Part 21 (1/2)
”Danielle? I'm back.” Lisette called through the bathroom door. ”Do you want anything?”
No answer. Lisette looked into their bedroom, just in case Danielle had invited a friend over. No, the beds were still made up; Danielle's clothes were spread out by themselves.
”Danielle?” Lisette raised her voice. Perhaps she couldn't hear over the noise of the shower. ”Danielle?” Surely she was all right.
Lisette's feet felt damp. She looked down. A puddle of water was seeping beneath the door. Danielle must not have the shower curtains closed properly ”Danielle! You're flooding us!”
Lisette opened the door and peered cautiously within. The curtain was closed, right enough. A thin spray still reached through a gap, and the shower had been running long enough for the puddle to spread. It occurred to Lisette that she should see Danielle's silhouette against the translucent shower curtain.
”Danielle!” She began to grow alarmed. ”Danielle! Are you all right?”
She pattered across the wet tiles and drew aside the curtain. Danielle lay in the bottom of the tub, the spray falling on her upturned smile, her flesh paler than the porcelain of the tub.
*XI*
It was early afternoon when they finally allowed her to return to the flat. Had she been able to think of another place to go, she probably would have gone there. Instead, Lisette wearily slumped onto the couch, too spent to pour herself the drink she desperately wanted.
Somehow she had managed to phone the police, through her hysteria make them understand where she was. Once the squad car arrived, she had no further need to act out of her own initiative; she simply was carried along in the rush of police investigation. It wasn't until they were questioning her at New Scotland Yard that she realized she herself was not entirely free from suspicion.
The victim had bled to death, the medical examiner ruled, her blood washed down the tub drain. A safety razor used for shaving legs had been opened, its blade removed. There were razor incisions along both wrists, directed lengthwise, into the radial artery, as opposed to the shallow, crosswise cuts utilized by suicides unfamiliar with human anatomy There was, in addition, an incision in the left side of the throat. It was either a very determined suicide, or a skillfully concealed murder. In view of the absence of any signs of forced entry or of a struggle, more likely the former. The victim's roommate did admit to a recent quarrel. Laboratory tests would indicate whether the victim might have been drugged or rendered unconscious through a blow. After that, the inquest would decide.
Lisette had explained that she had spent the evening with Dr Magnus. The fact that she was receiving emotional therapy, as they interpreted it, caused several mental notes to be made. Efforts to reach Dr Magnus by telephone proved unsuccessful, but his secretary did confirm that Miss Seyrig had shown up for her appointment the previous afternoon. Dr Magnus would get in touch with them as soon as he returned to his office. No, she did not know why he had cancelled today's appointments, but it was not unusual for Dr Magnus to dash off suddenly when essential research demanded immediate attention.
After a while they let Lisette make phone calls. She phoned her parents, then wished she hadn't. It was still the night before in California, and it was like turning back the hands of time to no avail. They urged her to take the next flight home, but of course it wasn't all that simple, and it just wasn't feasible for either of them to fly over on a second's notice, since after all there really was nothing they could do. She phoned Maitland Redding, who was stunned at the news and offered to help in any way he could, but Lisette couldn't think of any way. She phoned Midge Vaughn, who hung up on her. She phoned Dr Magnus, who still couldn't be reached. Mercifully, the police took care of phoning Danielle's next of kin.
A physician at New Scotland Yard had spoken with her briefly and had given her some pills-a sedative to ease her into sleep after her ordeal. They had driven her back to the flat after impressing upon her the need to be present at the inquest. She must not be concerned should any hypothetical a.s.sailant yet be lurking about, inasmuch as the flat would be under surveillance.
Lisette stared dully about the flat, still unable to comprehend what had happened. The police had been thorough-measuring, dusting for fingerprints, leaving things in a mess. Bleakly, Lisette tried to convince herself that this was only another nightmare, that in a moment Danielle would pop in and find her asleep on the couch. Christ, what was she going to do with all of Danielle's things? Danielle's mother was remarried and living in Colorado; her father was an executive in a New York investment corporation. Evidently he had made arrangements to have the body s.h.i.+pped back to the States.
”Oh, Danielle.” Lisette was too stunned for tears. Perhaps she should check into a hotel for now. No, she couldn't bear being all alone with her thoughts in a strange place. How strange to realize now that she really had no close friends in London other than Danielle-and what friends she did have were mostly people she'd met through Danielle.
She'd left word with Dr Magnus's secretary for him to call her once he came in. Perhaps she should call there once again, just in case Dr Magnus had missed her message. Lisette couldn't think what good Dr Magnus could do, but he was such an understanding person, and she felt much better whenever she spoke with him.
She considered the bottle of pills in her bag. Perhaps it would be best to take a couple of them and sleep around the clock. She felt too drained just now to have energy enough to think.
