Dead Water

by Ngaio Marsh

  Trehern suddenly bawled out: ‘You boy! Wal! Come yurr! Come out of it when you’re bid!’

  Wally shambled into the back porch, saw Alleyn and smiled widely.

  ‘Come on!’ his father said and took him by the arm. Wally began to whimper.

  ‘Now then. Tell truth and shame the devil. You been chucking rocks?’

  ‘No. No, I be’ant.’

  ‘No, and better not. Speak up and tell these yurr gents. Swear if you hope you won’t get half-skinned for a liar as you never chucked no rocks at nobody.’

  ‘I never chucked no rocks only stones,’ Wally said, trembling. ‘Like you said to.’

  ‘That’ll do!’ his father said ferociously. ‘Get in.’ Wally bolted.

  Alleyn said: ‘You’d better watch your step with that boy. Do you thrash him?’

  ‘Never raise a hand to him, mister. Just a manner of speaking. He don’t understand nothing different. Never had no mother-love, poor kid: I have to pour out sufficient for both and a heavy job it is.’

  ‘You may find yourself describing it to the welfare officer, one of these days.’

  ‘Them bastards!’

  ‘Now, look here, Trehern, you heard what the boy said. “No rocks only stones, like you said to.” Hadn’t you better make the best of that statement and admit he threw stones at Miss Pride and you knew it. Think it out.’

  Trehern made a half-turn, knocked his boot against an old tin and kicked it savagely to the far end of the yard. This, apparently, made up his mind for him.

  ‘If I say he done it in one of his foolish turns meaning no harm and acting the goat – all right – I don’t deny it and I don’t axcuse it. But I do deny and will, and you won’t shift me an inch, he never heaved no rock at Elspeth Cost. I’ll take my Bible oath on it and may I be struck dead if I lie.’

  ‘How can you be so sure? Miss Pride saw the boy in the lane at about twenty to eight. So did Dr Maine. You weren’t there. Or were you?’

  ‘I was not. By God I was not, and I’ll lay anyone cold that says different. And how can I be so sure?’ He advanced upon Alleyn and thrust his face towards him. His unshaven jowls glittered with raindrops. ‘I’ll tell you flat how I can be so sure. That boy never told a lie in his life, mister. He’m too simple. Ax anybody. Ax his teacher. Ax parson. Ax his mates. He’m a truth-speaking lad, por little sod, and for better or worse, the truth’s all you’ll ever get out of our Wal.’

  Alleyn heard Jenny Williams’s voice: ‘He’s an extraordinarily truthful little boy. He never tells lies – never.’ He looked at Trehern and said: ‘All right. We’ll let it go at that, for the moment. Good evening to you.’

  As they walked round the side of the house Trehern shouted after them: ‘What about the female of the speeches? Pride? Pride has to take a fall, don’t she?’

  There was a wild scream of laughter from Mrs Trehern and a door banged.

  ‘That will do to go on with,’ Alleyn said to Fox, and aped Wally’s serial: ‘C’m’ on. Let’s go.’

  CHAPTER 8

  The Shop

  They found Bailey and Thompson outside, locked in their mackintoshes with an air of customary usage and with their gear stowed inside waterproof covers. Rain cascaded from their hat brims.

  ‘We’ll go back to the pub,’ Alleyn said. ‘In a minute.’

  The Trethaways’ cottage was across the lane from the Treherns’. Alleyn knocked at the back door and was invited in by the proud father: an enormous grinning fellow. The latest addition was screaming very lustily in the bedroom. Her father apologized for this drawback to conversation.

  ‘ ‘Er be a lil’ maid, ‘er be,’ he said, ‘and letting fly with ‘er vocal powers according.’

  They stood by the kitchen window which looked up the lane towards the Spring. Seeing this, Alleyn asked him if he’d happened to notice Wally in the lane at about the time the baby was born or soon after and was given the reasonable answer that Mr Trethaway’s attention was on other matters. The baby had indeed been born at seven-thirty and Dr Maine had in fact left very soon afterwards.

  Alleyn congratulated Trethaway, shook his hand, rejoined his colleagues and told them what he’d gleaned.

