“Not a bit. But I’m afraid I don’t quite — I’ve got such a very bad memory.”
“We haven’t met before,” shouted Alleyn. “I wondered if I might have a word with you.” He saw that she hadn’t heard him and in desperation groped for one of his official cards. Feeling ridiculous, he offered it to her. Lady Katherine peered at it, uttered a little cry of alarm and gazed at Alleyn with an expression of horror.
“Not the police!” she wailed. “It hasn’t come to that? Not already!”
IV
Alleyn wondered distractedly if there was anywhere at all in the flat where he could yell in privacy into the ear of this lady. He decided that the best place would be in the disconnected lift with the doors shut. By a series of inviting gestures he managed to lure her in. She sank onto the narrow seat. He had time to reflect that Bailey and Thompson had finished their investigation of the lift. He leant against the doors and contemplated his witness. She was a little like a sheep, and a rapid association of ideas led him instantly to the White Queen. He bent towards her and she blinked apprehensively.
“I didn’t realize,” he said loudly, “that you knew this had happened.”
“What?”
“You know all about the accident?”
“About what?”
“This tragedy,” shouted Alleyn.