Inside the Pharmacy

Elizabeth Beaumont reached inside a large black handbag and produced a key.

"Inspector Temple, I was given a key to the pharmacy door by old Mr Philpott, a long time before he retired. He always said that there might, one day, be an emergency and I must be able to get in." She paused and looked rather furtive. "Mr Ellacott doesn't know about my having the key. You ..."

"No, Miss Beaumont, I won't tell him." He took the key from her.

The pharmacy was neat and well organised. Shelves full of boxes containing various chemicals, liquids, powders and pills lined all four walls. Each item was carefully labelled in bold clear writing. Two large carboys filled with potassium permanganate stood either side of the hatch to the shop.

"What are we looking for, Gov?" Cantwell was overawed by the amount of containers and their contents.

"Not sure. I'd like some sort of ledger or accounts book. Those pills we found at Ellacott's place were drinomyl. There were enough to dope every horse or dog running in every race at every meeting between now and Christmas. Dodgy dogs aren't the half of it!" He looked around and shook his head. "What we need is evidence that Ellacott was fiddling his books."

An hour later, nothing useful had been found. Miss Beaumont knocked and popped her head round the door.

"Can I help, Inspector, I shall be closing the shop for lunch."

"Any idea where the ledgers and order books were kept?" She shook her head. "No hidden drawers or secret doors?" He laughed.

"Oh! How silly of me! Mr Philpott used to put the paperwork in here." She crossed the room, lifted the carpet and pulled on a metal ring in the floorboards. One of the boards lifted up and Miss Beaumont got on her hands and knees and reached down. With a look of triumph, she brought up a large rectangular wooden box. "He always said that paperwork must be kept away from any chemical spills. Maybe Mr Ellacott had the same idea.

"Well done," Cantwell rushed over to help her up and take the box.

"If you take them away, you will bring them all back before Mr Ellacottreturns, won't you?"

"Miss Beaumont, whatever happens, I don't think Mr Ellacott will be coming back here. I suspect you will have another pharmacist before too long. I give you my solemn word, everything will be in place long before then."

"Could I, at least, have a receipt for them, Inspector, for my records, you understand?"

Temple smiled and nodded: "Write out a receipt, Cantwell."

Flummoxed by the request, he searched around for his notebook, tore out a page and wrote:
'Reciept for papers taken from Pharmacey. I acknowledge that we have taken paperwork from Ellacott's Pharmacey. These papers will be returned. Signing officer: Detective Sergeant Thomas Cantwell. Date 29 June 1950'

Temple glanced at the paper, noting the spelling errors and grimacing. He handed it to Miss Beaumont who tutted twice.

"I'll send round a typed receipt tomorrow, Miss Beaumont."

Though their eyes met and each understood what the other was thinking, nothing more was said.

Cantwell and Temple left the Pharmacy and took their haul of papers to the car.