Towards Zero - Agatha Christie [69]
Nevile had buried his face in his hands. He said now:
“It’s not true. It’s not true! Audrey’s never borne a grudge against me. You’ve got the whole thing wrong. She’s the straightest, truest creature—without thought of evil in her heart.”
Battle sighed.
“It’s not my business to argue with you, Mr. Strange. I only wanted to prepare you. I shall caution Mrs. Strange and ask her to accompany me. I’ve got the warrant. You’d better see about getting a solicitor for her.”
“It’s preposterous. Absolutely preposterous.”
“Love turns to hate more easily than you think, Mr. Strange.”
“I tell you it’s all wrong—preposterous.”
Thomas Royde broke in. His voice was quiet and pleasant.
“Do stop repeating that it’s preposterous, Nevile. Pull yourself together. Don’t you see that the only thing that can help Audrey now is for you to give up all your ideas of chivalry and come out with the truth?”
“The truth? You mean—?”
“I mean the truth about Audrey and Adrian.” Royde turned to the police officers. “You see, Superintendent, you’ve got the facts wrong. Nevile didn’t leave Audrey. She left him. She ran away with my brother Adrian. Then Adrian was killed in a car accident. Nevile behaved with the utmost chivalry to Audrey. He arranged that she should divorce him and that he would take the blame.”
“Didn’t want her name dragged through the mud,” muttered Nevile sulkily. “Didn’t know anyone knew.”
“Adrian wrote out to me, just before,” explained Thomas briefly. He went on: “Don’t you see, Superintendent, that knocks your motive out! Audrey has no cause to hate Nevile. On the contrary, she has every reason to be grateful to him. He’s tried to get her to accept an allowance which she wouldn’t do. Naturally when he wanted her to come and meet Kay she didn’t feel she could refuse.”
“You see,” Nevile put in eagerly. “That cuts out her motive. Thomas is right.”
Battle’s wooden face was immovable.
“Motive’s only one thing,” he said. “I may have been wrong about that. But facts are another. All the facts show that she’s guilty.”
Nevile said meaningly:
“All the facts showed that I was guilty two days ago!”
Battle seemed a little taken aback.
“That’s true enough. But look here, Mr. Strange, at what you’re asking me to believe. You’re asking me to believe that there’s someone who hates both of you—someone who, if the plot against you failed, had laid a second trail to lead to Audrey Strange. Now can you think of anyone, Mr. Strange, who hates both you and your former wife?”
Nevile’s head had dropped into his hands again.
“When you say it like that you make it all sound fantastic!”
“Because it is fantastic. I’ve got to go by the facts. If Mrs. Strange has any explanations to offer—”
“Did I have any explanation?” asked Nevile.
“It’s no good, Mr. Strange. I’ve got to do my duty.”
Battle got up abruptly. He and Leach left the room first. Nevile and Royde came close behind them.
They went on across the hall into the drawing room. There they stopped.
Audrey Strange got up. She walked forward to meet them. She looked straight at Battle, her lips parted in what was very nearly a smile.
She said very softly:
“You want me, don’t you?”
Battle became very official.
“Mrs. Strange, I have a warrant here for your arrest on the charge of murdering Camilla Tressilian on Monday last, September 12th. I must caution you that anything you say will be written down and may be used in evidence at your trial.”
Audrey gave a sigh. Her small clear-cut face was peaceful and pure as a cameo.
“It’s almost a relief. I’m glad it’s—over!”
Nevile sprang forward.
“Audrey—don’t say anything—don’t speak at all.”
She smiled at him.
“But why not, Nevile? It’s all true—and I’m so tired.”
Leach drew a deep breath. Well, that was that. Mad as a hatter, of course, but it would save a lot of worry! He wondered what had happened to his uncle. The old boy was looking as though he had seen a ghost. Staring at the poor demented creature as though he couldn’t believe his eyes. Oh,