“What did you learn from our meeting?”
The man smiled. “That you are an honest man, genuinely concerned, without ulterior motives, and that she is a nice, outwardly normal girl.”
“But what made you feel she needed help?”
“What you told me about what happened that evening before you came to see me. There were clues there that you couldn’t have made up. I was only concerned about motives. Seeing you together dispelled my doubts. You’re a friend, and she needs one.”
Each time Randall suggested that the girl should see a doctor it led to an outburst of anger that shocked them both.
Then the girl had one of her “day-dreams” when they were in a restaurant. They had to leave, and he went back with her to her flat. She recovered but she was deathly pale and every few minutes she shivered violently and complained of feeling cold. After one of these spells he risked offending her.
“Who’s Joe Spellman, Debbie?”
“Washington 547–9077.”
“Is that his telephone number?”
“It’s the number to ring.”
“Who is he?”
“He’s my doctor.”
“You said you hadn’t got a doctor.”
“He’s my doctor.”
“How can you have a doctor in Washington when you live in London?”
“He’s my doctor.”
He took a deep breath. “Something’s wrong, my love. Very wrong.” He took the consultant’s note from his pocket and handed it to her. She read it slowly and he saw the tears on her cheeks as she looked up at his face.
“He thinks I’m mental, doesn’t he? He wants to certify me and have me put away.”
“No, he doesn’t. He thinks you’ve been hypnotized without knowing it and that it’s causing your problems.”
“But I haven’t been hypnotized. Ever. I don’t believe in it. I’m not the kind who’d go for it. It’s crazy.”
“Just see the man he recommends. I’ll come with you. Nobody’s going to hurt you. They want to help.”
“Was it you, Steve?”
“Was what me?”
“Was it you hypnotized me?”
“Of course it wasn’t. I’ve no reason to.”
“You swear it?”
“Yes.”
“On the Bible.”
“Yes if you’ve got one.”
“I haven’t … what shall I do, Steve? Help me.”
“Let me phone now and make an appointment for tomorrow.”
“And you’ll come with me?”
“Of course.”
“OK.” She put her hand on his knee. “I think I love you, Steve.”
“I think I love you too, sweetie.”
18
Boyd sat for two days in an empty room next to Ansell’s consulting room, listening to the tapes of all the psychiatrist’s sessions with Walker. Playing some parts several times as he made notes. When he eventually left he gave Ansell two London numbers where he could be contacted. Ansell wasn’t due to see Walker again for several days.
Cartwright had not been available when Boyd got back to London. It was two days before they could meet. Some instinct made Boyd suggest that they do so away from the office and they made it the bridge over the lake in St. James’s Park. A frequent meeting place for SIS officers. As they leaned on the rails the mallard drakes were giving the ducks a hard time. It wasn’t officially Spring on the calendar but it was Spring in St. James’s Park.
“How did you get on?”
“There’s something going on, but I’m not sure what it is.” And Boyd outlined what he had learned.
“This doctor fellow, Ansell, do you want him leaned on from above?”
“Not at the moment. Let’s wait and see.”
“And what do you think it’s all about?”
“I think someone’s being very naughty.”
“Who?”
“The soldiers is my guess.”
“What for? Why are they doing it?”
“God knows. What’s the percentage in giving a man nightmares?”
“Is it worth the time finding out? Is it even our business?”
“I’ve got a feeling it is. On both counts.”
“Why?”
Boyd shrugged. “Instinct. Experience. Nothing more.”
“OK. Do you need any help?”
“No. It’s just a ferreting job. I need to do it myself in case I miss anything.”
“Take care.”
“I will.”
Boyd checked through George Walker’s file at War Office Records. Walker had joined the army in November 1962 and had been demobilized in December 1966. At no time had he been posted anywhere overseas and his unit had never operated in Germany. His service had been exemplary and he had never faced even a minor charge. He had been in hospital for two days with blistered feet during his basic infantry recruit training, and had been given light duties for four days on one occasion for an abscess on a tooth. He had been given a normal dose of antibiotic and the tooth had later been extracted using only local anaesthetic.
Walker’s service had been at Catterick Camp in Yorkshire, the Green Jackets’ depot at Winchester and at his regiment’s depot just outside Bradford. Boyd noted the dates when Walker had been given leave, including a number of weekend passes.
The Army computer printed out the details of twenty-five commissioned officers named Ames but none named Leclerc.
Debbie’s appointment at the hospital was for nine o’clock and Randall was shown into a small waiting room. At intervals he was brought cups of tea but when it was one o’clock he became anxious. When it got to three o’clock he went outside to the reception desk and asked how much longer it would be, pointing out that he had to be at the theatre by eight o’clock. The receptionist dialled a number and asked how much longer he would have to wait. She listened and then hung up.
“Mr. Salmon is coming out to see you, sir. If you’d go back to the waiting room he’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Mr. Salmon came in almost immediately. A tall, calm man in his fifties. His glasses were pushed up on to his forehead.
“Mr. Randall isn’t it? Do sit down.”
“How is she?”
“Ah. That’s what I came to talk to you about. We’ll have to keep her in for a day or two. Now don’t be alarmed. I know you promised to stay with her and take her home. She told me all about that.” He smiled. “You’re obviously very important to her.
