Free An Artistic Way to Go by Roderic Jeffries Page B

Policia.’
    â€˜Good morning, Inspector,’ Field said with risible formality.
    Batwing ears, a hairline that was receding asymmetrically, bushy eyebrows, slightly lopsided mouth, and a very pointed jaw, combined to suggest to Alvarez that he was speaking to a man who could see the humour in life because he had experienced the pain. ‘I hoped to speak to Señora Cooper, but Rosa tells me she is not here. Have you any idea where she might be?’
    â€˜None at all.’
    â€˜Or when she’ll be back?’
    â€˜Not really, except obviously … At least, I’m sure … I’m not making any sense, am I? But I was so surprised and upset to learn what’s happened … Won’t you sit down and I’ll try to explain a little more rationally.’ Once they were both seated, Field continued: ‘I’m an old friend; known Oliver for more years than I care to remember. So when they go away, which they do quite often, he gets me to come round and check that everything’s running smoothly.’ He hesitated, then added: ‘Oliver finds it difficult to accept that the staff are more than capable. So when I turned up here this morning, I expected them to be in London or aboard the ship … I suppose Rachael has gone out to ask anyone and everyone if they’ve seen Oliver … Have you any news?’
    â€˜The señor’s car has been found on the north coast. There is no sign of him and I’m afraid it seems possible because of the circumstances that he may have committed suicide by throwing himself over the cliff.’
    â€˜Ridiculous!’
    â€˜Why do you say that?’
    Field was embarrassed. ‘I … I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude. It’s just that the idea is impossible because if ever he wanted to commit suicide, throwing himself off a cliff is the one way he would never choose, however desperate.’
    â€˜Can you be quite so certain?’
    â€˜Positive. He’s terrified of heights. Even a staircase around an open well makes him hug the wall side. I don’t suppose you find it easy to understand?’
    â€˜On the contrary. Regrettably, I also suffer from altophobia.’
    â€˜That’s very bad luck … Jumping over a cliff is something he just couldn’t do.’
    â€˜Probably not. But I do wonder if there is not the possibility that since a person’s mind surely has to be very upset to contemplate suicide, might he not choose the method which he fears most to render the act even more traumatic for both himself and others?’
    â€˜You lose me on that one! All I can say is, the last time I saw him, his mind seemed as clear as ever.’
    â€˜And that was when?’
    â€˜Saturday afternoon.’
    â€˜Since you are an old friend of the señor’s, I suppose you know him very well?’
    â€˜Probably as well as one person can know another.’
    â€˜Would you say he is happy living on the island?’
    â€˜Far happier than in England.’
    â€˜Why is that?’
    â€˜The climate, the people, the way of life.’
    â€˜What particular aspect of the way of life so appeals to him?’
    â€˜Well, the fact that…’ He came to a stop.
    â€˜Yes, señor?’
    â€˜It’s going to be difficult to explain without sounding rather disloyal.’
    â€˜I need your help in order to try to understand what kind of a person Señor Cooper is because if I can learn that, I may be able more accurately to understand what has happened to him. What you tell me may enable me to recognize as important something I would otherwise dismiss as unimportant. That is not disloyalty.’
    Field rubbed his chin with thumb and forefinger, trying to make up his mind. He looked up, and directly at Alvarez. ‘If I’m to explain things, it’ll be something of a long story.’
    â€˜We have the saying, Time is made for man, not man