In spite of the fact that she looked somewhat strained and a bit dishevelled after her ordeal of the past few days and the final overhaul by the specialists, she was a handsome woman. She was still quietly asleep, her face framed by the white pillow and sheets and her dark hair, with the now well-known lock of white in front, gathered back over her intelligent-looking forehead. The dark shadows of fatigue and despair under her eyes accentuated her pale beauty. It was surprising that Cling had planned to leave her in the lurch in favour of a wife who had treated him shabbily all their married life and must now obviously be a faded and middle-aged woman, with all her attraction gone.
Binger was back with Dr. Fauconnet following him. They both seemed very grave. Dr. Fauconnet looked to have been shedding tears and was crestfallen and pale. This woman who had struck Littlejohn as resembling a dry-eyed bird of prey had received a shock from somewhere which had cut her down to size.
Dr. Binger was embarrassed.
‘Dr. Fauconnet has explained her part in this matter to me and I must say that had I been present to advise her, she would have acted otherwise than she did. I will ask her to give you a full account of what has happened in the case of Nurse Durand and must crave your sympathy and understanding. Dr. Fauconnet is a very able assistant but, owing to my absence, has been overworked and overwrought.’
The detectives and medical specialists were standing about the room, with the patient sleeping peacefully in their midst, as though she didn’t care a damn about the whole rigmarole. Dr. Binger was speaking in a flat colourless voice, like a second-rate lawyer reciting a prepared brief to a jury.
Littlejohn was the first to answer.
‘Wouldn’t it be better if we adjourned to somewhere more appropriate to discuss this case? The bedside seems hardly the place.’
They all looked at him as though he’d suddenly thought of something spectacular. There was a general murmur of consent. Dr. Bott seemed about to cross the room and wring Littlejohn by the hand for thinking of it, and then changed his mind.
Binger assented vigorously.
‘We’ll adjourn to my room.’
They all followed him like many sheep.
Binger’s room was impressive. A huge window on one side with dark curtains drawn. On the other three sides, books on shelves from floor to ceiling. He ought to have been more clever than he looked if he’d read them all! A large, unintelligible abstract painting over the fireplace. A number of expensive chairs and tables scattered about; filing cabinets and standard lamps. In one corner, a huge desk, dramatically illuminated by a single, soft-glowing lamp which cast a ring of light over it. Then, a heavy padded chair, in which Binger seated himself, like a king taking the throne at a meeting of his council.
‘Be seated, all of you.’
They all obeyed and drew chairs from the shadows and seated themselves around the desk. Only Dr. Fauconnet remained standing. She seemed in a daze and wondering what to do next.
‘Come along, Chantal. Find yourself a seat.’
There was a chair beside the desk, probably for the use of patients, and the familiar sound of her Christian name, which Dr. Binger must have used when he wished to coax or mollify her, persuaded her to take it and subside in it, like a guilty party waiting for sentence.
‘I do not propose to take any notes at this stage. Later, I will require a signed statement covering what is said.’
Lindemann then seated himself, as though greatly relieved by getting his official statement off his chest.
‘Tell the company what you told me.’
Dr. Fauconnet looked anxiously at the circle of surrounding faces. Professor Dumelin-Graf removed his dark glasses, rubbed his black eye as though it irritated him, and said he hoped it wouldn’t take long as he had other work yet to do in Geneva.
‘I did what I thought was best …’
‘I’m sure you did. Proceed.’
Dr. Binger clasped his hands and put his elbows on his desk as though about to open the proceedings with a word of prayer.
‘Shall I begin at the beginning? About the jewellery …?’
‘Of course.’
‘We have here a patient, Mrs. Cobb. She is very wealthy and is the mother of an English cabinet minister. She is, in a sense, a voluntary patient. She suffers from senile dementia and her family think it best she remain a permanent guest, as we specialise in such cases.’
Dr. Binger nodded to underline the last statement.
‘She has jewellery worth many thousand pounds with her here. I was told it is valued at over £20,000.’
