He got back to the house at half-past one. Carole Stewart was alone in the living-room. She said, “You’re just in time. I was about to have lunch.”
“Where’s everybody else?”
“Well, Irene told me Michael’s gone to the Bird-in-Hand for a drink … so we won’t see him until after they’re shut. I’ve only just got in myself.”
“Enjoy your walk?”
With her mouth drawn in, Carole said, “No. I should’ve known better than to go out with Mister Neil Ford. His idea of a walk is to get behind the nearest hedge with an obliging female.”
Quinn said, “I could say it’s your own fault … but I won’t. What did you do?”
“I gave him a smack across the face that he won’t forget in a hurry. Then I went for a walk by myself until I’d cooled off. If I’d come straight back here I’d have been tempted to tell Irene exactly what I thought of her precious husband.”
“You might be doing her a favour if you did. What time was it when you left Ford?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Twelve o’clock, perhaps.”
“Any idea where he went?”
“No … and I don’t care, either. When he started pawing me I could have killed him.”
“You seem to have been unlucky with the men you’ve met recently,” Quinn said. “You told me you didn’t like being pawed when I kissed you at Charlie Hinchcliffe’s party.”
She looked uncomfortable. “That was different. I only meant it as a figure of speech.”
“Good job, too. If you’d taken a hefty swipe at me I’d have been out for a week. I felt dizzy enough that night, as it was. And, talking about being dizzy, where’s precious husband’s wife?”
After a moment’s thought, Carole said, “Oh, you mean Irene. She’s gone out.”
“Where did she go?”
“To find Neil. I think she guessed there was something wrong when I came back alone. I hadn’t been here five minutes before she suddenly decided she needed some exercise. I heard her say it was time for lunch and she’d walk down to meet him … but you know the vague way she rambles from one thing to another.”
Quinn said, “Yes, I know. Did she tell you what time Michael went out?”
“Before twelve … I think. She mentioned something about him having to wait for the pub to open.”
“Funny how I didn’t see him. After I’d wandered around for a while I called in at the Bird-in-Hand after twelve o’clock … and I didn’t leave until almost twelve-thirty. But Michael never showed up while I was there. Maybe he didn’t actually say he was going for a drink but Irene took it for granted.”
A little frown narrowed Carole’s eyes. She said, “It’s possible … Why all these questions, anyway? Has Inspector Elvin asked you to keep a check on everybody’s movements?”
“No, this is entirely my own idea,” Quinn said. “Nevertheless, when he hears the news, he’ll want to know where you all were this morning between twelve o’clock and half-past.”
“What news?”
“About Miss Wilkinson. After I left the Bird-in-Hand I decided to call on her. When I got there I found Dr. Bossard trying to break into the garage. He asked me to help him force the door because she was locked inside and the engine of her car was running.”
Carole put a hand to her mouth. In a thin voice, she said, “Oh, no …”
Quinn said, “I’m afraid it was oh yes. We got her out eventually, phoned for an ambulance, and she was taken to hospital. Not that anybody could do much for her. I’m quite sure she was already dead when we forced open the garage door.”
After a long silence, Carole asked, “Why do you say the inspector will want to know where we were between twelve and half past?”
There was a look of horror in her eyes — a look that Quinn couldn’t believe was assumed. He said, “Because I’d say she must’ve been lying in the garage at least half an hour. She’d been hit over the head and locked in the garage no later than twelve o’clock, in my opinion.”
“So that means you think —”
“Yes, I do. I think she was murdered by one of three people — the one who killed Adele Parry. It’s a question of choosing between Mrs. Parry’s husband, her doctor and her latest lover. Has anyone told you that Miss Wilkinson phoned early on this morning and said she knew who poisoned Adele?”
Carole said, “No.” She sounded as though she had something in her throat.
“Well, I was having breakfast in the kitchen when she spoke to Mrs. Ford. The gist of it was that she’d be coming here this afternoon with some kind of proof. I passed that on to Michael … and I’ve no doubt Mrs. Ford told her husband when he came back after you smacked his face.”
“But he wasn’t in the house —”
“He could’ve been and gone. And if he’s the one, we know where he went.”
In the same difficult voice, Carole asked, “Did you mean Neil when you talked about Adele’s latest lover?”
“Yes. I heard him trying to explain to his wife that he’d been the victim of a designing female and just managed to get away from her with his chastity intact.”
A car changed gear at the foot of the long climb up from the village. Carole walked to the window and stood looking out, her sleek dark hair glistening in the sunlight, her pretty hands clasped tightly together.
Quinn still thought she was a cute little girl. Pity that things couldn’t have been different. Now she would have to work out her own salvation.
With her back towards him, Carole said, “If you suspect it was Neil, why drag anybody else into it? Michael, for example, has gone through a lot and —”
“Michael, for example, doesn’t mean two hoots to you,” Quinn said. “All you’re concerned about is dear Geoffrey. You’ll do anything to protect him, won’t you?”
She swung round. “Well, after all, he is my husband.”
“Taken you long enough to think of that … hasn’t it?”
“Perhaps. But I know now. Whatever’s happened doesn’t matter. I intend to stand by him.”
