Ohh, it's terrible! Ms. R screamed to the others ladies present in the living room belonging to Mrs. C.
He's killed! Brandon, he has been murdered!
Commotion aroused as the two other ladies, together with ms. R, rushed out on to the balcony, where Brandon lay dead.
Mrs. C sat caressing his head gently while crying.
Who could have done this to Brandon! She sobbed.
Brandon lay at the balcony floor with a small arrow pierced trough his throat.

Before Ms. R's exclamation of Brandon's murder, there had been two other ladies in the living room. There was the chain-smoking Mrs. N, as always smoking a cigarette with her pink cigarette holder, and there was Mrs. S the vicar's quite talkative and flower interested wife. Ms. R herself was the daughter of Mrs. C, visiting over the weekend.

Maybe it was by divine intervention or just plain luck, it just so happened that Mr. P arrived to pay Mrs. C a visit this afternoon. Mr. P was an old friend of Mrs. C, -and a very good detective.
Through a lot of chattering voices and sobs (from Mrs. C) he was informed of what had occurred, and he went into action at once.

- Now, since Brandon where alive when Mrs. C went to make more tea, the murder occurred during her five minutes of absence from the room and discovered Brandon dead upon her return to the living room. So where were the rest of you during the five minutes when Mrs. C made tea?

- But surely non of us could have done such a horrible thing?! Said Mrs. S.

-Well I will figure out whether you could or not, please Mrs. S where were You at the time? Mr. P asked.

-I inspected Mrs. C's orchids there at the windows Mrs. N faces. We where having a conversation about them, non of us never left the room. Mrs. S answered.

-Yes I sat smoking and talking to Mrs. S while she admired the orchids. Confirmed Mrs. N. She continued saying:
-And I sat with my back turned towards the balcony speaking to Mrs. S, I never saw anything.

- Then where were You Ms. R? Mr. P asked her.

- I left the room at same time as Mrs. C, to refresh myself in the bathroom, it's awfully hot today. I came out when I heard the scream from Mrs. C out on the balcony. Ms. R said.

-You see Mr. P, it's impossible that anyone here could have done it! Mrs. C said relieved.
-there must have been someone from the outside.

-But that really is impossible.! No one can aim with a bow or anything of that kind, and hit with small arrow such as that. And the balcony, it's on the 6th floor, one would need to be able to fly to be able to at least see Brandon on the balcony! Mr. P exclaimed.
He then suddenly said:

-Mrs. N, it seems that Your cigarette has been left burning for to long, now it will be difficult to get it out of he holder. Shall I get you a hairpin or something so You can pick it out?

- oh that's not necessary, the cigarettes doesn't fit exactly in the holder. I can just blow it out. Mrs. N answered.

And in an easily manner Mrs. N blew the cigarette butt into the ashtray at the table.

-It's not good for You to smoke Mrs. N. Said Mr. P

He went to the table, noticing that the cup of Mrs. S where untouched.

- You never finished Your tea Mrs. S?

- No, I guess that I truly must have been quite absorbed by the orchids! Aren't they just adorable? You don't see such fine examples very often, do you?
It reminds me, of the stolen poison arrows I obtained in the South Americas last year, when working for the church. I purchased some for our local museum You see, but when Mrs. N, She's the manager of the museum, went to get them at the post office they weren't there! Maybe there's a connection with the murder?

-It's not impossible, but the thief - and now the murderer would have planned this very far in advance, why? Mr P answered.

The clock struck 5 p.m. and Mr. P had to excuse himself, for he had to leave.

-But the murder!? It's still unsolved! Exclaimed Ms. R.

-My ladies, due to lack of time I am not able to solve the case, I have a very important meting to attend. Good bye! Said Mr. P.

Mrs. C followed him to the door, before she closed the door Mr. P said:

- I'm truly sorry for he loss of Your beloved parrot, but You are lucky to have some friends who can comfort You. But I wouldn't be too surprised if Mrs. R is to be absent from your tea-parties quite soon, smoking really is bad for you...