This foxed them for a moment – aha, they were seeing he was not so easily fooled! – but then they said, how would it be if they found another solicitor to caretake the office until Edmund went back. They could arrange for notes to be made and files to be handed over. Because they were really extremely keen for him to write Crispin’s story for them, they said. Could something not be arranged?
Edmund pretended to think for a moment, and then said he did not see why not. He could give notes on all the current cases – some conveyancing work, and some land acquisitions and rights-of-way. He added grudgingly that he supposed his secretary might come in useful; she knew what was going on, and she knew most of the clients. Very well, since they were so insistent, he would do it. But – mark you – he would expect to be given proper facilities. He supposed this room might do; it was fairly comfortable, and they could presumably put a desk beneath that window for him, could they? Oh, and he was used to good meals, served punctually, he said firmly, because he was not going to be fobbed off with cheap, pre-packaged, pre-cooked rubbish.
‘I’m sure we can work out something that you’ll find agreeable,’ they said.
‘He’ll never be pronounced fit to stand trial,’ said the man whom Edmund had identified as the senior of the two. He regarded DI Jennie Fletcher with his head on one side, as if saying, Well? What do the police think about that?
‘There was always a whiff of real madness about Trixie Smith’s murder,’ said Jennie. ‘What would your initial assessment of Fane’s condition be?’
‘It’s a bit early to start plastering the poor man with labels, but there’s a strong indication of schizophrenia. It was very noticeable that while we talked to him, he kept having to break off the conversation.’
‘To fight with the other persona?’
‘Yes, almost certainly that. He was struggling to keep “Crispin” down. We’re getting him on to writing some of it out – he was keen on that idea, and it’ll help him. It’ll help us to understand him, as well. He’s certainly been through various kinds of hell on his own account.’
‘So,’ said Jennie drily, ‘did his victims. Is he ever likely to be let out?’
‘Oh God, no,’ said the senior psychiatrist at once. ‘He’s in here for life.’
‘There are two spare rooms,’ said Alice, shortly before midnight. ‘My room’s at the front and Michael’s is there as well, and the guest rooms are at the back of the house. I don’t mind who stays the night, or who sleeps where. Michael, you can sort out sheets and so on if anyone wants to stay, I expect.’
‘Of course.’
‘I don’t mind, either, if any of you want to drive back to London,’ said Alice. ‘Or to that place where you were last night—’
‘The White Hart,’ said Michael.
‘Yes.’ She studied them thoughtfully. ‘A remarkable day, wasn’t it? And the first meeting for us all.’
‘But not the last,’ said Lucy, rather tentatively.
‘I do hope not.’ She considered Lucy for a moment, and then said, ‘I was right when I said you were like Conrad. It’s quite uncanny.’
‘I can come again, can’t I? Properly, I mean, when everything’s sorted out. Edmund and everything. There’s so much I want to know,’ said Lucy.
‘I hope you’ll come soon and stay as long as you want,’ said Alice. ‘I want to hear about you, about the family. Tonight it’s all been me, but next time we’ll focus on you.’ She gave them the speculative look again. ‘I’ll say goodnight. I expect you can sort yourselves out regarding sleeping arrangements.’
‘You have to admit,’ said Liam, after she had gone, ‘that when it comes to exit lines, she’s Oscar-level.’ He looked at the others. ‘Well? Life’s full of decisions, isn’t it? Who’s going and who’s staying? And who’s sleeping in whose bed, I wonder? I think,’ said Liam before anyone could respond to this, ‘that as far as I’m concerned, I’d better drive back to Ashwood. I’ve had a couple of drinks, but I don’t think I’m over the limit, and I’ve got an office to deal with in the morning. So anyone heading south is welcome to a lift. But I don’t know who’s got a car here and who hasn’t.’ He looked at Lucy as he said this.