Dark Room

be.'

THE NIGHTINGALE CLINIC-7:15 P.M.

Sister Gordon was insistent. 'Doctor's orders, Jinx. He wants you moved to a room upstairs.'

'Why?'

'Good grief, girl,' she said irritably, 'do you question everything? How would I know? As usual, no one's bothered to tell me anything.'

Jinx glanced towards her French windows. 'I'd rather be in a room I can get out of if I have to.'

'Yes, well, perhaps that's what's worrying the doctor,' said Veronica tartly, who had been putting snippets from the rumor factory together with Alan's peculiar remark on Monday night and his sudden decision to move Jinx to a room upstairs. 'I expect he'll feel safer knowing you've only got one exit.'

ROMSEY ROAD POLICE STATION-7:25 P.M.

'There's a chance she did know about Meg's affair with Russell at the time of the murder,' said Fraser slowly. 'According to Hennessey, she told him about it after she lost her baby but, if you remember, her story was that she found some love letters in her attic a year later.'

Maddocks put his hands on the Superintendent's desk and leaned forward belligerently. 'I'm sure that's not the only lie she's told us. I swear to God, sir, she's leading us all by the nose.'

'Why would Meg Harris give her an alibi?'

'Because she convinced Meg she was innocent. Damn it, she's all but convinced you and you hardly know her.'

'Five minutes ago you were arguing she didn't kill Russell.'

'Five minutes ago there was no evidence she knew about the affair, but you'll never get a better motive for murder than straightforward jealousy. Damn it, everything else I said stands. Even better if it was precious Jane who got away with Russell's murder-she could tie the other murders to it and say: 'But the Met have proof I wasn't involved. They know it was my father.' '

'There's still no evidence she knew about the affair before the event,' Eraser pointed out. 'If Hennessey's telling the truth, then we only have hearsay evidence that she knew about it at the time of her miscarriage, and that was two weeks after the murder.'

'Is there any reason to think he isn't telling the truth?' asked the Superintendent.

Fraser shook his head. 'No, but I wouldn't want to rely on him in a witness box. He's pretty hyped up at the moment, swings from anger against Meg for leaving him in the lurch, through anguish when he remembers she's dead, to a sort of sullen protection whenever Miss Kingsley's name is mentioned. I think he thinks Jane is responsible, but I also think he blames Meg for provoking her into it. My guess is, he was fond of them both and doesn't know who to blame.'

Frank drew a doodle on a pad in front of him. 'How fond?'

'He's known them both a long time.' He consulted his notebook. 'He was working with Meg at a company called Wellman and Hobbs when Jane was married to Russell.'

'I meant, was he sleeping with either of them?'

THE NIGHTINGALE CLINIC-7:30 P.M.

Fergus shouldered his way into Jinx's new room and stood aggressively over Matthew. 'I want to speak to my sister,' he said, jerking his head towards the door.

Matthew leaned forward to stub out his cigarette in the ashtray on the coffee table. 'I assumed the whole point of your being given another room was to stop aggressive visitors barging in,' he told her. 'I'll bet it was that old fool Elphick who told him where you are.'

'You heard me,' said Fergus. 'On your bike.'

Matthew ignored him. 'Is he dangerous, or are you happy to speak to him in private?'

'I think I'm safe enough on my own.'

'Okay. I'll be down the corridor. A good scream should fetch me back.' He raised his skinny frame off the bed and squared up to Fergus. 'I hope you're going to behave like a gentleman, Mr. Kingsley.'

'Piss off,' said Fergus. Matthew smiled gently before bringing his knee up with the speed of an express train into the young man's crotch and pushing him backwards against the wall. 'Never judge a book by its cover,' he murmured. He cocked a finger at Jinx. 'Sorry, but your brother's a creep. I'll see you around.'

Jinx waited till he'd gone, then looked down on the slumped, defeated shoulders of her baby brother. 'Where's Miles?' she asked him.

'Outside in the car,' he said tearfully. 'Dad gave him a hell of a beating, then threw us out.'

'What about Betty?'

'She's in the car as well,' he said shamefacedly. 'Look, I know it's a lot to ask but we need a place to stay. We've pooled our petrol in one car, and we've enough to get to Richmond. Miles and Mum said you'd never agree but, well'-he flushed-'well, I said you might and it was worth a try.'

She let him stew in his own discomfort for several seconds. 'I'll crucify you all if you do a damn thing in that house I don't like,' she said crossly. 'That means no mess, no gambling, no drugs, no drunkenness, and you bend over backwards to be nice to the Clanceys. Do you understand?'

He nodded. 'We'll need a key.'

'Try saying: 'Thank you, Jinx, you're a sodding brick. We owe you one.' '

'Thank you, Jinx, you're a sodding brick. We owe you one.' He smiled sheepishly. 'We'll still need a key.'

'The Clanceys have one. I'll phone them and ask them to give it to you when you arrive. There's probably enough food in the freezer to keep you going till I get back.' She glared at him. 'And you're not to run up phone bills.