'They weren't too effective when Landy was murdered.'
'People rarely are when they're at cross-purposes.'
'How come?'
'I suspect
'It seems odd that Miss Kingsley didn't tell the police, though, You'd think she'd want her husband's murderer punished, and let's face it, it's not as though she's very fond of her father.'
'You think so, do you?'
'She certainly doesn't go out of her way to express affection for him.'
Cheever smiled but kept his thoughts to himself.
'So are you going to charge Adam Kingsley with Simon's murder, sir?'
The Superintendent closed his eyes and let the sun warm his face. 'I don't think I heard you right, Sergeant. Did you say something about a murder?'
'Isn't that what you reckon-' Fraser broke off.
'Yes?'
'Nothing, sir.'
THE NIGHTINGALE CLINIC-12:45 P.M.
Matthew Cornell opened his eyes to find Alan Protheroe looming over him where he lay sprawled on a bench in the clinic gardens. 'Hi, Doc.' He shielded the sun's glare with a raised hand, then swung his legs off the seat and sat up, lighting a cigarette.
Alan lowered himself onto the vacant piece of bench. 'The police have come up with a bizarre theory about Simon Harris' suicide,' he said in a conversational tone. 'They seem to think Jinx might have given his name to her father in order to have him dealt with once and for all.' He glanced sideways. 'However, she's persuaded them that she didn't remember anything until yesterday morning, which means neither she nor any of her friends here could have passed the information on.'
Matthew looked straight ahead. 'Why are you telling
'Because I know how you like to keep abreast of the facts.'
The young man turned to grin at him. 'Plus, you don't want my cred as the clinic networker destroyed by getting the story wrong. Isn't that right. Doc?'
'I couldn't have put it better myself, Matthew.'
'Well, I reckon good faith is all about justice.' Matthew turned the cigarette between his fingers. 'Have you ever wondered what a murderer's victims would demand if their voices hadn't been silenced? At the very least they would ask to be heard as loudly as their killers, wouldn't they?'
'There's a difference between justice and revenge, Matthew.'
'Is there? The only difference I see is that justice comes damned expensive. If it didn't my father couldn't afford to keep me here.'
Half an hour later, Alan stood with Jinx at her window and watched a tall, well-built man in an immaculate suit emerge from the back seat of a Rolls Royce. 'Your father?'
'Yes.'
'You've never explained why you call him Adam.'
'What makes you think there is an explanation?'
He smiled. 'Your expression every time the subject comes up.'
She watched the tall figure disappear from view into the build-ins. 'I wanted to punish him, so I did what God did and cursed Adam for allowing his wife to seduce him.' She turned to Alan. 'I was seven years old. I've called him Adam ever since.'
'You were jealous of Betty.'
'Of course. I didn't want to share my father with anyone. I adored him.'
Alan nodded. 'In spite of everything, I suspect you still do.'
'No,' she said, 'I'm long past adoration. But I do admire him. I always have. He achieves while the rest of us get by.'
'Well, I hope you recognize that he's making the first move,' said Alan casually. 'Will you be generous to him?'
'If I'm not, the clinic won't get paid.' She smiled slightly at his expression. 'Don't go sentimental on me, Dr. Protheroe. The one thing you can be sure of is that my father will never change. He'd sue if he thought you'd deliberately poisoned my mind against him.'
'So what happens now?'
'I'm discharging myself. I'm not your patient anymore. I think we say good-bye.'
'Where will you go?'
'Back to Richmond.'
'Does your father know Miles and Fergus are there?'
'Not unless they've told him.'
