“You’re wanted in Inspector Norman’s office,” the man said and stepped aside.

Rutledge got up from the cot and walked out the door. He knew that Hubbard must have arrived, and when he stepped into Inspector Norman’s office, the first person he saw was the Chief Inspector.

“A mistake has been made,” the Chief Inspector was saying to him. “I’m sorry.”

Rutledge stood by the doorway, waiting.

Inspector Norman said to Rutledge, “Come in.” He pointed to the other chair.

Rutledge joined them. But still he said nothing.

Chief Inspector Hubbard turned to Inspector Norman. “Chief Superintendent Bowles was misinformed. Inspector Rutledge was visiting friends in Kent when the murder occurred. We’ve spoken to Mrs. Crawford. She was quite clear. Inspector Rutledge couldn’t have left her house, driven to Eastfield, and returned without the staff or she herself being aware of his absence. What’s more, his leave had been requested before the subject of Mrs. Farrell-Smith’s complaint had been brought up with him.”

It was an outright lie, blandly told.

“She’s made a second statement this morning. She claims she saw Rutledge speaking to Mickelson and then taking him up in his motorcar the night before the attack was discovered. How do you answer that?”

Hubbard was clearly unprepared for this information. He recovered quickly. “She reported this to Constable Walker?”

Norman hesitated. “Not straightaway. No.”

“Had you sent your men to look for Rutledge in Eastfield, after you spoke to the Yard?”

“I saw no harm in sending Constable Petty to keep an eye on things. Until someone arrived from London.” He shot a glance in Rutledge’s direction, then returned his attention to Hubbard.

“And Mrs. Farrell-Smith didn’t speak to Constable Petty about what she’d seen?”

“He’s still in Eastfield,” Norman said, grudgingly. “I don’t know. She didn’t mention having spoken to him.”

Chief Inspector Hubbard said, “I must wonder why she felt it necessary to leave the school and come directly here to you, when there were other avenues in Eastfield open to her. Mrs. Farrell-Smith, it appears, prefers not to deal with underlings.”

Norman said, “You haven’t read her statement. But you’re convinced her evidence is flawed.”

Hubbard took a deep breath. “Inspector, I shall be speaking with Mrs. Farrell-Smith myself in due course. But understand this. If Mrs. Crawford swears that Rutledge did not leave her house, as a witness she is more reliable than Mrs. Farrell-Smith.”

“And who is Mrs. Crawford, when she’s at home? I know nothing about her.”

“Mrs. Crawford’s veracity is vouched for by Neville FitzThornton at the Home Office. On the other hand, it’s possible that Mrs. Farrell-Smith has lied to the police before this.”