Sidney Chambers and The Shadow of Death (The Grantchester Mysteries)

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 people in the world that mattered.’
    ‘Is that what women want?’
    ‘Apparently so. Although, being a married man, you would know more about it than I do.’
    ‘I am not so sure about that.’
    ‘But to our purpose . . .’
    Inspector Keating was hesitant. ‘I am still trying to understand it all. The man was involved with three women – if we include his wife. No wonder it all got too much. You are suggesting, I take it, that when his relationship with Mrs Morton became more intense he decided to end things with Miss Morrison?’
    ‘Exactly.’
    ‘And you think that she . . .’
    ‘I am afraid so.’
    ‘That’s madness.’
    Sidney continued. ‘You will recall that Mr Staunton took a rest after lunch each day. You will also remember that every Wednesday afternoon Mr Morton plays golf, which leaves only two people in the office on the day of the murder . . .’
    ‘Annabel Morrison and Stephen Staunton.’
    ‘Miss Morrison has received the note from Mr Staunton ending their affair. What is more, she suspects that a new relationship has begun. She cannot be sure, but such is her fury, and such is her rejection, that she determines no one else will enjoy the attentions of the man she loves. We know that Mr Staunton is a strong sleeper. His wife told me he could sleep through anything; perhaps even the sound of the 2.35 train to Norwich. For it is at that moment that Miss Morrison places the gun in his open mouth and pulls the trigger of the revolver she has removed from the desk. The sound is masked by the noise of the train. She then places a half-empty decanter of whisky on the desk, little caring that it is a whisky her employer would never drink because the appearance of suicide is so strong. Only when we begin to doubt does she produce the note which, she realises, can be converted from a “Dear John” letter into an explanation for suicide. It is very clever.’
    Inspector Keating did not give his friend the appreciation that he thought such reasoning deserved. ‘That’s all very well, Sidney, but the evidence is very circumstantial. How on earth are we going to prove all this?’
    ‘You don’t think this is enough?’
    ‘It would be hard to secure a conviction on this alone.’
    ‘Then I think I will pay Miss Morrison a little visit.’
    ‘On what pretext?’
    ‘The return of the note.’
    ‘And then, I suppose, don’t tell me, that you will try and prove your theory by engineering a confession?’
    ‘I am not sure what I will do,’ Sidney replied. ‘But the truth will out.’
    ‘Are you sure you want to do all this?’
    ‘I have no choice.’
    ‘And there’s nothing I can do to stop you?’
    ‘Nothing at all, Inspector.’
     
    Sidney was relieved to discover that Annabel Morrison was alone when he called at the office of Morton Staunton Solicitors, and she was grateful to receive the return of the note.
    ‘I hope the police are satisfied?’ she asked.
    ‘They are indeed, Miss Morrison. You have been most helpful. I am sorry it has all been such a terrible business. You must be very upset.’
    ‘I am, Canon Chambers, I don’t mind admitting it.’
    ‘You were clearly very fond of Mr Staunton.’
    ‘I was.’
    ‘You must have spent a great deal of time together, more time perhaps than he even spent with his wife?’
    ‘We did. I don’t want to speak out of turn, Canon Chambers, but I am not sure that he was happy with his wife. She’s German as you probably know.’ Annabel