“Then — then he did come!”
I doubt if it was as heartless as it looks. I would not have called Gwenn heartless. In the traffic jam in her head caused by the shock, it just happened that that little detail got loose first. I saw Madeline dart a sharp glance at her. The others were finding their tongues for questions. Wolfe pushed a palm at them.
“If you please. There is no time—”
“What killed him?” Sperling demanded.
“I was about to tell you. The indications are that a car ran over him, and the body was dragged from the drive for concealment behind the bush, but of course it requires further examination. It hadn’t been there long when it was found, not more than two hours. The police must be notified without delay. I thought, Mr. Sperling, you might prefer to do that yourself. It would look better.”
Gwenn was starting to tremble. Madeline took her arm and led her to a bed and pushed her onto it, with Jimmy trying to help. Mrs. Sperling was stupefied.
“Are you saying—” Sperling halted. He was either incredulous or doing very well. “Do you mean he was murdered?”
“I don’t know. Murder requires premeditation. If after inquiry the police decide it was murder they’ll still have to prove it. That, of course, will start the routine hunt for motive, means, opportunity — I don’t know whether you’re familiar with it, but if not, I’m afraid you soon will be. Whom are you going to notify, the county authorities or the State Police? You have a choice. But you shouldn’t postpone it. You will—”
Mrs. Sperling spoke for the first time. “But this is — this will be terrible! Here on our place! Why can’t you take it away — away somewhere for miles — and leave it somewhere—”
No one paid any attention to her. Sperling asked Wolfe, “Do you know what he was doing here?”