“I am the housekeeper. During Mr. Deming’s absence I look after the property. I assure you no one but myself lives in the house at present.”
“No roomer ever has stayed here?”
Mrs. Botts drew herself up proudly. “Would Mr. Deming be likely to annoy himself with roomers? He has a very substantial fortune.”
“You might try to pick up a few dollars yourself.”
“Mr. Deming would not hear of such a thing! He pays me well.”
Detective Fuller asked additional questions, trying to learn whether or not the woman was the one who had fled from the cemetery. Mrs. Botts frankly admitted that she had taken Mr. Parker to the hospital, but she denied ever trying to collect a ransom.
“What you say now doesn’t agree with your original story,” Penny protested. “You admitted to me—”
“I admitted nothing,” Mrs. Botts broke in indignantly. “I have no secrets to hide!”
“But I’m sure Mr. Jones is living in this house,” Penny said stubbornly. “He’s upstairs.”
“Indeed?” mocked Mrs. Botts. “Perhaps you’d like to search the house.”