William Monk 04 - A Sudden Fearful Death

time. “She was no threat to him that we know of. And I cannot imagine what such a threat could be. No, I think if he killed her, it would be in hot blood, as a result of a quarrel and his temper finally snapping. They quarreled that morning but she was still alive at the end of it. He might have gone back later, but it seems unlikely.” He looked at her curiously. “What do you make of Kristian Beck?”
    They passed a nursemaid with a small child in a sailor’s suit. Somewhere in the distance there was the sound of an organ-grinder and the music was familiar.
    “I have seen very little of him,” she answered. “But I like what I have seen.”
    “I don’t care whether you like him or not,” he said acidly. “I want to know if you think he could have killed Prudence.”
    “You think there was something unnatural about his patient’s death that night? I doubt it. Lots of people die unexpectedly. You think they’re recovering, and suddenly they don’t. Anyway, how would Prudence know anything was wrong? If he had made a mistake in front of her, she would have told him and corrected it. He wasn’t operated on that night.”
    “Nothing to do with that night.” He took her elbow to guide her across the path out of the way of a man walking briskly about some business.
    If it had been a protective gesture she would have welcomed it, but it was officious, impatient instead, as if she were unable to take care of herself. She pulled away sharply.
    “She knew something which he begged her not to take tothe authorities, and she refused him,” he went on regardless.
    “That doesn’t sound like Prudence as I knew her,” she said instantly. “It must have been something very serious. She loathed authorities and had the utmost contempt for them. Anyone has who’s been with the army! Are you sure you have that correctly?”
    “The quarrel was overheard,” he replied. “She said she would go to the authorities, and Beck pleaded with her not to. She was adamant.”
    “But you don’t know what about?” she pressed.
    “No of course I don’t.” He glared at her. “If I knew, I’d tackle Beck over it. Probably be able to tell Jeavis and have him arrested, which would hardly please Callandra. I think her main purpose in employing me is to prove it was not Beck. She holds him in great regard.”
    She was spoiling for a quarrel, but this was not the time; there was too much else more important than new emotions.
    “Are you afraid it is he?” she said quietly.
    He did not look at her. “I don’t know. The field does not seem very wide. Did she quarrel with any of the nurses? I don’t imagine she was popular, if her ideas of reform are anything like yours. I expect she infuriated several of the
doctors.
You certainly did, in your short stay in office.”
    Her good resolution died instantly.
    “If you infuriate a doctor, he dismisses you!” she replied sharply. “It doesn’t make sense to kill someone when there is such an easy way, without any risk to yourself, to get rid of her and at the same time make her suffer!”
    He grunted. “You have a concise and logical mind. Which is useful—but unattractive. I wonder if she was the same? What about the nurses? Would they have disliked her equally?”
    She felt hurt, which was ridiculous. She already knew he liked women to be feminine, vulnerable, and mysterious. She remembered how he had been charmed by Imogen, her sister-in-law. Although as she knew very well, underImogen’s gentle manner there was no foolish or yielding woman, just one who knew how to comport herself with grace and allure. That was an art she was devoid of, and at this moment its absence was stupidly painful.
    “Well?” he demanded. “You’ve seen them at work, you must have an idea.”
    “Some of them worshiped her,” she said swiftly, her chin held high, her step more determined. “Others, fairly naturally, were jealous. You cannot succeed without running into risk of jealousy. You should know that!”
    “Jealous enough to call it hatred?” He was being logical, unaware of any feelings.
    “Possibly,” she said, equally reasonably. “There is a very strong large woman called Dora Parsons who certainly loathed her. Whether it was enough to have killed her, I have no idea. Seems extreme—unless there was some specific issue.”
    “Had Prudence the power to have this woman dismissed if she were incompetent, or drunk—or if she stole?” He looked at her hopefully.
    “I