Dr. Bott hissed with surprise and as nobody else seemed inclined to interrupt the narrative, Littlejohn did so.
‘By whom?’
‘Sir Ensor Cobb himself told me. His mother was wearing the jewellery when she arrived at the clinic …’
‘Indeed!’
‘Yes. She refuses to part with it, as it is a main delusion of her complaint that someone is trying to steal it from her.’
‘What does the jewellery consist of?’
‘A necklace, two rings, a pair of ear clips and a brooch. All in fine diamonds.’
Binger threw up his hands which, in the strange soft light of his desk and the solitary standard lamp beside it, cast strange fluttering shadows on the far wall.
‘I protested when she arrived with them,’ he said. ‘But Sir Ensor seemed resigned to leaving the jewels with her. He said they had been a part of her since his father bought them for her on the occasion of her silver wedding. They had been kept in a private safe at home and she insisted on bringing them here. Had they refused, she would have declined to come. She thinks the clinic is merely a hotel. We have never tried to convince her otherwise.’
‘Did you keep them in a safe when she wasn’t wearing them?’
‘No, Superintendent Littlejohn. She would not give them up. When we gently attempted to remove them, she went into an hysterical fit, so we couldn’t insist. Sir Ensor, who was present at the time – he had just brought her to us – gave instructions that she must keep them with her. In fact, he wrote me a letter on the spot, absolving me from responsibility or blame in case of accident or loss. He said he would arrange matters with the insurance company.’
Professor Dumelin-Graf was growing impatient again. His hands fluttered in gesticulation adding further characters to the shadow-show on the wall opposite Dr. Binger.
‘What has all this to do with the case of Nurse Durand?’
‘Nurse Durand was Mrs. Cobb’s personal attendant. It was her duty to see that the jewels were safely placed in their case when Mrs. Cobb removed them and lock them in a drawer in Mrs. Cobb’s room. Mrs. Cobb kept the key of the drawer on a ribbon round her neck.’
Lindemann suddenly spoke as though he’d received a startling revelation.
‘And the jewels were stolen!’
A pause. Then Dr. Fauconnet spoke so softly that they could hardly hear what she was saying.
‘They were.’
‘By Nurse Durand.’
‘I don’t know. She denied it.’
‘So you have questioned her?’
‘Please allow me to go on with my story seriatim. I’m getting mixed up. I have been unable to sleep except with the help of sedatives since it happened and my mind is confused.’
‘Proceed in your own way, then.’
‘On Thursday evening last, Mrs. Cobb awoke and got up from bed to make sure her jewellery was safe. It was a fad, a habit of hers, and we permitted it. It did her no harm. In fact it pacified her. This time however, the jewellery was missing. So was Nurse Durand. Mrs. Cobb was so overcome that she had one of her attacks and has since been under mild sedation.’
‘I suppose that kept her quiet for the time being, in the same way that Nurse Durand has been controlled,’ said Lindemann icily.
‘Yes. She ceased to worry much about her loss.’
Dr. Fauconnet said it casually, as though it were quite a habit in the clinic.
‘You informed the police?’
‘No. We wished to make a thorough search before making the loss known. To add to the confusion, Nurse Durand could not be found and when I enquired as to her whereabouts, I was told she had left the clinic earlier in the day carrying a suitcase. When I went to her room, I found that most of the things had gone. I assumed that she had stolen the jewellery and fled, although I was loath to put the blame on her in view of her faithful service here over many years, and her blameless record. It must have been someone inside the clinic or who knew the geography of the place very well. Mrs. Cobb’s room is difficult of access from the outside and, besides, the window was fastened on the inside, as we have conditioned air for ventilation. You will appreciate my position. I had never been faced with such a situation before and Dr. Binger was absent in Paris …’
Lindemann interrupted again.
‘So, you kept Mrs. Cobb quiet for a day or two, hoping the stolen property would turn up before you were forced to advise the police and Sir Ensor Cobb. And then Miss Durand returned. Why was that and what did she have to say?’