  ‘So why does Trehern say he saw the doctor leave at about five past eight?’ Fox asked. ‘There’s usually only one reason for that sort of lie, isn’t there? Trying to rig the time, so that you look as if you couldn’t have been on the spot. That’s the normal caper.’

  ‘So it is then,’ Alleyn agreed with a reasonable imitation of the local voice. ‘But there are loose ends here. Or are there?’

  ‘Well yes,’ Fox said. ‘In a way.’

  ‘Bailey: what did you get? Any fisherman’s boots superimposed on the general mess? Or boy’s boots? I couldn’t find any.’

  ‘Nothing like that, Mr Alleyn. But as you said yourself, this flat slice of stone’s been used to cut out recent prints. We’ve picked up enough to settle that point,’ Bailey said grudgingly, ‘not much else. The only nice jobs are the ones left after this morning’s rain by a set of regulation tens and another of brogues or gentleman’s country shoes, size nine-and-a-half ripple soles and in good repair.’

  ‘I know. The Super and the doctor.’

  ‘That’s right, sir, from what you’ve mentioned.’

  ‘What about the stuff near the outcrop and behind it?’

  ‘What you thought, Mr Alleyn. They match. Hand-sewn, officer’s type. Ten-and-a-half but custom-made. Worn but well-kept.’

  ‘In a sense you might be describing the owner. Did you tell Carey he could go off duty?’

  ‘Yes, sir. There seemed no call for him to stay. We’ve got all the casts and photographs we want. I used salt in the plaster, seeing how the weather was shaping. It was OK. Nice results.’

  ‘Good. It’s getting rougher. Look at that sea.’

  In the channel between Island and village, the tide now rolled and broke in a confusion of foam and jetting spray. Out at sea there were white horses everywhere. The horizon was dark and broken. The causeway was lashed by breakers that struck, rose, fell across it and withdrew, leaving it momentarily exposed and blackly glinting in what remained of the daylight. The hotel launch bucketed and rolled at the jetty. A man in oilskins was mounting extra fenders. Above the general roar of sea and rain, the thud of the launch’s starboard side against the legs of the jetty could be clearly heard.

  Light shone dimly behind the windows of Miss Cost’s Giffte Shoppe.

  ‘PC Pender’s locked up in there with Miss Cissy Pollock on the switchboard,’ Alleyn muttered. ‘I’ll just have a word with him.’ He tapped on the door. After a moment, it was opened a crack and Mr Pender said: ‘Be’ant no manner of use pestering – ’ and then saw Alleyn. ‘Beg pardon, sir, I’m sure,’ he said. ‘Thought you was one of they damned kids come back.’ He flung open the door. Alleyn called to Fox and the others and they went in.

  The shop smelt fustily of cardboard, wool and gum. In the postal section, Miss Cissy Pollock bulged at a switchboard: all eyes and teeth when she saw the visitors.

  Pender said that a call had come through for Alleyn from Dunlowman. ‘Sir James Curtis, it were, sir,’ he said with reverence. Curtis was the Home Office pathologist. ‘Wishful to speak with you. I intercepted the call, sir, and informed the station and The Boy-and-Lobster.’

  ‘Where was he?’

  ‘Dunlowman mortuary, sir, along with the body and the doctor. I’ve got the number.’

  ‘Aw, dear!’ Miss Pollock exclaimed. ‘Be’ant it shocking though!’ She had removed her headphones.

  Alleyn asked if she could put him through. She engaged to do so and directed him to an instrument in a cubbyhole.

  The mortuary attendant answered and said Sir James was just leaving but he’d try to catch him. He could be heard pounding off down a concrete passage. In a minute or two the great man spoke.

  ‘Hullo, Rory, where the devil have you been? I’ve done this job for you. Want the report?’

&n
bsp; ‘Please.’

  It was straightforward enough. Death by drowning following insensibility caused by a blow on the head. The piece of rock was undoubtedly the instrument. Contents of stomach, Sir James briskly continued, showed that she’d had a cup of tea and a biscuit about an hour and three-quarters before she died. On Dr Maine’s evidence he would agree that she had probably been dead about an hour when Alleyn found her. Sir James had another case more or less on the way back to London and would like to get off before he himself was drowned. Would Alleyn let him know about the inquest? Dr Maine would tell him anything else he wanted to hear and was now on his way back to Portcarrow. ‘I’m told you’re on an island,’ said Sir James, merrily. ‘You’ll be likely to stay there if the weather report’s to be trusted. What book will you choose if you can only have one?’

