A Shock to the System (32 page)

He set the Inspector's whisky ready at a convenient table and sipped his own as he awaited the apology.

The door from the hall opened. He identified the Inspector's expression as one of sourness.

‘Well?' Graham raised a confident eyebrow.

‘I spoke to Miss Davies. She confirms that she arrived in her car about twelve on Saturday. She would have come to the house, but she saw Mrs. Hinchcliffe letting herself in.'

‘As I said.'

‘She stayed in her car until three when she saw Mrs. Hinchcliffe stagger out.'

‘Persistent, eh?' Graham grinned and indicated the Inspector's Scotch. ‘But what a useful witness.'

Laker did not move. ‘Yes. What a useful witness. She saw you leave the house too, Mr. Marshall.'

Graham allowed himself a little I-told-you-so shrug. ‘At about a quarter to one, right?'

There was a silence. When he finally spoke, Laker's voice was cold and dull.

‘No. Miss Davies saw you run out of the house just before three.'

‘What?'

‘She started her car to follow you, but was then distracted by Mrs. Hinchcliffe's appearance staggering out of the front door. When she next looked, you had gone. You were running, she said, “like a man possessed”.'

Graham Marshall mouthed, but no words came. The random gods of chance had changed their allegiance. For him, for so long, they had made what was false seem real; now, with savage impartiality, they were making the real seem false.

He felt himself sinking, sinking.