‘She told a long and confused story about a man called Cling. It all sounded fantastic to me.’
‘Tell us, all the same.’
‘I think I ought to point out, in Nurse Durand’s defence, that she returned to the clinic on the morning after you say the man Cling was found shot in Geneva. She evidently had arranged to meet him there and together they were going to … England, I think she said. He did not arrive and she seems to have spent the night in wandering about the city. Then, when the first newspapers appeared, she read about his death. She then returned here. One of her colleagues told her I wanted to see her at once and that Mrs. Cobb’s jewellery had been stolen. She then apparently went to her room and took a lethal dose of sleeping pills. Fortunately, her colleague told me of her arrival, I hurried to her, and was in time to save the situation.’
‘Did she speak of Cling after her recovery?’
‘She has since been alternately excited and depressed. She has made a number of almost demented statements to me …’
‘This is absolutely preposterous! You have presumably kept Nurse Durand under sedation and extracted information from her in a manner which the police themselves would only do in extreme circumstances. You have taken the law into your own hands …’
‘But, Inspector Lindemann, I had to do something to find the lost jewels. It might have meant ruin for us all if a scandal had arisen.’
‘We will discuss that later. What did Nurse Durand disclose?’
It was obvious that Dr. Fauconnet, with the cruel eyes, alone could tell all that had occurred and that they were only going to learn what she wished to tell them.
‘It was quite a simple statement. She had, it seems, been the mistress of the man Cling for quite a long time. About a year, actually. When he returned to Geneva this year, he suggested they should go away together to England and be married. Nurse Durand had wished to give Dr. Binger proper notice of her position and resign. Cling, however, had insisted on what might be called an elopement. It appears that he was already married, but hoped to obtain a divorce. Until then, he had urged that discretion would be necessary. Nurse Durand was a rather gullible woman; she seems to have fallen in with Cling’s suggestion.’
‘Did Cling visit the clinic on the day of the robbery?’
‘It seems he did, and most irregularly. He arrived in the early afternoon with a message for Mrs. Cobb from her son, with whom Cling was attending a conference in Geneva. He asked for Nurse Durand, who took him to Mrs. Cobb’s room. This must have been done by a side entrance, as nobody else seems to have seen him. Nurse Durand left him with Mrs. Cobb for a very short time. She was, it appears, having her hair dressed by the hairdresser in her bathroom and her jewellery was in its usual place in the drawer. I asked Mrs. Cobb later why he called and what he did whilst with her. She was in such a state that she didn’t remember anything, but I assume it was then he took away the diamonds. The key of the drawer was a simple one. There are many like it. Opening the drawer would present no difficulty.’
‘Did Nurse Durand tell you whether or not Cling had obtained information from her about Mrs. Cobb’s routine?’
‘Yes, Inspector. She had told him, in discussing her work from time to time. She said he never seemed particularly interested in the jewellery. He must have been a patient and cunning man.’
‘We can assure you, he was.’
‘It seems to me that he had used Nurse Durand as a dupe to further his plan to steal the jewellery and then deserted her when he had obtained it.’
A tap on the door and an orderly appeared.
‘As instructed, Dr. Binger, I have to report that Miss Durand is now awake.’
Dr. Binger rose and rubbed his hands as though well satisfied.
‘We will adjourn now to Nurse Durand’s room, if you are agreeable, gentlemen …’
They all rose to go except Professor Dumelin-Graf, who remained slumped in his chair. He had fallen asleep.
12
Albertine Durand
NURSE DURAND was sitting up in bed, obviously prepared for her visitors. Awake, she was even more attractive. Her features were now embellished by clear blue eyes. If Cling had chosen to steal the jewellery and levant to America and join his ageing ex-prostitute wife at the expense of Albertine Durand, he must have been a madman.