The phone began to ring. Lisette stared at it for a moment without comprehension, then lunged up from the couch to answer it.
”Is this Lisette Seyrig?”
It was a woman's voice-one Lisette didn't recognize. ”Yes. Who's calling, please?”
”This is Beth Garrington, Lisette. I hope I'm not disturbing you.”
”That's quite all right.”
”You poor dear! Maitland Redding phoned to tell me of the tragedy. I can't tell you how shocked I am. Danielle seemed such a dear from our brief contact, and she had such a great talent.”
”Thank you. I'm sorry you weren't able to know her better.” Lisette sensed guilt and embarra.s.sment at the memory of that brief contact.
”Darling, you can't be thinking about staying in that flat alone. Is there someone there with you?”
”No, there isn't. That's all right. I'll be fine.”
”Don't be silly. Listen, I have enough empty bedrooms in this old barn to open a hotel. Why don't you just pack a few things and come straight over?”
”That's very kind of you, but I really couldn't.”
”Nonsense! It's no good for you to be there all by yourself. Strange as this may sound, but when I'm not throwing one of these invitational riots, this is a quiet little backwater and things are dull as church. I'd love the company, and it will do you a world of good to get away.”
”You're really very kind to invite me, but I...”
”Please, Lisette-be reasonable. I have guest rooms here already made up, and I'll send the car around to pick you up. All you need do is say yes and toss a few things into your bag. After a good night's sleep, you'll feel much more like coping with things tomorrow.” When Lisette didn't immediately reply, Beth added carefully: ”Besides, Lisette. I understand the police haven't ruled out the possibility of murder. In that event, unless poor Danielle simply forgot to lock up, there is a chance that whoever did this has a key to your flat.”
”The police said they'd watch the house.”
”He might also be someone you both know and trust, someone Danielle invited in.”
Lisette stared wildly at the sinister shadows that lengthened about the flat. Her refuge had been violated. Even familiar objects seemed tainted and alien. She fought back tears. ”I don't know what to think.” She realized she'd been clutching the receiver for a long, silent interval.
”Poor dear! There's nothing you need think about! Now listen. I'm at my solicitor's tidying up some property matters for Aunt Julia. I'll phone right now to have my car sent around for you. It'll be there by the time you pack your toothbrush and pyjamas, and whisk you straight off to bucolic Maida Vale. The maids will plump up your pillows for you, and you can have a nice nap before I get home for dinner. Poor darling, I'll bet you haven't eaten a thing. Now, say you'll come.”
”Thank you. It's awfully good of you. Of course I will.”
”Then it's done. Don't worry about a thing, Lisette. I'll see you this evening.”
*XII*
Dr Magnus hunched forward on the narrow seat of the taxi, wearily ma.s.saging his forehead and temples. It might not help his mental fatigue, but maybe the reduced muscle tension would ease his headache. He glanced at his watch. Getting on past ten. He'd had no sleep last night, and it didn't look as if he'd be getting much tonight. If only those girls would answer their phone!
It didn't help matters that his conscience plagued him. He had broken a sacred trust. He should never have made use of posthypnotic suggestion last night to persuade Lisette to return for a further session. It went against all principles, but there had been no other course: the girl was adamant, and he had to know-he was so close to establis.h.i.+ng final proof. If only for one final session of regressive hypnosis...
Afterward he had spent a sleepless night, too excited for rest, at work in his study trying to reconcile the conflicting elements of Lisette's released memories with the historical data his research had so far compiled. By morning he had been able to pull together just enough facts to deepen the mystery. He had phoned his secretary at home to cancel all his appointments, and had spent the day at the tedious labor of delving through dusty munic.i.p.al records and newspaper files, working feverishly as the past reluctantly yielded one bewildering clue after another.
By now Dr Magnus was exhausted, hungry and none too clean, but he had managed to establish proof of his theories. He was not elated. In doing so he had uncovered another secret, something undreamt of in his philosophies. He began to hope that his life work was in error.
”Here's the address, sir.”
”Thank you, driver.” Dr Magnus awoke from his grim revery and saw that he had reached his destination. Quickly, he paid the driver and hurried up the walk to Lisette's flat. Only a few lights were on, and he rang the bell urgently-a helpless sense of foreboding making his movements clumsy.
”Just one moment, sir!”
Dr Magnus jerked about at the voice. Two men in plain clothes approached him briskly from the pavement.
”Stand easy! We're police.”
”Is something the matter, officers?” Obviously, something was.
”Might we ask what your business here is, sir?”
”Certainly. I'm a friend of Miss Borland and Miss Seyrig. I haven't been able to reach them by phone, and as I have some rather urgent matters to discuss with Miss Seyrig, I thought perhaps I might try reaching her here at her flat.” He realized he was far too nervous.