They came to Baghdad - Agatha Christie [83]
‘So that was how it was done,’ said Dakin. ‘I didn’t see how Carmichael could have been sufficiently off his guard to be killed that night. He got safely to Crofton Lee – and Crofton Lee stabbed him, but he managed to get away and burst into your room before he collapsed. And he hung on to the scarf – literally like grim death.’
‘Do you think it was because I was coming to tell you this that they kidnapped me? But nobody knew except Edward.’
‘I think they felt they had to get you out of the picture quickly. You were tumbling to too much that was going on at the Olive Branch.’
‘Dr Rathbone warned me,’ said Victoria. ‘It was – more of a threat than a warning. I think he realized that I wasn’t what I pretended to be.’
‘Rathbone,’ said Dakin drily, ‘is no fool.’
‘I’m glad I haven’t got to go back there,’ said Victoria. ‘I pretended to be brave just now – but really I’m scared stiff. Only if I don’t go to the Olive Branch, how can I get hold of Edward?’
Dakin smiled.
‘If Mohammed won’t come to the mountain, the mountain must come to Mohammed. Write him a note now. Just say you’re at the Tio and ask him to get your clothes and luggage and bring them along there. I’m going to consult Dr Rathbone this morning about one of his Club soirées. It will be easy for me to slip a note to his secretary – so there will be no danger of your enemy Catherine causing it to go astray. As for you, go back to the Tio and stay there – and, Victoria –’
‘Yes?’
‘If you’re in a jam – of any kind – do the best you can for yourself. As far as possible you’ll be watched over, but your adversaries are rather formidable, and unfortunately you know rather a lot. Once your luggage is in the Tio Hotel your obligations to me are over. Understand that.’
‘I’ll go straight back to the Tio now,’ said Victoria. ‘At least I shall just buy some face powder and lipstick and vanishing cream on the way. After all –’
‘After all,’ said Mr Dakin, ‘one cannot meet one’s young man completely unarmoured.’
‘It didn’t matter so much with Richard Baker though I’d like him to know I can look quite nice if I try,’ said Victoria. ‘But Edward…’
Chapter 22
Her blonde hair carefully arranged, her nose powdered and her lips freshly painted, Victoria sat upon the balcony of the Tio, once more in the role of a modern Juliet, waiting for Romeo.
And in due course Romeo came. He appeared on the grass sward, looking this way and that.
‘Edward,’ said Victoria.
Edward looked up.
‘Oh, there you are, Victoria!’
‘Come up here.’
‘Right.’
A moment later he came out upon the balcony which was deserted.
‘It’s more peaceful up here,’ said Victoria. ‘We’ll go down and let Marcus give us drinks presently.’
Edward was staring at her in perplexity.
‘I say, Victoria, haven’t you done something to your hair?’
Victoria gave an exasperated sigh.
‘If anybody mentions hair to me, I really think I shall bat them over the head.’
‘I think I liked it better as it was,’ said Edward.
‘Tell Catherine so!’
‘Catherine? What has she got to do with it?’
‘Everything,’ said Victoria. ‘You told me to chum up with her, and I did, and I don’t suppose you’ve any idea what it let me in for!’
‘Where’ve you been all this time, Victoria? I’ve been getting quite worried.’
‘Oh you have, have you? Where did you think I’d been?’
‘Well, Catherine gave me your message. Said you’d told her to tell me that you’d gone off to Mosul suddenly. It was something very important and good news, and I’d hear from you in due course.’
‘And you believed that?’ said Victoria in an almost pitying voice.
‘I thought you’d got on the track of something. Naturally, you couldn’t say much to Catherine –’
‘It didn’t occur to you that Catherine was lying, and that I’d been knocked on the head.’
‘What?’ Edward stared.
‘Drugged, chloroformed – starved…’
Edward cast a sharp glance around.
‘Good Lord! I never dreamed – look here, I don’t like talking out here. All these windows. Can’t we go to your room?’
‘All right. Did you bring my luggage?