William Monk 18 - A Sunless Sea

much-admired figure in the area. Because of his importance, the investigation into his death was extended to include my force in Blackheath.”
    Coniston rose to his feet. “My lord, we have already heard about Dr. Lambourn’s death in some detail, and the accused’s reaction to it. I fail to see what Mr. Runcorn can add to what has already been said. My learned friend is desperate and wasting the court’s time. If it will help, the prosecution will accede to the facts as already presented.”
    Rathbone would see Runcorn’s testimony barred before he had even begun. He interrupted before Pendock could speak.
    “Since it was presented by the prosecution, my lord, it is really meaningless to say that they accede to it.”
    “It is wasting the court’s time to hear it again,” Pendock snapped.“If you have nothing new to add, Sir Oliver, I sympathize with your predicament, but it is not my place to indulge it. Mr. Coniston’s point is well taken.” He turned to Coniston. “Mr.—”
    “My lord!” Rathbone raised his voice, trying hard to keep his emotion out of it. “Mr. Coniston introduced evidence regarding Dr. Lambourn’s death, but for some reason best known to himself, he did not question Superintendent Runcorn, the man in charge of the inquiry into it. Had he not considered the matter relevant he would not have raised it at all. Indeed, your lordship would not have permitted him to. With respect, I put to the court that the defense has the right to question Mr. Runcorn about it, now, in light of further evidence discovered.”
    There was total silence in the room. No one moved.
    Pendock’s mouth was closed in a thin, hard line. Coniston looked at Pendock, then at Rathbone.
    Runcorn stared across at the jury and smiled.
    One of the jurors fidgeted.
    “Keep to the point, Sir Oliver,” Pendock said at last. “Whether Mr. Coniston objects or not, if you deviate from it, then I will stop you.”
    “Thank you, my lord,” Rathbone said, keeping control of himself with an effort. Again he was sharply aware that Pendock was watching to catch him in any error at all.
    Rathbone turned to Runcorn again.
    “You were called to the death of Dr. Joel Lambourn when his body was found on One Tree Hill.” He said this to the jury, even though it was Runcorn he addressed.
    “Yes.” Runcorn took it on, adding to it. “A man walking his dog had found Lambourn’s body more or less propped up—”
    Coniston rose to his feet. “My lord, Mr. Runcorn is suggesting that—”
    “Yes, yes,” Pendock agreed. He turned to the witness stand. “Mr. Runcorn, please watch your language. Do not make suggestions outside your knowledge. Simply what you saw, do you understand?”
    It was patronizing in the extreme. Rathbone saw the color wash up Runcorn’s face, and prayed he would control his temper.
    “I was going to say ‘propped up by the trunk of the tree,’ ” Runcornsaid between clenched teeth. “Without its support he would have fallen. In fact he was leaning over anyway.”
    Pendock did not apologize, but Rathbone saw the irritation with himself in his face, and the jurors must have seen it, too.
    Rathbone forced himself not to smile. “He was dead?” he asked.
    “Yes. Cold, in fact,” Runcorn agreed. “But the night had been chilly and there was something of a light wind, colder than usual for the time of year. His wrists had been cut across the inside and he appeared to have bled to death.”
    Pendock leaned forward. “Appeared? Are you implying that it was not the case, Mr. Runcorn?”
    “No, my lord.” Runcorn’s face was almost expressionless. “I am trying to say no more than I was aware of myself at the time. The police surgeon confirmed that. Then the autopsy afterward added that he also had a considerable dose of opium in him, but not sufficient enough to kill him. I presumed at the time that it had been taken to dull the pain of the cuts in his wrists.”
    “At the time?” Rathbone said quickly. “Did you afterward learn anything for certain? Surely the police surgeon could not tell you the reason for taking the opium, only the facts?”
    Runcorn stared back at Rathbone. “No, sir. I changed my own mind. I don’t believe Dr. Lambourn cut his own wrists, sir. I believe the opium was to make him sleepy, slow to react, possibly even unconscious, so he would not fight back. Defensive wounds would be very difficult to explain in a supposed suicide.”
    Coniston was on his feet