A cold treachery - Charles Todd [35]
“You know the people around here better than I do,” Rutledge said. “Any thoughts on who might have killed the Elcotts? Or why?”
“I heal people, when I can. I don't judge them,” Jarvis said bluntly. “Why should it be someone local?”
“It's a place to begin,” Rutledge responded mildly. “I was under the impression that Gerald Elcott was shot where he stood, by the stove. He wasn't afraid of the intruder in his wife's kitchen, or he would have been at the door, between his family and the unexpected danger.”
Jarvis's face changed. “I hadn't considered that. I knew Gerald. He could handle himself. Even before he went into the Army. You're absolutely right, he'd have fought—”
“I understood he was invalided out of the Army.”
“Yes, a kidney shot up. Doctors removed it. But he got on well enough, afterward. And he'd have protected his family at any cost to himself.”
“Tell me about Paul Elcott.”
“There's not much to tell. He'd broken his left leg when he was young—a severe compound fracture that left the bone weak—and the Army wouldn't take him. He spent the war years working with local farms, trying to increase crop yield. And he ran the Elcott place as well. By the time Gerald was invalided home, Paul had lost thirty pounds. The man was a walking skeleton.”
“And Robinson? Did he bear a grudge against Elcott for taking away his wife?”
“For one thing, Gerald hardly took away Hugh Robinson's wife! The Army declared the man missing, then dead, a year before Gerald met Grace. And when he came home, Robinson himself believed that it was for the best to bow out. He hadn't seen his wife in years, and she was carrying Gerald's twins by that time. I hardly think that twelve months later he would slaughter all of them in some sudden craving for revenge. Certainly the man I saw an hour ago, looking at his little daughter's body, was distraught—”
The door opened and Elizabeth entered. “I think he might be able to sleep a little. Mr. Robinson. If not, I told him he could find us here.”
Jarvis, rising, nodded. “God knows the powder I gave him ought to do the trick. But after the whiskey, I was afraid to try anything stronger.”
“He tells me Inspector Greeley never sent him word—” she began.
“I think Greeley had hoped to offer him a little good news, that his son was safe.” Jarvis sighed. “It was an unfortunate oversight.”
“I wonder if the inspector has remembered Grace's sister?” she went on.
Jarvis stared at her. “I expect he hasn't. I'll find him and remind him. The roads are better, someone should be able to reach Keswick.”
Rutledge said, taking out his watch and glancing at the time, “If she's in Keswick, I'll bring her here myself. It will be faster.”
“I think he's speaking of reaching the telephone there,” Elizabeth Fraser replied. “As I remember, Miss Ashton lives in Carlisle now.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Rutledge stood rooted to the floor, his mind flying.
“Janet Ashton?” he asked, already knowing the answer.
“Yes, that's right,” Elizabeth replied, and picking up a nuance in his voice, added quickly, “What is it?”
“She's not in Carlisle now. Or she wasn't last night. She's here, at the Follet farm.”
“I wasn't aware that she knew them, the Follets,” Elizabeth said. “She hasn't been to Urskdale all that often—”
“She didn't know them. At least, not before last night!” Rutledge turned to Jarvis. “I think you ought to come with me, Doctor. Miss Ashton met with an accident on the road. I need your opinion as to whether or not she's fit to travel.”
“My bag is in the carriage. But I should think tomorrow morning—”
Rutledge was already pulling on his coat. “I made it through last night. I