester had over a dozen gold teeth. An idea started taking shape.

Early next morning saw Miss.Marple waking Mr. Robinson, the dentist from his sleep & marching him off to inspect Mr.Rochester's body, still in the casket.

Mr. Robinson had never looked inside the mouth of a corpse before, but imagine his surprise when he found it nearly empty with all the golden teeth missing. This was the secret of the hollow cheeks.

The rest was formality. The autopsy revealed mild traces of Arsenic. Toby had arranged for the spicy Islamic food to mask its bitter taste. His father had told him about his intention to change his will which was confirmed with his eavesdropping. So he had decided to take quick action.

But finally it was his greed that was his undoing. The estate of his father was not enough for him. He also wanted his golden teeth. So at midnight, after ensuring that his father had breathed his last, he & his wife forcefully extracted all the golden teeth.

But, ofcouse, Toby did not see his nemesis in the frail old woman & Inspector Haddock's 'WELL DONE' was little consolation to her as she mourned the death of her long time friend & neighbour.