“Cup of tea’s a good move, isn’t it?” he asked rather uncertainly of Gwenda. “Put this Mrs. Kimble at her ease and all that.” “You’re absolutely right,” said Gwenda.
“Now what about you two? Shall I introduce you straight away? Or will it put her off?” Gwenda said slowly: “Country people are very suspicious. I believe it would be better if you received her alone.” “I think so too,” said Giles.
Dr. Kennedy said, “If you were to wait in the room next door, and if this communicating door were slightly ajar, you would be able to hear what went on. Under the circumstances of the case, I think that you would be justified.” “I suppose it’s eavesdropping, but I really don’t care,” said Gwenda.
Dr. Kennedy smiled faintly and said: “I don’t think any ethical principle is involved.
I do not propose, in any case, to give a promise of secrecy — though I am willing to give my advice if I am asked for it.” He glanced at his watch.
“The train is due at Woodleigh Road at four-thirty-five. It should arrive in a few minutes now. Then it will take her about five minutes to walk up the hill.” He walked restlessly up and down the room. His face was lined and haggard.
(c! don’t understand,” he said. “I don’t understand in the least what it all means. If Helen never left that house, if her letters to me were forgeries.” Gwenda moved sharply — but Giles shook his head at her. The doctor went on: “If Kelvin, poor fellow, didn’t kill her, then what on earth did happen?” “Somebody else killed her,” said Gwenda.
“But my dear child, if somebody else killed her, why on earth should Kelvin insist that he had done so?” “Because he thought he had. He found her there on the bed and he thought he had done it. That could happen, couldn’t it?” Dr. Kennedy rubbed his nose irritably.
“How should I know? I’m not a psychiatrist.
Shock? Nervous condition already?
Yes, I suppose it’s possible. But who would want to kill Helen?” “We think one of three people,” said Gwenda.
“Three people? What three people?
Nobody could have any possible reason for killing Helen — unless they were completely off their heads. She’d no enemies.
Everybody liked her.” He went to the desk drawer and fumbled through its contents.
“Came across this the other day — when I was looking for those letters.” He held out a faded snapshot. It showed a tall schoolgirl in a gym tunic, her hair tied back, her face radiant. Kennedy, a younger, happy-looking Kennedy, stood beside her, holding a terrier puppy.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about her lately,” he said indistinctly. “For many years I hadn’t thought about her at all — almost managed to forget…. Now I think about her all the time. That’s your doing.” His words sounded almost accusing.
“I think it’s her doing,” said Gwenda.
He wheeled round on her sharply.
“What do you mean?” “Just that. I can’t explain. But it’s not really us. It’s Helen herself.” The faint melancholy scream of an engine came to their ears. Dr. Kennedy stepped out of the window and they followed him. A trail of smoke showed itself retreating slowly along the valley.
“There goes the train,” said Kennedy.
“Coming into the station?” “No, leaving it.” He paused. “She’ll be here any minute now.” But the minutes passed and Lily Kimble did not come.
II ‘ Lily Kimble got out of the train at Dillmouth Junction and walked across the bridge to the siding where the little local train was waiting. There were few passengers — a half-dozen at most. It was a slack time of day and in any case it was market day at Helchester.
Presently the train started — puffing its way importantly along a winding valley.
There were three stops before the terminus at Lonsbury Bay; Newton Langford, Matchings Halt (for Woodleigh Camp) and Woodleigh Bolton.
Lily Kimble looked out of the window with eyes that did not see the lush countryside, but saw instead a Jacobean suite upholstered in jade green.
She was the only person to alight at the tiny station ofMatchings Halt. She gave up her ticket and went out through the booking office. A little way along the road a signpost with “To Woodleigh Camp” indicated a footpath leading up a steep hill.