The Skeleton in the Grass by Robert Barnard

Author:Robert Barnard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scribner

CHAPTER 11

They didn’t discuss their interviews with Inspector Minchip, not in any real way. Why not, Sarah wondered? They said they’d found it difficult to remember, they said he seemed to know his job, without being anything as positive as nice or nasty. But they didn’t talk about what they’d said, about what he’d asked them. They didn’t compare notes. Twice Sarah caught Dennis looking at Helen with an interrogation in his eyes. If Helen answered him in any way, the answer escaped Sarah. It was all so unlike the Hallams, so open, so conversational, so unafraid to talk about themselves and their problems.

The next day began badly. Dennis had been scheduled later in the week to give a broadcast talk on “What is Expressionism?” He had always been very good at making ideas and artistic movements understandable to the man in the street. Sarah had been looking forward to hearing on the wireless someone she actually knew. Then, that Tuesday morning, Dennis got a postcard from the BBC saying they had postponed the talk, knowing he would not, in the circumstances, feel like giving it.

“Those bloody BBC people!” Dennis said, throwing the postcard violently across the breakfast table. “A few paragraphs in the popular press about a dead body being found on my lawn and, hey presto, they’ve decided they’d better distance themselves from me. Can’t have the BBC being associated with anybody questionable, oh goodness me no! It’s that bloody fool John Reith. God! to think of the influence that one man wields! It’s like being ruled from the Manse!”

“You could write an article on it,” suggested Oliver.

Dennis laughed, his anger evaporating.

“And never be asked back to broadcast again? It would be a heavy penalty. Like most broadcasters, I do rather like the sound of my own voice. But you could be right. It might be worth it.”

It was possible to see the shape of an article in the Observer forming itself in Dennis’s mind.

Later, as they were finishing breakfast, Oliver said:

“I think I should go and visit Mrs. Keene today.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to go after someone is charged?” Dennis asked. “It would make the atmosphere less awkward.”

“I have to go back to Oxford at the end of the week, unless the police insist on my presence here. Anyway, what I really want to see is whether she is in any want. I suppose the boy was the breadwinner. If we’re going to be of any use we must get in early.”

“Yes, do find out what we can do for her,” said Helen. “Make it clear we don’t blame her in any way.”

“I have to go and buy a birthday card for my father,” said Sarah. “If I can get Chloe settled to something we could walk to the village together.”

“Good,” said Oliver. “I shan’t go till eleven or so. Give Mrs. Keene a chance to get the house straight.”

Chloe was rather drowsy that morning. She had slept badly, and probably had been affected by the tensions in the house.

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