A Lesson in Secrets_ A Maisie Dobbs Novel - Jacqueline Winspear [84]
Maisie stepped towards the entrance to the assembly hall, but was almost knocked off balance when the door opened to reveal Francesca Thomas leaving. She did not notice Maisie, continuing on her way at a brisk pace. Maisie saw Stratton’s eyes follow the woman as she strode purposefully away from them. He looked back at Maisie. “So, um, where was I—oh yes, where will you be . . . while the college is closed?’
She raised her finger to her lips. “Sorry, Richard, keeping it to myself, for now.”
Having walked as quickly along the corridor as Francesca Thomas had before her, Maisie tapped on the door of the college office and walked in.
“Miss Dobbs, what do you want?” Miss Hawthorne was standing over a desk bearing mounds of paper and a series of open manila folders. “Can’t you see my hands are full?”
“I have my students’ marked assignments here, and their homework for this week, along with readings they must complete before we return next Monday. I’d already prepared the sheets, and I thought they could get on with the work during the next few days while classes are suspended—I wouldn’t want them to fall behind.”
“Of course not. Here, I can post them in the students’ common room, and I will leave a note to the effect that work handed in last week can be collected here. Well, Miss Dobbs, I’m glad that someone is organized. I just had Dr. Thomas in here telling me she would be using the days to complete research for a paper, and that she would be leaving as soon as she could. Had me take dictation for a message to her students—the cheek of it! The sooner Miss Linden is replaced, the better. No wonder the young woman ran off like that—who wouldn’t want to vanish into thin air with all this to deal with?”
“Who indeed?” said Maisie. “I’ll see you soon, Miss Hawthorne. You know where my lodgings are, if you need to contact me.”
“It’s the police who’ll want to know.”
“Oh, I’ve already been interviewed.”
With that, Maisie ran to the bicycle rack and sped back to her lodgings, where she collected the MG and drove directly to Francesca Thomas’ flat. A taxi-cab had drawn up outside, and soon Thomas emerged from the front door and stepped into the vehicle, which moved slowly down the street, before accelerating as it merged onto the main road. Maisie followed, close enough to see where the motor car was going, but not so near as to be identified. The taxi-cab stopped at the railway station, where Thomas stepped out and made her way quickly to the ticket office.
“Damn!” said Maisie to herself. She pulled the MG around and parked on the street, then ran back to the station. Thomas had been in a hurry, so the train she expected to catch would be coming in soon.
“Where’s the next train going?” Maisie asked the clerk.
“Where to?”
“Just the next train, anywhere.”
The man looked at her as if she were half mad.
“It’s about my husband,” she added, leaving the reason hanging.
“Oh, right you are, see what you mean. You’ll be looking at the London train, leaves in two minutes.”
“Return, third class.” Maisie set down the money, and ran towards the platform, though she stepped into the shadows as the train pulled in, belching steam and punching out specks of soot.
In the distance, she saw Francesca Thomas step into a first-class compartment, so Maisie joined the travelers in the nearest third-class carriage. She would have to make sure she was first off the train when it arrived in London. The train rocked from side to side, lulling some of the passengers to sleep. Maisie picked up a newspaper discarded by a departing passenger; it was just what she needed to shield her face, should Thomas decide to leave her seat to walk along the narrow corridor in search of the WC. It was getting on for five o’clock when they arrived in London.
Maisie stepped off the train and walked towards the ticket collector. She kept to the side of the stream of passengers, looking out for Thomas. She soon caught sight of her, walking with a purposeful stride. Maisie remained several yards behind, and followed Thomas outside, where she hailed a taxi-cab.