Quinn said, “Three hearty British cheers … With Adele Parry dead, he doesn’t need your wifely support. Michael can’t sue for divorce and anyone who dared suggest that Dr. Bossard’s relationship with his late patient wasn’t strictly ethical would risk an action for criminal slander. So he’s in the clear. Not a breath of suspicion attached to him … now that Ariadne Wilkinson’s had her mouth shut, too.”
With contempt in her eyes, Carole said, “I wish I hadn’t felt sorry for you that night at the party. Everything you say is an insinuation. Why are you so anxious to make trouble for him?”
“Someone killed Miss Wilkinson. And it’s as likely to have been your Dr. Bossard as anybody else.”
“How? You told me she must’ve been lying in the garage for at least half an hour. If he’d only just got there —”
“That’s his story,” Quinn said. “Who saw him arrive? Who’s to say he hasn’t been hanging around since before twelve o’clock … or that this wasn’t his second visit to Rose Cottage?”
The car reached the top of the rise. As it rounded the elm trees, Carole said, “How does anyone know you weren’t paying a second visit? If it could be shown that you had a motive … oh, this is absurd! I’d better watch out or you’ll make me as bad as you are and —”
She broke off as the car pulled up outside. Then she asked, “Why are you looking like that? What did I say?”
Quinn said, “You’ve just made me realise something. The obvious motive isn’t always the real one.”
“Is that supposed to be a profound remark?”
“More profound than you know.” As the door-bell chimed, he added, “They say ‘When in doubt, ask a policeman.’ So now’s your chance. That’s Inspector Elvin at the door. He’s got Sergeant Taylor with him and there’s a uniformed driver in the car … so I’d say this is no social call …”
Elvin came in briskly, gave Quinn a nod, and said good afternoon to Carole Stewart. “… I suppose you’ve heard about Miss Wilkinson?”
“Yes, Mr. Quinn told me.”
“I see … You’ve already met Sergeant Taylor, haven’t you? No? Well, he’s here to assist me.”
Sergeant Taylor mumbled some greeting, twiddled his hat, and then stared up at the ceiling, his big heavy face impassive. Under the point of his chin there was a trace of dried blood where he had cut himself shaving.
Carole asked, “Any possibility it might’ve been an accident?”
“Oh, there’s always that possibility — always.” Elvin looked at Quinn. “But the doctor tells me you don’t think so … m-m-m?”
“No. And I’ll go on not thinking so until we know where Parry, Ford and Bossard were from some time before twelve o’clock until twelve-thirty.”
Inspector Elvin pondered for a moment, his head tilted as though he were listening for any sound from upstairs. Then he said, “I see … Well, that shouldn’t be very difficult. Dr. Bossard will be along shortly and we’ll see what he has to say. Meantime, let’s ask Mr. Parry and Mr. Ford … shall we?”
“They’re not here,” Quinn said.
“Indeed? When are they expected back? Do you know, Miss Stewart?”
Carole said, “All I can tell you is that Michael is supposed to have gone to the Bird-in-Hand and Mr. Ford went out for a walk.”
“How long ago?”
“Just after half past nine.”
The inspector looked at his watch. “Nearly two o’clock … Four hours is a lot of walking on a hot day. Of course, he may be another one who’s sampling the wine of the country. Do you think that’s likely?”
“I’ve no idea,” Carole said.
“Then shall we ask his wife?”
“She’s not here, either. She went out about half an hour ago.”
“Indeed? Do you know where?”
“To see if there was any sign of her husband. She wanted to get lunch over and —”
“Don’t try to cover up the truth,” Quinn said. “You know she’s gone to play hell with him because he got fresh with you when you were out together.”
Carole said angrily, “That’s the last time I’ll tell you anything! What happened between Neil Ford and me is no concern of the police and I don’t want it discussed.”
Inspector Elvin bobbed his head in agreement. “You’re quite right, Miss Stewart. It is a personal matter … and I can assure you I have more important things to discuss with Mr. Ford — much more important things. However, there is one question I think only you can answer … if you don’t mind?”
“Not at all. What is it?”
“Just this: what time did you leave Mr. Ford — and where?”
She glanced at Quinn, her eyes still angry. Then she said, “It was before twelve o’clock. He asked me if I’d like to call in at the Bird-in-Hand for an iced lager and that’s where we were going when” — she made an impatient gesture — “when he acted silly.”
“I see … And you left him there and then?”
“Of course.”
“Yes, I can understand. Where were you when this happened?”
“The other side of the village.”
“How far from Miss Wilkinson’s cottage in Northwood Lane?”
Carole gave Quinn another fleeting look. She said, “Just a few minutes’ walk.”
“You haven’t seen him since you parted company?”
“No.”
“Did you come straight back here?”
“No, I was very annoyed and I didn’t want Mrs. Ford to see me looking upset in case she guessed her husband had been making a fool of himself.”
“I see … Were you anywhere near Northwood Lane after you left Mr. Ford?”
Carole head went back. In a stiff voice, she said, “I don’t know what you mean by that, Inspector, but if you’re suggesting —”
“I’m not suggesting anything,” Elvin said. “The purpose of my question was to ascertain if you, perhaps, saw Mr. Ford in the neighbourhood of Northwood Lane … or going in that direction.”
“I’ve no idea where he went.”
Inspector Elvin stroked his silver hair and made a puckered mouth while he thought. Then he said, “Very well. Seems there’s only one thing to do. I’ll wait and see what Mr. Neil Ford has to say for himself.”