Johnny Swanson - Eleanor Updale [40]
Even though it meant breaking his promise again, Johnny couldn’t resist climbing the hill to see what was going on; but a constable was holding back a growing crowd, and it was too dark to see the Langfords’ house at all. So, since he’d finished his deliveries, he turned back towards the shop. He was overtaken by a bicycle racing downhill at speed. For a moment he thought it was Dr Langford, and he recalled those thrilling early morning lifts, perched on the crossbar. But it wasn’t Dr Langford. It was a policeman. That was when it hit him. The charge of shock and excitement that had carried him through the past half-hour drained away. It was replaced by a sad emptiness he had never known before. He would never see Dr Langford again. There had been a murder. Here. In Stambleton. And the victim was someone he knew.
Chapter 20
QUESTIONING
When Johnny got to the bottom of the hill, the policeman’s bicycle was outside the shop. Hutch opened the door and let Johnny in. The reporter was leaning on the counter. The constable was standing stiffly, with his helmet under his arm.
Hutch spoke first. ‘Johnny, the officer wants to have a word with you. Strictly speaking, your mother should be here, but I’ve explained that she’s at the sanatorium. They’ve sent a fast car for her, but I don’t think she’ll arrive for a while. Would you like me to stay with you while the policeman asks you some questions?’
‘Yes,’ said Johnny, taking off his bag. He turned to the officer. ‘Do you know who killed the doctor? Is Mrs Langford all right?’
‘I’m the one asking the questions, son,’ said the policeman. He coughed, and gestured towards the reporter. ‘Would you mind waiting elsewhere, sir?’ he said, and the reporter grumpily went out to sit in his car.
Hutch bolted the door behind him. Then he brought out the high stool from behind the post office grille, and helped Johnny up to sit on it. The policeman put his helmet on the counter and took out his notebook.
‘Now then, Johnny,’ said the policeman, ‘I’m told you knew Dr Langford well?’
‘All my life,’ said Johnny. ‘And my mother is their cleaner.’
‘Yes, your mother. We’ll get to that.’
Johnny wondered what he meant.
‘When were you last at Dr Langford’s house?’
Johnny could feel himself blushing with guilt. ‘Last night,’ he said, looking at his shoes. Hutch let out a sigh. Johnny hoped he wouldn’t tell the policeman that he’d forbidden him to go there.
‘Were you there with your mother?’ asked the officer.
‘No. I was on my own. I was on my way home from the shop.’
‘What time was this?
‘About half past five. I thought I saw a light inside.’
‘A light? Where?’
‘Upstairs at first, just for a moment. And then downstairs, I think. I went to look, but there was nobody there.’
‘You’re sure of that? You didn’t see or hear anything else?’
‘It was raining, and windy. I might have heard a car.’
‘You might have heard a car. A big car? A small car?’
‘I don’t know,’ said Johnny. ‘It was just a noise really. I’m not even sure it was a car.’
‘And where was your mother while you were at the Langfords’ house?’
‘At home. She was already there when I got back.’
‘And you both stayed at home for the rest of the evening?’
‘Yes. Well, I did. She went out.’
‘Where did she go?’
‘I don’t know.’
The policeman looked up from his notebook. ‘You don’t know? She didn’t tell you? She doesn’t tell you where she is when she goes out?’
‘Yes, she does usually. But last night was different. I don’t think she knew where she was going. She was angry. We’d had a row.’
‘A row. What about?’
Johnny didn’t know what to say.