Nemesis - Agatha Christie [57]
‘Two girls were reported missing from Jocelyn St Mary itself, the one that we have been discussing whose body was found six months later, many miles away and who was last seen in the company of Michael Rafiel — ’
‘And the other?’
‘A girl called Nora Broad. Not a “quiet girl with no boy-friends”. Possibly with one boy-friend too many. Her body was never found. It will be — one day. There have been cases when twenty years have passed,’ said Wanstead. He slowed down: ‘We have arrived. This is Carristown, and here is the Hospital.’
Shepherded by Professor Wanstead, Miss Marple entered. The Professor was obviously expected. He was ushered into a small room where a woman rose from a desk.
‘Oh yes,’ she said, ‘Professor Wanstead. And — er — this is — er — ’ She hesitated slightly.
‘Miss Jane Marple,’ said Professor Wanstead. ‘I talked to Sister Barker on the telephone.’
‘Oh yes. Sister Barker said that she would be accompanying you.’
‘How is Miss Temple?’
‘Much the same, I think. I am afraid there is not much improvement to report.’ She rose. ‘I will take you to Sister Barker.’
Sister Barker was a tall, thin woman. She had a low, decisive voice and dark grey eyes that had a habit of looking at you and looking away almost immediately, leaving you with the feeling that you had been inspected in a very short space of time, and judgment pronounced upon you.
‘I don’t know what arrangements you have in mind,’ said Professor Wanstead.
‘Well, I had better tell Miss Marple just what we have arranged. First I must make it clear to you that the patient, Miss Temple, is still in a coma with very rare intervals. She appears to come to occasionally, to recognize her surroundings and to be able to say a few words. But there is nothing one can do to stimulate her. It has to be left to the utmost patience. I expect Professor Wanstead has already told you that in one of her intervals of consciousness she uttered quite distinctly the words “Miss Jane Marple”. And then: “I want to speak to her. Miss Jane Marple.” After that she relapsed into unconsciousness. Doctor thought it advisable to get in touch with the other occupants of the coach. Professor Wanstead came to see us and explained various matters and said he would bring you over. I am afraid that all we can ask you to do is to sit in the private ward where Miss Temple is, and perhaps be ready to make a note of any words she should say, if she does regain consciousness. I am afraid the prognosis is not very helpful. To be quite frank, which is better I think, since you are not a near relative and are unlikely to be disturbed by this information, Doctor thinks that she is sinking fast, that she may die without recovering consciousness. There is nothing one can do to relieve the concussion. It is important that someone should hear what she says and Doctor thinks it advisable that she should not see too many people round her if she regains consciousness. If Miss Marple is not worried at the thought of sitting there alone, there will be a nurse in the room, though not obviously so. That is, she will not be noticed from the bed, and will not move unless she’s asked for. She will sit in a corner of the room shielded by a screen.’ She added, ‘We have a police official there also, ready to take down anything. The Doctor thinks it advisable that he also should not be noticed by Miss Temple. One person alone, and that possibly a person she expects to see, will not alarm her or make her lose knowledge of what she wants to say to you. I hope this will not be too difficult a thing to ask you?’
‘Oh no,’ said Miss Marple, ‘I’m quite prepared to do that. I have a small notebook with me and a Biro pen that will not be in evidence. I can remember things by heart for a very short time, so I need not appear to be obviously taking notes of what she says. You can trust my memory and I am not deaf — not deaf in the real sense of the word. I don’t think my hearing is quite as good as it used to be, but if I am sitting near a bedside, I ought to be able to hear anything she says quite easily even