Character

  • Age: 53
  • Occupation: housemaid/housekeeper
  • Relation to the victim: employee
  • Possible motive: maybe she got fed up with working so much for so little money, or so many hours. Maybe she wanted a raise, or to work less time, and the baron wouldn’t have it.
  • Personality traits: she is a calm woman, has spent her whole life working and never complaining, she is used to being ordered around and being told what to do.
  • Mannerisms: she never keeps her purse out of sight
  • Physical appearance: a bit chubby (typical of menopausal women), always wear her hair in a bun, her hair is very brittle, and she dyes it brown. She also paints her eyebrows, which have always been very dim.
  • Hobbies: she doesn’t have a lot of free time between working and taking care of her family, but she likes listening to the radio or podcasts (specially while doing housework).
  • Suspicious behaviours:
  • Health: probably some kind of old-people problem
  • Speech: she doesn’t talk a lot, because she has only ever been told what to do and not asked for her opinion much. But when she does talk, she makes sure she is heard, soft but imposing voice
  • Other relationships:

Interview

Q: What’s your relationship to the victim?
A: I work for him.

Q: What are you working as?
A: I’m Mr. Barlow’s housekeeper. It’s my job to keep his mansion clean and prepare his meals.

Q: Can you tell me exactly what you did today?
A: I arrived at Mr. Barlow’s mansion at around 6:00. As always, I prepared Mr. Barlow’s breakfast, which he had around 6:30. He doesn’t like to be bothered, so I started with the usual chores. At around 9:30, Mrs. Barlow woke up and I prepared breakfast for her too. I cleaned the bedroom and the other rooms, briefly pausing for lunch. Around 16:00, I went grocery shopping for Mr. Barlow and I returned at 18:00. I was putting the food inside the fridge until I noticed that no one was answering the phone. I hurried myself to pick it up. It was the police, they told me that Mr. Barlow had died. I informed Mrs. Barlow about his death and she left the house. My shift ended at 19:00, and I left to pick my son up here at the stadium.

Q: Did you notice anything unusual during the day?
A: Let me think… I noticed a lot of empty pill wrappers in Mr. and Mrs. Barlow’s private bathroom trashcan.

Q: What kind of pills?
A: I don’t know. I’m a housekeeper and get paid for cleaning, not snooping around.

Q: How did Mrs. Barlow react to the news of Mr. Barlow’s death?
A: Oh, she was desolated. Hysteric. She demanded to get to the police station immediately to find out what had happened.

Q: Where did you have your lunch break?
A: At Barlow’s mansion. I always bring my own food.

Q: What did you cook for Mr. and Mrs. Barlow?
A: The usual: some eggs with bacon and toast for Mr. Barlow. And a coffee. Mrs. Barlow had some fruits and a yogurt.

Q: Do you know of anyone that wants Mr. Barlow dead?
A: God, no. Despite his tough personality, he was a kind man. I don’t know why anyone would ever do such an awful thing.

Q: How was the marriage between Mr. and Mrs. Barlow – Any fights?
A: It was an… interesting marriage. Never boring, that’s for sure.

Q: What can you tell me about Margaret Crawford?
A: I just know that Mrs. Crawford is Mr. Barlow’s ex-wife.

Q: What’s the plan after you picked up your son?
A: We are going back to our house.

Q: Was Mr. Barlow ever rude/violent towards you?
A: No. He liked his space and I was never too close to him, but he was a good boss.

Q: What can you tell me about Mr. Barlow’s children?
A: I don’t know much about them. When I was hired, they didn’t live at the mansion anymore.

Q: What can you tell me about Mr. Barlow’s company?
A: Oh, it’s a very important company. Everyone knows the history of this town is linked to that family and their oil industry.