Trick of the Mind (36 page)
Authors: Cassandra Chan
“I thought we’d pretty much covered that,” said Bethancourt. “The last gap was what you did that night after O’Leary left you at the pub, and we know now that you went back to see the Colemans.”
“Yes, that letter of Mrs. Coleman’s was quite helpful,” agreed Gibbons. “But what I’ve been writing down is not just where I was and what I did, I’ve also been trying to reconstruct my thoughts. It’s quite uncomfortable, not remembering a whole day in your life.”
“I dare say it is,” said Bethancourt. “How are you coming with it?”
“I think I’ve got most everything now,” answered Gibbons, glancing back down at the notebook. “I’m actually very grateful to Lia Coleman for writing that letter because it finally told me why I had gone to Walworth in the first place. I really couldn’t make that out until I read her letter.”
“I still can’t make it out,” admitted Bethancourt. “Why did you?”
“Because talking to the Colemans would have given me my first idea that the two cases might be connected,” said Gibbons. “I think the note I made in the pub was the one about the kinds of people who commit arts theft—you can see from my earlier notes that both the Colemans exhibited a fairly thorough knowledge of gemstones when James and I were interviewing them.”
“I see,” said Bethancourt. “So you went back to see them just to sort them out in your mind.”
“Right,” said Gibbons. “And then while I was there, the mention of Pennycook would have provided the clue about the cases being connected. I think I still didn’t have much notion how, but my first instinct would be to go and have a look at the scene of the crime, just to get a feel for it. I wouldn’t have bothered O’Leary for that, though I might have rung him in the morning if I hadn’t been attacked.”
Bethancourt nodded. “It makes sense,” he said. “And I suppose it also explains why Coleman shot you—he couldn’t risk your putting the two cases together. I take it he’s still not talking, by the way?”
“Not a peep out of him,” confirmed Gibbons. “Not that it matters—we’ve got him bang to rights, and I think he knows it. Carmichael says his solicitor has been hinting about a plea deal.”
There was a knock on the doorjamb and a smiling orderly came in pushing a wheelchair.
“You’re okay to go,” he said. “Your people will be along in a
minute, but I just thought we’d get you into the chair while we were waiting for them.”
minute, but I just thought we’d get you into the chair while we were waiting for them.”
“By all means,” said Gibbons eagerly.
Bethancourt looked around. “Where’s Nurse Pipp?” he asked. “I ought to say good-bye to her.”
“She was in earlier to say good-bye,” answered Gibbons, grunting as he levered himself up out of the chair. “Did you know that the night nurse is now dating my police guard?”
“No, really?” said Bethancourt. “Which one?”
“Jeffries—the tall one with dark hair,” said Gibbons. “No, I’m all right,” he added to the orderly, “it’s a bit difficult getting back down, that’s all. There I am.”
“And here I am,” said his mother from the doorway. “Your father has gone to bring the car round and we’re all set.”
She looked, thought Bethancourt, very relieved and happy to be getting her son back.
He accompanied them out and helped load Gibbons into the car. The orderly wheeled the chair away, and Bethancourt stood back to let the car start off, waving at his friend as the vehicle pulled away from the curb. He was going to miss not having Gibbons around in the coming weeks.
ALSO BY CASSANDRA CHAN
Village Affairs
The Young Widow
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
TRICK OF THE MIND. Copyright © 2008 by Cassandra Chan. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-36939-2
ISBN-10: 0-312-36939-5
ISBN-10: 0-312-36939-5
eISBN 9781429992169
First eBook Edition : January 2011
First Edition: May 2008
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