Read Online Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death by James Runcie - Free Book Online Page B

information that I think is important.’
    ‘My life is a river of “more information”, Sidney. Sometimes I wish someone would put a dam in it. I presume that you are referring to the solicitor’s suicide.’
    ‘I am.’
    ‘Then you had better sit down.’
    Sidney wondered whether he should have rehearsed what he was going to say, written it down even, but there had been no time for such preparation. Consequently, his thoughts came out in a rush. ‘I have been thinking about the circumstances of the crime, the people involved and the nature of love.’
    ‘Oh God, man . . .’
    ‘And I just cannot believe that Stephen Staunton meant to kill himself. I know that everything suggests that he did so but I do not believe this to be the case. Nor do I believe that he drank any of the whisky that was on his desk . . .’
    ‘Then what was it doing there?’
    ‘A red herring, Inspector. It was even, perhaps, a way of pointing the finger at Clive Morton, a man who does not know as much about whisky as he possibly should . . .’
    ‘That does not make him a murderer . . .’
    ‘I do not think that he is . . .’
    ‘Well, that’s a relief . . . it only leaves every other inhabitant of Cambridge as a suspect. I don’t suppose the victim could still be responsible for his own death? That the case could in fact be suicide?’
    ‘You remember at the very beginning of our conversation on this subject when I suggested that things could be too clear?’
    ‘I certainly do. It was a bit cheeky of you if you don’t mind my saying so.’
    ‘I don’t. But this was the murderer’s mistake. Knowing that I was on the case she began to panic. In fact she panicked so much that she was forced into producing her trump card: a suicide note.’
    ‘She?’
    ‘Yes . . . “She” . . .’
    ‘You’re suggesting our man got his secretary to write his own suicide note? You’re crackers.’
    ‘I am not, Inspector.’
    ‘Then what are you suggesting?’
    ‘I am proposing that the letter is not a suicide note . . .’
    ‘Oh, Sidney . . .’
    ‘Look again, Geordie.’
    As Inspector Keating examined the piece of paper Sidney recited the text he had memorised.
     
    A,
    I can’t tell you how sorry I am that it has come to this. I know you will find it upsetting and I wish there was something I could do to make things right. I can’t go on any more. I’m sorry – so sorry. You know how hard it has been and how impossible it is to continue.
    Forgive me
    S
     
    ‘Seems pretty clear to me,’ Inspector Keating replied.
    ‘Too clear; and then again, not clear enough. For this is not a note written by a man who is about to kill himself. It is the note of a man ending a relationship.’
    ‘Yes, I can see that it could be . . .’
    ‘And you remember the private diary, the one with the entries in pencil that Mr Staunton rubbed out each day?’
    ‘The one with the days marking the mornings and the afternoons? The one that might suggest a few appointments that he wanted to keep quiet? I can see what you might be saying.’
    ‘But they are more than that. Look again.’ Sidney produced the diary.
    ‘A.M and P.M. What is wrong with that?’
    ‘They are never on the same day. And you will note that the initials A.M. occur less frequently as the initials P.M. increase.’
    ‘Which means?’
    ‘Annabel Morrison and Pamela Morton. Their initials. These are the records of assignations.’
    ‘So you are suggesting that our solicitor friend had not one but two lovers?’
    ‘I am afraid I am.’
    ‘How did he have the energy?’
    ‘That is not our concern, Geordie . . .’
    ‘But two on the go at the same time! And a wife as well. God knows, it’s hard enough when you’ve been married for a bit. What do you think Stephen Staunton’s secret was?’
    ‘Charm.’
    ‘Is that all?’
    ‘That and the fact that he listened. He paid attention. According to Pamela Morton, when he spoke he made people feel that they were the only