Read Online Towards Zero by Agatha Christie - Free Book Online

she should,” said Thomas Royde. He added, rather belatedly, “After all, it’s three years ago.”
    â€œDo people like Audrey forget? She was very fond of Nevile.”
    Thomas Royde shifted in his seat.
    â€œShe’s only thirty-two. Got her life in front of her.”
    â€œOh, I know. But she did take it hard. She had quite a bad nervous breakdown, you know.”
    â€œI know. The mater wrote me.”
    â€œIn a way,” said Mary, “I think it was good for your mother to have Audrey to look after. It took her mind off her own grief—about your brother’s death. We were so sorry about that.”
    â€œYes. Poor old Adrian. Always did drive too fast.”
    There was a pause. Mary stretched out her hand as a sign she was taking the turn that led down the hill to Saltcreek.
    Presently, as they were slipping down the narrow twisting road, she said:
    â€œThomas—you know Audrey very well?”
    â€œSo so. Haven’t seen much of her for the last ten years.”
    â€œNo, but you knew her as a child. She was like a sister to you and Adrian?”
    He nodded.
    â€œWas she—was she at all unbalanced in any way? Oh I don’t mean that quite the way it sounds. But I’ve a feeling that there is something very wrong with her now. She’s so completely detached, her poise is so unnaturally perfect—but I wonder sometimes what is going on behind the façade. I’ve a feeling, now and then, of some really powerful emotion. And I don’t quite know what it is! But I do feel that she isn’t normal. There’s something! It worries me. I do know that there’s an atmosphere in the house that affects everybody. We’re all nervous and jumpy. But I don’t know what it is. And sometimes, Thomas, it frightens me.”
    â€œFrightens you?” His slow wondering tone made her pull herself together with a little nervous laugh.
    â€œIt sounds absurd…But that’s what I meant just now—your arrival will be good for us—create a diversion. Ah, here we are.”
    They had slipped round the last corner. Gull’s Point was built on a plateau of rock overlooking the river. On two sides it had sheer cliff going down to the water. The gardens and tennis court were on the left of the house. The garage—a modern afterthought—was actually farther along the road, on the other side of it.
    Mary said:
    â€œI’ll put the car away now and come back. Hurstall will look after you.”
    Hurstall, the aged butler, was greeting Thomas with the pleasure of an old friend.
    â€œVery glad to see you, Mr. Royde, after all these years. And so will her ladyship be. You’re in the east room, sir. I think you’ll find everyone in the garden, unless you want to go to your room first.”
    Thomas shook his head. He went through the drawing room to the window which opened on to the terrace. He stood there for a moment, watching, unobserved himself.
    Two women were the only occupants of the terrace. One was sitting on the corner of the balustrade looking out over the water. The other woman was watching her.
    The first was Audrey—the other, he knew, must be Kay Strange. Kay did not know she was being overlooked and she took no pains to disguise her expression. Thomas Royde was not, perhaps, a very observant man where women were concerned, but he could not fail to notice that Kay Strange disliked Audrey Strange very much.
    As for Audrey, she was looking out across the river and seemed unconscious of, or indifferent to, the other’s presence.
    It was seven years since Thomas had seen Audrey Strange. He studied her now very carefully. Had she changed, and, if so, in what way?
    There was a change, he decided. She was thinner, paler, altogether more ethereal-looking—but there was something else, something he could not quite define. It was as though she were holding herself tightly in leash, watchful over every