The patient was quite tranquil, probably with the help of still more drugs. Before she could be questioned, they were treated to a little scene between the eminent consultants. These made a hasty examination of Nurse Durand and declared she was quite fit to answer questions, provided they were not too exciting. Dr. Bott would have stayed longer; in fact, he seemed quite charmed by the lady in the bed. But Professor Dumelin-Graf would have none of it. He grew querulous at the very suggestion.
‘Whatever you decide to do, Bott, I am returning to Geneva at once. It is well past two in the morning and I have a busy day to follow. We travelled in my car and I’m now going home in it. You can make your own arrangements if you like. I wish you all good-bye.’
Dr. Bott pattered across the room to the door and took his colleague by the arms as though about to restrain him by force.
‘Don’t you think it is our duty to stay until the interview is over?’
‘No. The clinic has several doctors of its own. Nothing can possibly happen with which they cannot cope. Please excuse me. Kindly see me to the door, Dr. Binger.’
Dr. Bott’s nether lip trembled, he hesitated, shook hands all round, shrugged his shoulders and followed the professor. It looked as if they might be in for rather a strained journey home.
Those remaining gathered round Nurse Durand’s bed. Dr. Binger hastily returned and thought it was due to him to make some kind of preliminary speech. He told Nurse Durand that the police were anxious to ask questions which might lead to the capture of Cling’s murderer. The way he pronounced the word ‘Cling’ sounded like a hammer striking an anvil.
Nurse Durand seemed unimpressed, shrugged her shoulders and pouted. Maybe, in all the circumstances, she thought the killer had done her a favour.
‘This is Chief Inspector Lindemann, of the Geneva police. He is in charge of the case and will interrogate you briefly.’
Still no reaction.
‘And this is Superintendent Littlejohn, of Scotland Yard, London, who was a colleague of the dead man and is anxious to assist …’
Nurse Durand showed interest for the first time. She spoke suddenly.
‘You knew Alec Cling. He was a scoundrel! He was not only a traitor to me, he was also a traitor to you. He hated Scotland Yard. He had not received the promotion he thought was due to him and poured scorn on Scotland Yard and all his colleagues whenever he could. It is my wish to assist Scotland Yard all I can to recover the property of poor Mrs. Cobb. You may ask me any questions you like.’
They all seemed surprised at this sudden volte-face. Lindemann stepped back fr
om the bed and, with a gentle pat on his shoulder, thrust Littlejohn forward.
‘Carry on, sir.’
‘Had Cling any enemies? I take it that during the time you knew him he confided in you frequently.’
‘Never. He was a man who never told anyone much in the way of personal secrets. It was only at the end of more than a year’s acquaintance that he told me that he was married. And that was to excuse our getting married before we left for England. That was his idea. We should elope to England and would marry when he had been able to obtain a divorce.’
‘Did he then tell you anything about his wife?’
‘No. He said he preferred not to dwell on past unhappiness.’
‘Was Cling afraid of anything? Did he seem suspicious or circumspect about anything?’
‘He was always circumspect and, as far as I know, he was not afraid of anything or anybody.’
It was a wonder, in view of the picture Nurse Durand was painting of Cling, that she had ever wasted any love on him. Now, her love had turned to hatred for some reason and he was a monster.
‘How long did you know Cling?’
‘A little over a year. He called here with a message for Mrs. Cobb, we talked for a while after he had left her, and he suggested that we meet some time in Geneva. One thing led to another …’
‘He seemed to know Geneva very well. I believe he had a kind of regular pied à terre there.’
‘He had been to Geneva quite frequently with various people on conferences. As for the room in Rue Jacobi; it was not a permanent place. He booked it intermittently. He said it was best, in his occupation, to be away from the large hotels and have a quiet room where he could keep his things and retire when he had confidential work to do.’
‘You say you were going to England?’
‘Yes. He said he had matters to square up there and then we would decide the future when he’d settled them.’
‘Did he ever mention going to America?’
‘America? Never. Why?’
‘He had connections in America …’
‘His wife?’
‘Yes. You were nurse in charge of Mrs. Cobb?’
Death of a Shadow (An Inspector Littlejohn Mystery) Page 11
