A cold treachery - Charles Todd [60]
Hamish said, “She didna' know they were blocking the road. She came through before word went out.”
Elizabeth Fraser started to say something and then thought better of it.
Janet Ashton flicked a look in the other woman's direction and then went on, “There's something more. Have you considered the possibility, Inspector, that Paul Elcott will worry about what I can tell the police? Or that Grace might have written to me about her fears? I don't even have a key for my door here. Paul's free to come and go as he pleases. I could wake up one night and find him standing over my bed!”
Mrs. Cummins gave a little mew of terror.
“She willna' let go of it,” Hamish said. “I'd wonder why she's pressing sae hard?”
Miss Fraser said, “If you'd like a key, I'll see that you have one. But I hardly think you have any reason to be afraid here.”
Robinson spoke up suddenly. “I've met Elcott. I think you're wrong. I can't believe he's the man we're after. Unless there's some problem I'm not aware of?” He looked around the table.
“Of course not,” Elizabeth Fraser answered. “Paul's very different from Gerald, but that's not unexpected. I'd say you and your sister were different as well, Miss Ashton?”
Mrs. Cummins put in, “I don't see why a problem with a weak bone in his leg should make any difference to the Army. He could still shoot, couldn't he? Harry went to fight, even if they sent him off to Egypt instead. He didn't like Egypt, you know. But it was better than being cannon fodder in France.”
Ignoring her hostess's digression, Janet Ashton turned to Robinson. “I'm sorry,” she apologized for a second time. “I can't help it. I lie awake at night struggling to find answers. And Paul is the only threat I knew about. But if you don't agree with me, if there's something I haven't thought of, I wish you'd tell me! Anything to stop the ache of wondering.”
He turned his head away, unable to look at her. Rutledge, beside him, could sense the rising tension in the man. The hand holding his serviette clenched and he cleared his throat as if he found it hard to breathe.
“Hugh? Please help me. You've hardly spoken to me since I got here—did Grace tell you something—” Her voice broke on tears.
And then almost against his will, Robinson blurted, “God knows I'd rather have it be Elcott than Josh—”
There was a stunned silence as everyone stared at him.
Robinson's face was drained of feeling, as if he had reached the bottom of despair.
“What do you mean, rather Elcott than Josh?” Rutledge asked slowly.
“I'm afraid—Josh hated his stepfather. I can't believe he'd have touched his mother. Still, once the shooting began—I don't see how he could have stopped. And I keep asking myself why he didn't die with the rest of them—how it was he got away. And there's only one answer I can think of. He'd planned it quite carefully. He killed them all and escaped under cover of the storm. I can't sleep for wondering if he was trying to get to London and to me. That it's my fault, indirectly, that they're dead. Because, you see, I wouldn't take him to live with me, however much he begged. God help me, I felt he was better off with his mother!”
He began to weep inconsolably.
Janet Ashton gasped, hands over her mouth. And for once she was speechless.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Elizabeth Fraser was the first to recover. “For shame!” she exclaimed, a flush of anger rising into her cheeks. “You can't believe such a thing—he's your son!”
“No, Hugh, that's nonsense. You can't believe that! Grace would have told me if he was that unhappy! And he wouldn't have touched his mother—or Hazel—he loved his sister—” Janet Ashton's words spilled over each other as she leaned forward across the table.
Mrs. Cummins, flushed with shock, got to her feet, overturning her chair. “No, please—I can't bear any more of this.” She hurried out of the kitchen, almost the scurry of a timid and frightened