Dear Jo,

The thrill of all the minute clues coming together, in a blend of realisation, and stupendous wonder, I find, is the best feeling. That is why I take on these fallen cases.

Did we assume foul play? Of course, this was an obvious conclusion with all the evidence on display. However, the finer detail, those missed words and objects that screamed to us that this case was a simple one.

I like your thinking, Jo, naming the case ‘Char for the Charlady;’ so apt.

It was Mr Brown’s observing Mr Samson in his van that started to ring those cerebral bells, and what you said about Miss Johnson cleaning up her spilt drink. When Mrs Samson left to sit in the van, nursing her cough, Miss Johnson made her drink, spilt it, left the cup in the kitchen and returned to deal with the mess. She used the discarded vacuum cleaner, and I believe that was when the accident occurred.

Miss Johnson used one of the tools on the extension nozzle. When she’d finished putting this away, the safety cap was still open and the machine on. Being unfamiliar with it, she bent over to switch the machine off and her pearl necklace, dangling from her neck, was sucked into the nozzle. This left a 27mm ring mark on her neck at it sucked away, pulling on the pearls and asphyxiating her.

The machine was found turned off, so maybe she managed to hit the button as she gasped for air, or the plug was pulled out of the socket as she struggled. She fell backwards through the door, coursing it to shut, and she landed on the floor where she was found by Miss Wright.

Mr Samson washed up in the kitchen, assuming his wife hadn’t done so, collected her vacuum cleaner and left, job done.

So, there we have it. Miss Johnson died because she had her habitual cup of char. She was unfamiliar with the machine and she did not heed the health and safety rules: never do the cleaning in your best pearls, and never trust a charlady’s cleaner.

Thanks again, Jo. The next case will be in the post very soon.

Yours

Swan