He thought about her, his mind confused by fear and desire. What was she going to do without Sydney? How was she going to live? He had to see her. Pity stirred in him. He might save her from herself. Without Sydney, surely she would wish to get away from the evil life they had led? George would be only too happy to leave London if she would go with him. All this beastliness could be forgotten in a year or so.
It worried him that she had not identified her brother. What strange, sinister motive prompted her to do that? Didn’t that point to murder?
He went on thinking and brooding for a long time along these lines. Each train of thought always finished at the same place. He must see Cora. If he didn’t see her soon, it might be too late. She might again move somewhere where it would be impossible to find her.
He left the Heath, walking quickly past the Hampstead ponds, and cut through into Haverstock Hill. It was eight-thirty by the time he reached Belsize Park Station. He bought a tuppenny ticket, and only half certain what he had in mind, descended to the platform.
The platform was deserted except for a porter, who glanced at him without interest.
The urge to know the truth forced George forward. He rattled his loose change in his pocket suggestively. The sound caught the porter’s attention.
“Excuse me,” George said. “Perhaps you can help me. It’s about the man who was killed here this morning. He was a friend of mine I’m trying to find out how it happened.” He took out two half crowns and let the porter see them. “Was there anyone on the platform at the time?”
“There wasn’t anyone on the platform when my mate found ’im,” the porter said, eyeing the half crowns with interest.
“You don’t know if anyone bought a ticket about the time he did? I mean someone might have seen what had happened and dodged across to the other platform. They might have done that, mightn’t they?”
The porter turned this idea over thoughtfully. “They could an’ all,” he said, nodding his head. “Never thought of it like that. Might not want to get themselves mixed up with the inquest, like.”