Craddock travels to Scotland to meet Belle she mentions that Letitia had a beloved sister, Charlotte, who developed a goitre. Inspector Craddock discovers oil on the hinges of a door into the parlour, thought to be unused, and Bunny mentions a table had been placed against the door until recently.

Sonia had quarreled with her brother because he disapproved of her marriage to Dmitri Stamfordis, and the quarrel was never made up.

When Belle dies, Miss Blacklock inherits everything, but if she predeceases Belle, the estate goes to the mysterious 'Pip' and 'Emma', children of Randall's estranged sister, Sonia. However, she may inherit a great deal of money Randall Goedler's estate passed to his wife Belle, who is now frail and ill. She worked for the financier Randall Goedler and has done well for herself but is not wealthy. Scherz's girlfriend, a waitress at the spa, reveals that he had been paid to appear as the holdup man he believed it was 'a silly English joke.' Craddock returns to Chipping Cleghorn, where Miss Marple stays with the local vicar's wife.Įstablishing a motive for Scherz's attack on Miss Blacklock is difficult. They learn that Scherz has a criminal background of petty theft and forgery. Craddock is advised to involve Miss Marple, currently a guest at the spa hotel where Scherz was employed, in the case, and the two work together. The scene suggests to the police that this is a strange suicide or accidental death, but Inspector Craddock is not satisfied. Dora Bunner ('Bunny') recognizes the gunman as Rudi Scherz, a foreigner who works as a receptionist at a local hotel and asked Letitia for money a few days ago. When the lights turn on, Miss Blacklock's ear is bleeding from a bullet grazing her earlobe, and the gunman is dead on the ground. As the clock strikes 6.30, the lights go out, and a door swings open, revealing a man with a blinding torch who demands the guests 'Stick 'em up!' Most do so, believing it to be part of a game, but the game ends when shots are fired into the room. The villagers are intrigued by the notice, and several of them appear with awkward reasons but definite interest. Friends accept this, the only intimation.' This surprises Letitia Blacklock, owner of Little Paddocks however, she takes it in stride and prepares for guests that evening. 5 Film, TV, radio and theatrical adaptationsĪ notice appears in the paper of Chipping Cleghorn: 'A murder is announced and will take place on Friday, 29 October, at Little Paddocks, at 6.30 pm.

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