The Jewel That Was Ours

'Tell me about Dr. Kemp,' said Morse.

'Tell you what? Everyone knows about Kemp. He was the biggest philanderer in Oxford.'

'You say 'everyone'?'

'Yes! Including his wife. She knows.'

'Knew. She died this afternoon.'

'Oh God!' Downes closed his eyes and squeezed them tightly shut. Then he opened them, and looked across at Morse. 'I think I know what you're going to ask me now, Inspector.'

Morse tilted his head to the left: 'You do?'

'You're going to ask me whether Lucy — whether my wife was. is aware of it, too.'

Morse tilted his head to the right, but made no reply.

'Well, the answer's 'yes'. Once or twice he'd — well he'd tried to make some sort of advances to her. At receptions, parties — that sort of thing.'

'Your wife told you about this?'

'She was a bit flattered, I suppose.'

'Was she?'

'And amused. More amused than flattered, I think.'

'And you? You, Mr. Downes? Were you amused?'

'I could have killed the bloody swine!' So suddenly, so dramatically, the manner had changed — the voice now a harsh snarl, the eyes ablaze with hatred.

'It's not all that easy actually to kill a man,' said Morse.

'It isn't?' Downes's eyes appeared perplexed.

'What exactly did you hit him with? When you went home for — for whatever it was?'

'I — pardon? — you don't—'

'Just in your own words, sir, if you will. Simply what happened, that's all. The WPC here will take down what you say and then she'll read it back to you, and you'll be able to change anything you may have got wrong. No problem!'

'Wha—?' Downes shook his head in anguished desperation. 'When am I going to wake up?'

'Let's just start from when you put your key — Yale lock, isn't it? — into the front door, and then when you went in. '

'Yes, and I got my other hearing-aid, and some notes—'

'Whereabouts do you keep the spare hearing-aid?'

'In the bedroom.'

Morse nodded encouragement. 'Twin beds, I suppose—'

'Double bed, actually — and I keep my spare aid in a drawer of the tallboy'—he looked directly into Morse's eyes again—'next to the handkerchiefs and the cufflinks and the arm-bands. You do want me to be precise about what I tell you?'

'And your wife was in the double bed there — yes, we do want you to be precise, sir.'

'Wha—? What makes you think my wife was in bed? This was at lunchtime.'

'Where was she?'

'In the living room? I don't know! I forget. Why don't you ask her? He suddenly sprang to his feet. 'Look! I've got to talk to her! Now! You've no right to hold me here. I know you've got your job to do — I understand that. Some people get held on suspicion — I know! But I must speak to Lucy!'

His voice had become almost a screech of anger and frustration. And Morse was glad of it. So often the loss of self-control was the welcome prelude to a confession — a confession that was usually, in turn, a vast relief to the pent-up pressures of a tortured mind. And already Downes seemed calmer again as he resumed his seat, and Morse resumed his questioning.

'You understood, didn't you, the real point of Dr. Kemp's phone call? No one else did — but you knew.' In contrast to the crescendo of fury from Downes, Morse's voice was very quiet indeed, and beside him WPC Wright was not absolutely sure that she'd transcribed his words with total accuracy.

As for Downes, he was leaning across the table. 'Could you please speak up a bit, Inspector? I didn't hear what you said, I'm afraid.'

It is likely, however, that he heard the loud knock on the door which heralded the entry of a rather harassed- looking Lewis.

'Sorry to interrupt, sir, but—'

'Not now, man! Can't you see—?'

'It's very urgent, sir,' said Lewis, in a voice of hushed authority.

WPC Wright had heard what Sergeant Lewis said all right; and she glanced across at Downes. Had