Archery was very frightened. He moved backwards out of the room, hurried though the hall and half-ran outside.
Archery stood on Kingsbrook Bridge, breathing deeply. After a moment, he looked round and was surprised to see the detective inspector standing next to him.
‘Good afternoon, sir,’ said Burden. ‘Are you feeling OK?’
’l’ve just come from Mrs Crilling’s,’ said Archery.
Burden nodded. ‘I understand.’ They began to walk up the High Street until they saw a café. They went in and ordered tea. ‘Did she get a bit excited?’ Burden went on, when they had sat down at a small table in the corner. ‘Did she have trouble breathing? It’s all in her mind, Mr Archery. Next time you see her she’ll probably be quite calm and friendly.’
‘Tell me about the Crillings,’ said Archery.
‘There’s a lot to tell,’ said Burden. ‘Josephine Crilling’s husband died and she moved into the town and got a job. The child, Elizabeth, was always difficult but her mother made her worse. Elizabeth went to several different schools, and then when she was about fourteen she was put into a children’s home. The court said that she needed to be taken away from her mother, but she went back after a time, as they usually do.’
‘Did all this happen because she found Mrs Primero’s body?’
‘Perhaps,’ said Burden. ‘But Josephine Crilling was always a bit crazy. She was in Stowerton mental hospital once or twice, and then about four years ago she got a boyfriend. But the boyfriend decided that he liked Elizabeth more than her mother, and Elizabeth went to live with him. That was enough to send Josephine Crilling back into the mental hospital. When she came out, Elizabeth went back home to live With her mother. It was the boyfriend who gave Elizabeth the Mini.
’Josephine Crilling is afraid Elizabeth will have to go to