The D.A. Breaks an Egg

“By a peculiar coincidence,” Carr said, emphasizing the adjective slightly, “you have hit upon the very thing which I had previously suggested to these gentlemen, one of my hot buttered rum drinks. Is Lefty around, my dear?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “He may have retired.”

Carr ushered his visitors into the living room, picked up a little bell and tinkled it.

Almost instantly the door from a serving pantry opened and a man, who had every appearance of being a broken-down pugilist in an immaculate white serving coat, said out of the side of his mouth, “Did you ring, sir?”

The incongruity of the situation caused Selby to suppress a smile.

Brandon surveyed the battered countenance of the butler with professional interest, taking due note of the thick lips, the cauliflower ears, the flattened nose, and the permanently swollen eyes.

“You might put on some hot water, Lefty,” Carr said. “Get out some of that seventy-year-old rum, the brown sugar, the spices and the butter. I’ll put the ingredients together.”

“Yes, sir,” the man said, and turned obediently.

Carr smiled, and said, “A former client of mine. He’s very devoted to me, gentlemen, really very devoted.”

“Client!” Brandon snorted.

“That’s right, Sheriff.”

“I suppose he consulted you in connection with some oil-bearing properties and wanted you to handle the leases,” Brandon said sarcastically.

Carr threw back his head and laughed. “Now there, Sheriff,” he said, “you have me. You really do. I’ll have to admit as much. However, to satisfy the curiosity, which I can see is underlying your bit of repartee, I’m quite certain he really didn’t commit the murders for which I defended him — and secured his acquittal.”

“Indeed,” Selby said.

Carr, smiling at the sheriff, waited for just the proper moment, and then added with perfect timing, “Twice! And now, if you will excuse me, gentlemen, I will see about the hot buttered rum.”

Carr moved over toward the door, then paused. His wife crossed her knees, lit a cigarette, and surveyed the two county officials with the cautious appraisal of one sizing up an adversary before engaging in a contest.

Brandon blurted, “I hope you don’t hold anything against us or...”

She smiled. “On the contrary, I feel I owe a lot to you.”

Catching Doug Selby’s eye, she closed her own right eye in a strictly mischievous wink.

Old A. B. Carr, standing behind her, moved so he could see her face. She turned and met his glance with a look of cherubic innocence.

“Well,” Carr said, “I’ll repair to the culinary department and see what can be done about that hot buttered rum.”

“You’ll have to count me out,” Brandon said. “I’m on duty investigating a serious crime.”

“Come, come, Sheriff. A little hot buttered rum won’t hurt you.”

“No, I’m sorry.”

“How about you, Counselor?” Carr asked Selby.

“Well,” Selby acquiesced, “if you’ll promise not to load it.”

“But of course,” Carr said. “A ‘loaded’ drink is a betrayal of hospitality and a gustatory crime. It takes just a certain proportion of rum, butter, water, sugar and spices to give the perfect drink. To add too much rum is as bad as adding too much sugar. The whole thing is a beautifully proportioned, streamlined...”

“Well, give me a small cup,” Brandon interrupted. “I’ll go so far as to change my mind.”

Carr smiled, nodded, turned back to the door of the butler’s pantry, then paused to say, “By the way, my dear, I neglected to mention it, but I’d like very much to have you co-operate with Sheriff Brandon and District Attorney Selby. Just tell them anything. Absolutely anything that you know. It’s so seldom that we can be completely unreserved with these gentlemen, and they’re investigating a tragedy involving a friend of yours.”

“A friend of mine?”

“That’s right.”

“Who?”

“Someone who telephoned you tonight and wanted you...”

“Not Daphne!”

Carr inclined his head. “I’m afraid it’s Daphne, my dear, but I’m quite certain that Major Selby would like to conduct the inquiry in his own way.”

“But what in the world? Why Daphne didn’t know anyone here. She...”

“Exactly, my dear,” Carr said. “It’s a puzzling problem, but if you’ll excuse me I’ll withdraw so that the officials can question you without being embarrassed by my presence.”

And Carr stepped swiftly through the door into the butler’s pantry.

“What happened to Daphne?” Mrs. Carr asked.

Selby said, “She seems to have been stabbed, Mrs. Carr.”

“And... you mean...?”

“Yes, she died almost instantly.”

“Where did it happen?”

“In the park. The body was found there and from indications it would seem that the body had not been transported. The crime must have been committed right there.”

“But that’s absolutely incredible.”

“You had known her for a long time?” Selby asked.

“Fairly long. But Mr. Selby, who on earth would have wanted to murder Daphne? Why she...”

“That’s exactly what we’re here to find out,” Brandon interrupted.

“I can’t help you at all.”

“Perhaps you can help us in a preliminary way,” Selby said. “Did she come here to see you?”