Remember when we had to take Mrs Crilling to the mental hospital at Stowerton?’ said Wexford. ‘Archery may start to wish he hadn’t been such a “friend” to her when she begins to shout and scream at him.’
They met Archery outside.
‘Good morning, sir,’ Wexford said to Archery. ‘Terrible thing that accident last night. I was just telling Detective Inspector Burden about a similar accident twenty years ago. A young man was killed out at Forby, hit by a lorry. He was saying something about a girl and a child before he died. He asked for a vicar, too. But he died before the vicar got there. I’ve never forgotten it. The young man’s name was John Grace. He -’
At that moment, the policewoman came up to Wexford. ‘Mrs Crilling gave me this letter for a Mr Archery.’
‘Take my advice and throw it away,’ Wexford told him, but Archery had already opened the envelope.
24a Glebe Road, Kingsmarkham Dear sir, They tell me that you are a man of God. God has sent you to me and my baby. I will be at home this afternoon, waiting to thank you.
Your friend, Josephine Grilling
Archery’s bedroom at the Olive and Dove Hotel was large and very comfortable. He sat down on the edge of his bed and telephoned his wife.
‘Henry!’ she cried. ‘I’ve been trying to call you! I’ve had a letter from Charles. Tess phoned her parents yesterday evening and now she’s told Charles that she can’t marry him! She says that it wouldn’t be right. And Charles is threatening to leave
Oxford and go overseas.’ ‘Oh, no!’ said Archery.