A False Mirror - Charles Todd [135]
“I thought at first it was Stratton. I was relieved that it was Mallory. But I knew Felicity had seen him at least once. And that rankled.”
“Were you afraid for your marriage?”
“Hardly that. But it was a snake in our Eden. I couldn’t go round to his cottage and thrash him. Or ask him to move away. It was a reminder, if you like, that Felicity had loved him once. I’d have given much not to remember that.”
“Did Mallory come down to the shingle and threaten you, earlier in the week?”
“I was alone. I told you.” He looked Rutledge up and down. “Who are you? You’ve asked a good many questions. Rather personal ones at that.”
“I’ve told you. My name is Rutledge. I’m also from Scotland Yard.”
“And a friend of Miranda’s.” He seemed to accept that. “I see now why she said she trusted you.”
“You couldn’t have been alone on the strand, Hamilton. You couldn’t have damaged yourself like this. Have you seen yourself in a mirror, man?”
“I didn’t say no one had attacked me. I said I saw no one there.”
“Why did you kill Margaret Granville?”
Hamilton raised his head. “Are you telling me that I did, and can’t remember that, either?”
“She’s dead. And you’re here. No one took you out of that surgery and murdered you and left your body in the cottage by the sea to wash away when the land crumbled.”
He studied his hands. “I’m not clear about getting out of there. Something was wrong. And I was worried, but I couldn’t remember what it was that needed to be done.”
“She walked into the room, and you saw her outlined against the light she’d left in the passage. You were coming out of sedation and muddled. Afraid of something but not really sure where you were or why. It could have been that her shadow was thrown against the wall, and you had no way of knowing it was the doctor’s wife.”
“I disliked Granville. He was there with Bennett, telling me about Felicity and Mallory. I could hear them, at a great distance, and they wouldn’t stop. I wanted to shout at them, but I couldn’t.”
“But you were stronger when you got out of bed, caught up with Mrs. Granville in the passage, and choked her to death.” Rutledge watched his eyes as he made the suggestion. For any indication that Hamilton knew this to be a lie, or saw a way of offering Rutledge a false scent to follow.
But the color had drained from Hamilton’s face. “Is that true? Was that how it happened?” He dropped his hands, as if to hide them. “What am I going to do? I have to get out of here, I can’t drag Miranda into this.” He turned to the wardrobe and pulled out his clothing, reaching for his shoes and carrying the lot to the fire, where he began to dress. It was difficult, and in the end he had to resort to sitting in the chair to draw on his trousers. Rutledge watched him as he laced his shoes.
“All right, I’m ready.” He moved on to the desk, drew paper and a pen out of the center drawer, and tried to write a message to Miranda Cole. He crumpled the first effort, tossing it into the fire. Thinking for a moment, he scrawled something across the page. Blotting it, he folded the sheet and set it on the table by the bed.
“I didn’t tell her. I just said we must go to Hampton Regis tonight and then I thanked her.” He tried to smile. “I always valued her good opinion. Now I’ve brought her trouble. How do we get there? Don’t tell me we’ll have to wait until her groom can drive us into Exeter?” The thought stopped him.
“My motorcar is downstairs.”
“Thank God.” Hamilton turned and surveyed the room. “I’m too tired to think. But all I’ve done since I got here is sleep. Hiding from myself, at a guess. Now I know why.”
Rutledge said, “Are you sure you’re up to this?”
“Let’s get it over and done with.” He reached for one of the pillows and then put it back. “No. I don’t need it. I don’t want to take anything that ought to be brought back.”
They made it as far as the stairs before Miranda Cole opened her door at the end of the passage and said, “Who’s there?”
“I’m going with Mr. Rutledge back to Hampton Regis, Miranda. I’m all right now, I’ve slept well enough and