  ‘The Gentle Art of Making Enemies,’ said Alleyn and hung up.

  He told Pender that he and Fox would return after dinner and asked him what he himself would do for a meal. Pender said that there was a cut loaf and some butter and ham in Miss Cost’s refrigerator and would it be going too far if he and Cissy made sandwiches? There was also some cheese and pickle. They could, he said, be replaced.

  ‘You can’t beat a cheese and pickle sandwich,’ Fox observed, ‘if the cheese is tasty.’

  Alleyn said that under the circumstances he felt Pender might proceed on the lines indicated and left him looking relieved.

  They climbed the hotel steps, staggering against the gale, and entered The Boy-and-Lobster. It was now five minutes to eight.

  Alleyn asked the reception clerk if he could find rooms for his three colleagues and learnt that the guests had dwindled to thirty. All incoming trains and buses had been met at Dunlowman and intending visitors told about the situation. Accommodation had been organized with various establishments over a distance of fifteen miles and, in view of the weather forecast and the closure of the Spring, most of the travellers had elected, as the clerk put it, to stay away. ‘We can be cut off,’ he said, ‘if it’s really bad. It doesn’t often happen but if this goes on, it might.’ The guests in residence had all come by car and were now at dinner.

  Alleyn left the others to collect their suitcases and arranged to meet them in the dining-room. He went to his own room, effected a quick change and called on Miss Emily who was four doors away.

  She was finishing her dinner. She sat bolt upright, peeling grapes. A flask of red wine was before her and a book was at her elbow with a knife laid across to keep it open. She was perfectly composed.

  ‘I’ve only looked in for a moment,’ he said. ‘We’re running late. How are you, Miss Emily? Bored to sobs, I’m afraid.’

  ‘Good evening, Roderique. No, I am not unduly bored, though I have missed taking my walk.’

  ‘It’s no weather for walking, I assure you. How are they treating you?’

  ‘This morning the chambermaid’s manner was equivocal and at luncheon I found the waiter impertinent. Tonight, however, there is a marked change. It appears that I am, or was, suspected of murder,’ said Miss Emily.

  ‘What makes you think so?’

  ‘Before taking my siesta I ventured out on the balcony. There was a group of children on the steps leading to the hotel. When they saw me they began to chant. I will not trouble you with the words. The intention was inescapable.’

  ‘Little animals.’

  ‘Oh, perfectly. It was of no moment.’

  There was a tap on the door and a waiter came in.

  ‘Thank you,’ said Miss Emily. ‘You may clear.’

  Alleyn watched the man for a moment and then said:

  ‘I’d like a word with you, if you please.’

  ‘With me, sir?’

  ‘Yes. I am a Superintendent of Scotland Yard, in charge of investigations into the death of Miss Elspeth Cost. I think perhaps the staff of the hotel should be informed that this lady is associated with me in the case and may be regarded as an expert. Do you understand?’

  ‘Yes, sir. Certainly, sir. I’m sure I hope madam has no complaints, sir.’

  ‘I hope so, too. She hasn’t made any but I shall do so if any more idiotic nonsense is circulated. You may say so to anybody that is interested.’

  ‘Thank you, sir,’ said the waiter and withdrew.

  ‘Chose remarquable!’ said Miss Emily. ‘So now, it appears I am a detectrice.’

  ‘It’ll be all over the hotel in five minutes and Portcarrow will have it by morning. About your transport to Dunlowman – ’

  ‘Do not trouble yourself. The young man – Patrick – has offered to drive us,’ Miss Emily said with an air of amusement.

  ‘I see. It may be pretty rough going across to the village, if this weather persists.’

  ‘No matter.’

  ‘Before I go, would you mind very much if we went over one incident: the few minutes, round about twenty to eight, when you hung your notice by the Spring?’

