A Lesson in Secrets_ A Maisie Dobbs Novel - Jacqueline Winspear [27]
“Robbie.”
“Yes.”
“The secretary came to me first. She could have gone to anyone in the staff room, but she came to me—I’m not sure, but my position here could be compromised.”
“Question her.”
“Just you and Stratton to start with, Robbie. I’ll find a way to bring in the pathologist and to exit with the body.”
“I’ll telephone Huntley now.”
Maisie began her examination of the room. The curtains were partially drawn against the late-afternoon sun, and on one side the drape of material flapped back and forth. She used the handkerchief to pull the French door back towards the frame, securing the lock and closing the curtains before going back to Liddicote’s desk. There were two neat piles of papers, one relating to proposed architectural alterations to the college, another concerning catering arrangements. A folder marked “Debate” was open. Maisie closed the file and placed it to the side to read before MacFarlane arrived.
She left the room, locked the door, and walked towards Miss Linden’s office.
“I am terribly sorry, Dr. Roth, but Dr. Liddicote has left the college for the day and I am not sure whether he intended to go directly home or not.” Rosemary Linden was pale and her voice trembled as she spoke to Roth.
“I was supposed to meet with him! How could he forget such a thing?”
Linden shrugged. “I’ll let him know you came—perhaps tomorrow morning?”
“The man is losing his mind!” said Roth, his voice raised, before stepping around Maisie without acknowledging her as he left the office.
Maisie waited until he was out of earshot before meeting the secretary’s eyes. The young woman was shaking. “Are you coping?”
“Yes, Miss Dobbs.”
“I can’t let you leave yet—the police are on their way and they’ll want to speak to you.”
Linden nodded. “I know.”
Maisie pulled up a chair until she was close enough to lower her voice so that she would not be heard through the glass panes and wooden wainscoting.
“I have to return to Dr. Liddicote’s room to await the police—someone should be with the body. Fortunately, in an hour or so many of the students and staff will have left; and the police will—I hope—appear like any other visitors to the college. Bring them to Dr. Liddicote’s office as soon as they arrive.” Maisie wondered if MacFarlane and Stratton could possibly be taken for ‘any other visitors to the college’; she could always tell a plainclothes policeman, even at a good number of paces distant.
“Right you are, Miss Dobbs.”
“Miss Linden,” whispered Maisie. “Why did you come straight to me, and not to another member of staff.”
The woman shrugged. “I see all the personal files, Miss Dobbs, so I know you’re the only one with any medical training in the whole college—we don’t have a matron here, though we summon the district nurse or the doctor if someone’s sent to the sick room.” She cleared her throat. “I knew you were the person I should tell; Dr. Liddicote wouldn’t have wanted any panic.”
Maisie nodded. “I’m sure he wouldn’t,” she said, then added, “Dr. Liddicote lived alone, didn’t he?”
“Yes, not a half mile away, it’s an easy enough walk.”
“Did he ever name a next of kin in any documents held here in your office?”
“I’ve already had a look, Miss Dobbs. He is not close to his children—his son lives in London—he’s a solicitor, something like that—and his daughter lives in Dorset.”
“Do you have their addresses?”
“I’ve written everything down for you.” She passed a folded sheet of paper to Maisie. “Was it a heart attack, Miss Dobbs?”
“Yes—yes, I believe it was. In any case, a pathologist will be coming with the police. Can you suggest a good entrance and exit for the pathologist and his staff—they’ll have to remove Dr. Liddicote, though fortunately it will be dark by then.”
“Come with me, I’ll show you the best way.”
Maisie regarded the body of Greville Liddicote. She had continued her search of the room, taking care not to disturb his belongings as she worked; but she knew that time was of the essence if the dead man was to