“I wish I knew, Miss Williams. You see, something rather shocking has happened. Roger Vereker has been found shot in his flat.”
She gave a start. “Mr Carrington! Oh no!”
“I'm afraid it is quite true,” he said gravely.
She put a hand over her eyes. “How awful! Poor, poor Roger. I never dreamed he was feeling it all as badly as that. I knew he was on edge, of course, but that he would actually - oh, it doesn't bear thinking about!”
“Was he in a very nervous state?” Giles asked. “I believe you saw more of him than anyone - you would probably know.”
“Yes, he was,” she answered. “He had it fixed in his mind that the police were hounding him down. I was saying so to Kenneth only the other day. He didn't see it - or wouldn't see it, but then Kenneth isn't always very observant.” She let her hand fall. “But that he should have actually take his own life! I can't get over it!”
“I don't think he did take his own life, Miss Williams.”
She turned very pale. “You mean - oh, impossible!”
“It was meant to look like suicide,” Giles said, “but there are one or two circumstances which point rather conclusively to murder.”
She shuddered. “I can't believe that. Please tell me what reason you have for saying such a thing!”