Read Online Czech Mate by Elizabeth Darrell - Free Book Online

sipped her coffee knowing she would have to eat and exclaim over it before she departed, but delaying the moment would save her from another.
    â€˜I intended to drive over to see young Kevin, but the road won’t be open until this afternoon,’ the Padre said through a mouthful of pastry and mincemeat. ‘The two girls are at school today and their mother should be back at home for them when they return. A nasty shock for the family. At yesterday’s services Estelle and I were made aware of the concern felt by other childen at the party. An attack of that ferocity on a younger child could have proved fatal.’
    â€˜Indeed it could,’ his wife agreed, ‘although I told you, dear, that an adult accompanied the little ones when they needed to go up to the toilets.’
    Now they had reached the crux of the matter, Connie embarked on her questions. ‘Did you take any up there, Mrs Robinson?’
    The smile appeared again and remained fixed regardless of her words. ‘I was kept busy in the main hall. No opportunity to sneak away like that. So many demands from children wanting the assurance and comfort of an older woman, especially over torn costumes, tummy ache or coming last in the games. I was kept on my toes all evening.’
    Knowing this to be no more than self-important imagination, Connie asked, ‘So you had no opportunity to take note of when Kevin slipped away?’
    â€˜My dear, there were two hundred children at the party. There was a constant stream going up and down the outside stairs. Impossible to remember one boy.’
    â€˜But he went up there alone, so could have easily been noticed. The Medical Officer’s sons discovered Kevin when they slipped up there together before the parade was about to start, because the younger boy was afraid he wouldn’t be able to wait until it was over. The attack must have occurred shortly before that.’
    â€˜Then I certainly wouldn’t have noticed anything. I was to act as judge and present the prizes, so I was totally occupied with the importance of that duty.’ The smile never wavered. ‘More coffee?’
    Connie allowed her cup to be refilled and tried to analyse her reaction to her hostess’s bouncy brightness. Was it hiding more complex feelings, or had Estelle Robinson seen too many old black and white films depicting vicar’s wives as cheery scatterbrains and adopted that image on her marriage?
    â€˜During your hectic duties on Saturday night you would surely have been aware of any serious squabbles between the children. Especially the older boys.’
    Mrs Robinson slid another mince pie to sit beside the untouched one on Connie’s plate, and smiled. ‘The evening was full of squabbles, my dear. To ask such a question shows you’ve had little experience of children en masse. When they’re overly excited and competitive they’re like small demons ready to poke each other’s eyes out, if necessary. Girls can be as venomous as boys. They pinch, scratch and kick, whereas boys use fists and any handy weapon. Young humans are like young animals. They obey basic, inborn instincts that only maturity teaches them to subdue and control. Whoever attacked that boy will now be suffering from belated guilt which will very soon drive him to confess and expect forgiveness as usual.’ The smile broadened. ‘Wait a few days and you’ll have the culprit. No need for all these questions.’
    Justin Robinson rose to pour more coffee in his cup and to select another golden pie. ‘My wife taught psychology to college students for fifteen years, Sergeant. She understands the human psyche very well.’
    Leaving the house ten minutes later with two mince pies carefully wrapped in a paper napkin, Connie reflected that the Padre’s wife understood her psyche not one whit. Far from being impressed by the woman’s superior knowledge of human behaviour, Connie had