"That was part of the 'patness' he professed not to like."
Bee gave a small snort. "What a mind!" she said. "I suppose that is what a court practice does."
"It is a detached mind, that is all. One not emotionally engaged in the matter, as we are. It behooves us to keep our minds detached."
"Yes, of course," Bee said, sobered. "Well, now that poor old Hammond is to be no help to us-they never found him, did you know? Everything was just blown to dust."
"Yes. Yes, so I heard; poor fellow."
"Now that we have no physical evidence, I suppose we have to rely on the boy's own story. I mean, on checking it. I suppose that can be done."
"Oh, quite easily. It is all quite straightforward, with dates and places. That is what Kevin found so — Yes. Yes. Of course it can be checked. And of course I am sure that it will check. He would not have offered us information which would be proved nonsense."
"So really there is nothing to wait for."
"No, I — No."
Bee braced herself.