An Unexpected Witness by E.J. Henry

Author:E.J. Henry [Henry, EJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Endeavour Press
Published: 2016-12-13T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 29

Father Cuthbert had spent a fruitless hour with Doctor Harris, before he went to the nursing home. The doctor had been superficially helpful although he detected an undercurrent of reticence. Harris had recounted his trip to the home on that fateful day in general terms, but had needed prompting constantly to elicit the facts.

His recollections were unremarkable. He had visited Mr Renshaw, who was close to death. He had been in the room when Father Thomas had begun to administer the Rites. He had witnessed George Fellows burst into the room after his son. Fellows had then fainted and he had treated him. He had then returned his attention to Mr Renshaw and subsequently certified the death.

He had been a little vague over his treatment of George Fellows. He denied that he had given him an injection. His initial refrain was that he had told the police everything and was short of time. On being pressed further he was unclear about the blood test results. He clearly did not want to help and regarded the meddlesome priest as an inconvenience.

Cuthbert made a mental note to look into the blood test results further, as the taxi drove down the drive to the nursing home. It was twenty-five years since he had last set foot in the building. Then, he had been a young priest and the house had been the family residence of a dear friend. The events so long ago had cast a dark shadow over Cuthbert’s life, which he had managed to block from his mind until now.

He was met by one of the staff in reception, although his attention was drawn to Bishop Eady, who was sitting alone in his wheelchair by a side door.

“Excuse me, sister. I need to have a quick word with the bishop.”

He left her standing there in a confused state and approached the old man. “Your Excellency. It has been some years since we last met. How are you?”

“Father Cuthbert. It has been a long time but I doubt you have aged a day. Surely it is more than coincidence that you arrive on the same day as the police arrest someone here?”

His blue eyes twinkled in amusement. “Take me in to the lounge so that we can have a few minutes together.”

Once they were comfortable the old man looked expectantly at Cuthbert. “The police have just taken a young man away from here. I had spoken to him on a couple of occasions in the gardens, and he did not seem like a criminal to me. Can you tell me what is going on?”

Cuthbert smiled at him. “I was hoping you could do that for me, Bishop Eady.”

The old man chuckled. “Do you play chess, Gabriel?”

Cuthbert frowned.

“Well, you should do, or maybe fencing if you were a little younger. You have the natural ability to avoid any question of worth and deflect it back on the inquirer!”

The bishop pushed his chair closer to him with difficulty and leaned forwards. “Don’t be coy with me, Gabriel.

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