“I? Nothing much. It might be someone trying to put Neville Shandon out of business while the Hackleton case is on. That might account for the notes being taken. Or it might be someone with a grudge against Roger. He had some enemies. A threatening letter came from a man only the other day.”
Howard digested these suggestions for a few moments without speaking; then he offered an objection.
“But d’you think it’s likely that two murderers would choose an identical moment for their attacks. Two simultaneous crimes is a bit of a record, it seems to me.”
“Think so?” the secretary responded, carelessly. “It’s happened this time, for all that.”
Howard had to admit the truth of this.
Stenness looked at his watch.
“I must be getting off to the outside of the Maze. The police will be here very soon, and they’ll need a guide. I’ll take you back to Skene, if you like.”
Howard nodded assent and once more Stenness led the way through a tangle of alleys.
“Here’s Helen’s Bower,” he said, nodding towards its entrance. “You can sit down there till I bring the police.”
Howard watched his figure disappear round a corner of the corridor and then turned his steps to the entrance of the little enclosure where Roger Shandon’s body lay. As he entered it, he was surprised to see Skene on his knees at the foot of the hedge, evidently collecting some small objects.