Johnny Swanson - Eleanor Updale [80]
The corridor outside started to fill with childish chatter and the rattle of beds being wheeled into the theatre. Johnny could hear Dr Howell pacing the room and muttering.
‘I wish they’d hurry up,’ said the doctor. ‘We need everyone out of the way.’
‘Calm down,’ said Mrs Langford. ‘And for goodness’ sake stop biting your nails. Now listen. Don’t be alarmed, but there’s something else we’ve got to deal with first.’
‘What?’ said Howell, clearly annoyed. ‘There’s little enough time as it is.’
‘Remember that boy you saw me with in the theatre?’
‘The one who was helping you with the programmes? Not really. I wasn’t taking much notice.’
‘Well, he’s coming here in a minute.’
‘What! Why?’
Johnny couldn’t understand. Why was Mrs Langford talking about him?
‘He’s not one of the patients. He’s from Stambleton—’
‘What! Have you lost your senses?’ Dr Howell thumped his fist on the desk somewhere near Johnny’s head.
‘I said calm down. We can deal with him. He’s come here looking for me.’
‘But how did he find you?’
‘Never mind that. He doesn’t know anything, I’m pretty sure of that. He’s got it into his head that you are holding me here against my will.’ She giggled. ‘He wants to rescue me!’
‘Why on earth …?’
‘He’s the son of that cleaner. The one they’ve arrested. He wants me to go to the police, to prove that she didn’t do it.’
Under the desk, Johnny was beginning to panic. Why was Mrs Langford telling Dr Howell so much? How could she be so stupid? Even though he couldn’t see Howell, Johnny could tell that he was jumpy. Maybe he’d strike out if things didn’t go his way. Couldn’t Mrs Langford imagine what he might do to them both; especially with everyone else out of the way?
Dr Howell’s next words started the awful explanation forming in his mind. ‘So he doesn’t know the truth?’
‘Absolutely not, it seems. It’s rather sweet really, little Johnny coming all this way to ask me, of all people, to help his mother. He has no idea how important it is for us that the police think she did it.’
‘But where is he?’ asked Dr Howell. ‘What have you done with the boy?’
‘Nothing, yet,’ said Mrs Langford, ‘but I’ve asked him to meet me here once the pantomime has started. He should come any time now.’
‘Have you gone mad? We don’t want anyone around—’
‘He won’t be here for long. Or he needn’t be, if you’ve got the courage to do something about him.’ Her next words terrified Johnny. ‘A little injection perhaps? It would only take a jiffy.’
Chapter 38
DEATHWATCH
Dr Howell sounded shocked. ‘Now look – I can’t just—’
Mrs Langford’s voice grew cold and stern. ‘But you have to. There’s no alternative. We can’t risk him surviving. He’s determined to save his mother. He might start asking questions.’
Johnny was frozen with fright. All he could see was Mrs Langford’s legs, casually crossed at the ankles, with one foot twirling in circles as she calmly plotted his death.
‘But we can’t. It’s not that simple. For one thing, we’ll have to deal with the body.’ Howell sounded horrified.
‘And can you think of a better place in the world to do that? We’ve got sheets and blankets, wheelchairs, trolleys, miles of parkland and a rushing river. Even a drip like you could make someone disappear here!’
Howell lurched round the desk and grabbed Mrs Langford, pulling her up out of her chair. Johnny could tell by the way her feet twisted and rose onto tiptoe that Howell was using all his might against her; but her voice stayed strong as she took control, saying icily, ‘The boy might walk in at any moment. Is this what you want him to see? It’s no more than he’d expect, you know. He thinks you’re out to hurt me. He’d run straight off to get help.’
Howell slackened his grip, and Mrs Langford’s feet steadied again.
‘Look, we haven’t got much time,’ she said. ‘Have you got a key to the dispensary?’
‘Of course.’
Mrs Langford walked over to the door and listened. ‘It’s all quiet out there. Everyone’s in the theatre now.’ She spoke with great authority. ‘Go quickly and get something that will do the trick