The Silent Cry - Anne Perry [126]
“Obviously he was there that evening, Mr. Evan,” Sylvestra cut in. “What you are telling me we already know. It is obvious.”
Monk could bear it no longer. He stepped forward into the circle of candlelight from the shadows, his face grim.
“I have been investigating a series of violent rapes, Mrs. Duff. They were committed by three men together. They raped women, sometimes as young as twelve or thirteen years old, then beat them, breaking their bones, kicking them … sometimes into insensibility.”
Her face registered her horror. She stared at him as if he had risen out of the ground, carrying the stench of terror and pain with him.
“The last of the rapes was committed in St. Giles the night your husband was murdered in the same manner,” he said very quietly. “It is impossible to escape the evidence he followed Rhys to St. Giles and caught up with him immediately after the crime was committed. It happened less than fifty yards from the spot where his body was found.”
She was ashen pale. “What … are … you … saying?” she whispered.
“We have come to arrest Rhys Duff for the murder of his father, Leighton Duff,” Monk answered her. “There is no choice.”
“You cannot take him away.” It was Hester. Neither of them had heard her come in behind them. “He is too ill to be moved. If you doubt my word, Dr. Wade will attest to it. I have sent a message for him to come immediately.” She glanced at Sylvestra. “I thought his presence might be necessary.”
“Oh, thank God!” Sylvestra swayed for a moment but regained her composure. “This … this is … absurd. Rhys would … not …” She looked from Evan to Hester. “Could … he?”
“I don’t know,” Hester said gravely, coming right into the room. “But whatever the truth of it is, he cannot be taken away from here tonight, or within the near future. He may be charged, but he is not yet proven guilty of anything. To move him from proper medical care might jeopardize his life, and that cannot be permitted.”
“I am aware of his state of health,” Evan responded. “If Dr. Wade says he cannot be moved, then I shall leave a constable on duty outside.” He turned to Sylvestra. “He will not intrude upon you unless you give him cause to believe you plan to move Mr. Duff yourself. If that should happen, he will naturally arrest him immediately and place him in prison.”
Sylvestra was speechless.
“That will not happen.” Hester spoke for her. “He will remain here, in Dr. Wade’s care … and mine.”
Sylvestra nodded her assent.
“I will go up to inform him of his situation,” Evan said, turning towards the door.
Hester stood in front of him. For a moment he was afraid she was going to try to bar his way physically, but after an instant’s hesitation she went to the door ahead of him.
“I shall come with you. He may need some … help. I …” She met his eyes with both challenge and pleading. “I intend to be there, Sergeant Evan. What you say will cause him great distress, and he is still very weak.”
“Of course,” he agreed. “I am not trying to cause him harm.”
She turned and led the way across the hall. It seemed Monk intended to remain with Sylvestra. Perhaps he thought he could elicit some information from her where Evan had failed. He might be right.
Hester went up the stairs and across the landing, opening the door to Rhys’s room, then, as soon as she was inside, standing away so Evan could face the bed.
Rhys was lying on his back, his broken hands on the covers. He was simply staring at the ceiling. He was propped up on sufficient pillows to be able to meet Evan’s eyes without discomfort. He looked surprised to see the policeman, but the blue bruising was gone and the swelling had entirely disappeared. He was a handsome young man in an unconventional way: nose a little too long, mouth too sensitive, dark eyes dominating his white face.
Evan was reminded sickeningly of when he had found him. He felt responsible. He had been part of willing him to live, bringing him back from the brink of darkness and into this white light of pain. He should have been able to protect him somehow.