Free The Coffin Lane Murders by Alanna Knight Page B

sighed. 'I am exceedingly sorry, Doctor, we seem to have made a genuine mistake, but the thought that she might have been contemplating running away from us did not seem possible. She seemed - well, happy.' And as an afterthought.
    'Where could she go? She had never more than a few coins in her possession.'
    She glanced at Faro. 'I can only presume by your presence here, Inspector, that we have some cause for genuine alarm. In this incident - these attacks on passers-by - I trust no one was severely injured. We will, of course, recompense any material damage.'
    Faro pretended not to hear that. 'Was there anyone she might have visited in Edinburgh on a regular basis, where she may have made friends?'
    Miss Smiles shook her head. 'She always kept very much to herself. That is not difficult in this environment,' she added desperately. 'There are few patients who would be on her intellectual level, and their condition makes them very suspicious. The fact that she was liked by - and a favourite with - some of the staff made them feel she was in league against them. In fact, to be honest, most of them were afraid of her.'
    Glancing towards the window, she laughed uneasily. 'I would even see them cower as she passed by or if she went to sit at their table during meals, they would seize their plates and sit elsewhere, trying to avoid her shadow. That was one reason why we allowed her free access to the kitchen.' Again that troubled glance. 'Some of our more disturbed patients believed that she had occult powers-'
    'A witch, you mean?' said Faro.
    'Something of the sort. Such happenings are distressing for everyone concerned.' Miss Smiles looked thoughtful. 'You asked about friends; well, there is a person who might fit that category. An antiquarian bookshop on the High Street owned by an old gentleman, an ordained minister now retired. Celia once hinted to me that she had known him from her childhood days in Argyll. He may even have tutored in her own family.
    'She might well have gone to visit him. Very likely indeed,' she added triumphantly. 'Dr Benjamin lends her books on Scottish history and the classics.'
    When Faro looked surprised at her choice of literature, Miss Smiles went on, 'She even borrows and obtains books some of the staff would like to read. Dr Benjamin used to visit us and bring his books once upon a time, that is how they met again. But in the last year or two he has been crippled by rheumatism and has difficulty making the long journey. They have become friends and he specially asked if he could see her now and again. He wasn't worried by her past, said she had a fine mind and, indeed, he shared Dr Pursley's opinion that her incarceration in an - institution for half a lifetime was a miscarriage of justice.'
    Conan laughed. 'Doesn't that prove I was right, matron? You have a scholar's backing as well as a medical man's.'
    In the hall a clock melodiously chimed four and a bell shrilled through the hall. There was movement of scampering feet above their heads.
    Miss Smiles rose from her desk. 'Gentlemen, I must leave you.' And with a helpless gesture towards Faro, she repeated, 'Is all this a matter of vital importance? You still haven't told me what has happened,' she reminded him.
    'It's a police matter, madam. You'll hear the details in due course. Meanwhile, if you would be so good as to give Dr Pursley this bookseller's address.'
    Leaving Conan to evade the matron's question as tactfully as he could with a vague nod and a request to let him know immediately if the missing woman returned, Faro strolled to the front door to wait outside for Conan who joined him shortly afterwards.
    Watching Faro's expression, Conan said unhappily, 'I can make a shrewd guess at your thoughts, sir.'
    'Can you indeed?'
    'You are thinking we may have let a killer out on society. And I'm not blaming you. I had been warned, but I thought I knew best,' he added bitterly. 'The problems with this sort of violent condition is that patients