The local policeman stood staring down at the body when the inspector arrived.
As he entered, he stood looking around. After a few words with the policeman, he wandered around. When the call came into the station, it was noted that the property where the death had occurred, on the outskirts of the village, was run down. The elderly owner was poor and hadn’t been able to maintain the cottage or the garden. He was seeing that for himself now, as he walked from room to room. There was very little furniture and a quick inspection of the pantry showed that there was hardly any food on the shelves. The constable, still patiently standing by the body, cleared his throat. The other seemed to become aware of his presence. He nodded and approached.
“Do we know the whereabouts of the house owner?”
“Up stairs, having a lie down, sir.” He looked happy to be asked something.
“Upset, I dare say.”
“Yes, sir,” he said, with enthusiasm, “she is rather old and I don’t think she is quite all there, if you get my meaning. I’ve had a look around myself,” at this point he looked down at the body, “and there’s nothing here for him to eat. You only have to look at him to see that he starved to death.”
The inspector shook his head and sighed. “I’m inclined to agree with you.” He knelt down. “No marks on the body, but I can see his ribs.”
The policeman added. “I’m just saying, sir, but I’m sure it wasn’t deliberate.”
“Who reported it?”
“The guy who has the bakery in the village reported it, apparently, the old girl went up there earlier to buy a loaf.”
“Did she now?”
“Yes, sir, although it was his wife who actually discovered the body. She just called in to visit the old girl this morning. She came in and this is what she found. Of course, she went back and told her husband and he phoned it in.”
The inspector stood up. “Do these creatures actually eat bread?”
“I believe they do, sir, but they prefer a bone.”
“I’m sure they do. Do we have the woman’s name?
The policeman opened his notebook. “Couldn’t get her first name… it seems she was only known as old Mother Hubbard.”