Doctor Who_ The Banquo Legacy - Andy Lane [54]
But as suddenly as it had occurred, my exhilaration faded. I may have stumbled across the reason for Richard Harries’s death, but I still had no inkling who had killed him. If I was right then everyone had a strong enough motive.
I sighed and turned to George Wallace as we gained the upstairs landing. ‘May I borrow your telephone for a while?’ I asked. ‘I had better report to my superiors on recent developments.’
‘Of course, Inspector, of course. Telephone’s downstairs in the hall. Feel free to use it whenever.’
‘Thank you.’
We were at the corner of the corridor leading to Richard Harries’s last resting place when I heard a familiar voice behind us. I turned to find John Hopkinson and Susan Seymour walking towards us.
‘Do you mind if we join you?’ asked Hopkinson.
‘Professor Harries’s… remains… are no sight for a lady,’ I snapped. ‘I would have expected you to show more consideration, Mr Hopkinson.’
‘Actually,’ Hopkinson said, ‘it was her idea.’
‘Every opportunity to gather data should be taken,’ Susan Seymour said calmly. ‘I have much theoretical knowledge of the inner workings of the human body, but little practical experience.’
It took me a second to register the casual import of her words, but when I did I could feel a chill run up my spine.
‘And besides,’ she said, a fearful look haunting her eyes, ‘he was my fiancé, and it may be the last chance I get to see him. To remember him.’
‘It may still be a shock m’dear,’ said Wallace. ‘I don’t like to be indelicate in front of a lady, but sometimes in cases of electrical shock the burns take some time to develop.’
I looked questioningly at him. ‘It’s a new field,’ he explained, ‘but I’ve been reading up on it since we installed the generator. You see, sometimes the electrical charge, as it is called, actually travels along the nerves in the body. Thus the burns start from the inside and work their way out.’
Miss Seymour winced and Wallace began to apologise to her. ‘It’s up to you if you want to come in,’ I interrupted. ‘We’ll all quite understand if you wish to stay outside.’
‘Simpson and Beryl are around somewhere,’ said Wallace helpfully. ‘Or you could go and see if Elizabeth or Catherine is awake.’
‘No,’ said Miss Seymour resolutely, and I could tell from her eyes that the moment of vulnerability had passed. ‘The concept of nerve conduction fascinates me. It parallels the Artronic resonators with which TAR–’
‘Another time, Comp– er, Susan,’ Herr Kreiner said quickly. ‘I’m sure the inspector has more important things to do.’
‘Indeed,’ I said. There was something going on here that I just didn’t understand. One moment Susan Seymour was vulnerable and frightened, the next she was cold and heartless. Could it be shock, and if so why wasn’t Sir George doing something about it? I could tell from his expression that he was as bemused as I.
We entered the room. Someone had wisely opened the windows and the sickening charred smell had dissipated. The body lay sheeted on the bed, and without further ado I walked over and grasped the top of the sheet. ‘Brace yourselves,’ I said and pulled the sheet back.
What I revealed, pushed into a shape approximating a prone body, were a rolled blanket and three heavy bolsters. The body of Richard Harries had vanished.
I pulled the sheet completely off the bed. Behind me I could hear Baker cursing and Hopkinson pulling the cupboard doors open looking for the body. I could only stare numbly at the bed. Inspector Ian Stratford: the man who let a corpse be stolen from under his nose.
* * *
THE ACCOUNT OF JOHN HOPKINSON (8)
‘You’d think that with a house full of policemen the crime rate might decline somewhat.’
My hand was shaking so much as I poured out the first glass of brandy that I did not dare to attempt the second. Susan was sitting on the edge of the chaise longue and sipped at the drink just as nervously when I handed it to her. It seemed to bring her back to life at once – her nerves seemed to have drained her energy while mine kept me on my feet, pacing to and