I called at the Sterns' house at nine-fifteen, I was rather later than I have planned to be
because I had visited another patient. When Mrs Stern let me into the house she seemed rather embarrassed and showed me into the sitting-room, I could hear Trevor
Stern shouting at someone in his study. Mrs Stern said something about teenage girls
and that they had problems with Lucy. Well, the shouting stopped almost
immediately, so I went to his study. Lucy had alreadyleft the room before I got
there. I tried to explain to Trevor why he needed to have these hospital tests, but he did not let
me. He said I was an ignorant country doctor who did not know what he talks
about. I realized it was no use arguing with him so I left) after only a few
minutes. Iwas quite angry actually. I let myself out of the house without seeing
Lucy or Mrs. Stem.
Yes, Trevor was my business partner. We were not really friends. Yes, my house
was just round the corner from the Sterns. I have lived here for two years. Now. I have
a little cottage in the village. But I bought this house when I started earning a lot of
money. I can't really tell you very much about the night Trevor died. I took my dog
for a long walk that evening, I went up on the hills, away from the village. Then the
stupid dog went after a rabbit or something and I lost him in the dark. I looked for
him when I met Lucy, as a matter of fact. She walked up the road towards their
house. She seemed rather upset. I asked her if she saw the dog, but she said she
did not. She went into her house and I found him a few minutes afterwards, I was
back home by just after quarter to ten.
Detective Inspector Blackledge showed the statements to her colleague, Sergeant
Ross.
BLACKLEDGE: Well, Ross. What you think? Who killed Stern?
ROSS: I do not know. It was not his wife. She did not even go into the study.
BLACKLEDGE: But she admitted she did not love him. You think she was
love with the doctor?
ROSS: It is possible. And perhaps Trevor Stern found out. But we know
the doctor was at the hospital by ten o'clock that night. And that was at least half an
hour from the Sterns' house.
BLACKLEDGE: But that means he left the Stems' house before half past
nine.
ROSS: Exactly.
BLACKLEDGE: Anyway, Dorothy Stern told her sister she would leave her
husband. She did not need murder him.
ROSS: But what about Lucy?
BLACKLEDGE: Yes, there is something about Lucy's story which doesn't quite
fit. Let's see, what did Gerald Brook say?
ROSS: That's it! Lucy did not walk to the village and back, if he met her at
twenty to ten. She still shouted at by her father at nine-fifteen.
BLACKLEDGE: But look at all the statements. The times don't fit.
ROSS: Neither do the facts. Someone tells lies.
BLACKLEDGE: I think it's time we make an arrest.