  ‘Certainly,’ Miss Emily said. She repeated her story. She had seen Wally down on the road. He had whooped, chanted, waved his arms and afterwards disappeared. She had seen nobody else and had returned to the hotel with her umbrella between herself and the prospect.

  ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘I know. I just wanted to hear it again. Thank you, Miss Emily. You don’t ask me how the case progresses, I notice.’

  ‘You would tell me, no doubt, if you wished to do so.’

  ‘Well,’ he said. ‘I always think it’s unlucky to talk at this stage: but it does progress.’

  ‘Good. Go and have your dinner. If you are not too fatigued I should be glad if you would call upon me later in the evening.’

  ‘When do you retire?’

  ‘Not early. I find I am restless,’ said Miss Emily.

  They fell silent. The wind made a sudden onslaught on her windows. ‘Perhaps it is the storm,’ she said.

  ‘I’ll see if there’s a light under your door. Au revoir, then, Miss Emily.’

  ‘Au revoir, my dear Roderique. Enjoy, if that is not too extravagant a word, your dinner. The dressed crab is not bad. The filet mignon, on the other hand, is contemptible.’

  She waved her hand and he left her.

  Fox, Bailey and Thompson were already in the dining-room. Alleyn had been given a table to himself. As there was not room at theirs, he took it, but joined them for a minute or two before he did so.

  Everyone else had gone except Jenny and Patrick who sat at the family table, nursing balloon glasses. They had an air of subdued celebration and as often as they looked at each other, broke into smiles. When Jenny saw Alleyn, she waggled her fingers at him.

  Alleyn said: ‘Afraid it’s a case of pressing on, chaps. We’ll meet in the hall, afterwards, and go down to the shop. Have you ordered drinks?’

  ‘Not so far, Mr Alleyn.’

  ‘Well, have them with me. What shall it be? Waiter!’

  They settled for beer. Alleyn went to his own table and was fawned upon by Miss Emily’s waiter. Jenny and Patrick passed by and Jenny paused to say: ‘We’re going to try and whip up a bit of joie de vivre in the lounge, like they do in ships. Patrick’s thought up a guessing game. Come and help.’

  ‘I’d love to,’ Alleyn said, ‘but I’m on a guessing game of my own, bad luck to it.’ He looked at Patrick. ‘I hear you’ve offered to do the driving tomorrow. Very civil of you. Miss Emily’s looking forward to it.’

  ‘It’s going to be a rough crossing if this keeps up.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘Will she mind?’

  ‘Not she. At the age of sixty, she was a queen-pin in the Resistance and hasn’t noticed the passage of time. Get her to tell you how she dressed up a couple of kiwis as nuns.’

  ‘Honestly!’Jenny exclaimed.

  ‘It’s quite a story.’

  The waiter came up to say that Dr Maine had arrived and was asking for him.

  ‘Right,’ Alleyn said. ‘I’ll come.’

  ‘In the writing-room, sir.’

&
nbsp; It was a small deserted place off the entrance hall. Dr Maine had removed his mackintosh and hung it over the back of a chair. He was shaking the rain off his hat when Alleyn came in. ‘What a night!’ he said. ‘I thought I wouldn’t make it.’

  ‘How did you cross?’

  ‘In my launch. Damned if I know how she’ll take it going back. The causeway’s impossible. Sir James thought you’d like to see me and I had to come over, anyway, to a patient.’

  Alleyn said: ‘I’m glad to see you. Not so much about the PM! Curtis made that clear enough. I wanted to check up one or two points. Have a drink, won’t you?’

  ‘I certainly will. Thank you.’

  Alleyn found a bell-push. ‘I hope you won’t mind if I don’t join you,’ he said. ‘I’ve had my allowance and I’ve got a night’s work ahead of me.’

  ‘I suppose you get used to it – like a GP.’

  ‘Very much so, I imagine. What’ll you have?’

  Dr Maine had a whisky and soda. ‘I thought I’d take a look at Miss Pride while I’m here,’ he said. ‘She’s recovered, of course, but she had quite a nasty cut in her neck. I suppose I mustn’t ask about the police view of that episode. Or doesn’t it arise?’

  ‘I don’t see why you shouldn’t. It arises in a sort of secondary way, if only to be dismissed. What do you think?’