BooksBarbecue
Back The Private Patient Save as PDF
Chapters (67)
  1. Cover Page
  2. Title Page
  3. Author’s Note
  4. BOOK ONE
  5. Chapter 1
  6. Chapter 2
  7. Chapter 3
  8. Chapter 4
  9. Chapter 5
  10. Chapter 6
  11. Chapter 7
  12. Chapter 8
  13. Chapter 9
  14. Chapter 10
  15. Chapter 11
  16. Chapter 12
  17. Chapter 13
  18. Chapter 14
  19. Chapter 15
  20. Chapter 16
  21. BOOK TWO
  22. Chapter 1
  23. Chapter 2
  24. Chapter 3
  25. Chapter 4
  26. Chapter 5
  27. Chapter 6
  28. Chapter 7
  29. Chapter 8
  30. Chapter 9
  31. Chapter 10
  32. Chapter 11
  33. Chapter 12
  34. Chapter 13
  35. Chapter 14
  36. Chapter 15
  37. BOOK THREE
  38. Chapter 1
  39. Chapter 2
  40. Chapter 3
  41. Chapter 4
  42. Chapter 5
  43. Chapter 6
  44. Chapter 7
  45. Chapter 8
  46. Chapter 9
  47. Chapter 10
  48. Chapter 11
  49. Chapter 12
  50. Chapter 13
  51. BOOK FOUR
  52. Chapter 1
  53. Chapter 2
  54. Chapter 3
  55. Chapter 4
  56. Chapter 5
  57. Chapter 6
  58. Chapter 7
  59. Chapter 8
  60. Chapter 9
  61. BOOK FIVE
  62. Chapter 1
  63. Chapter 2
  64. Chapter 3
  65. A Note About the Author
  66. Also by P. D. James
  67. Copyright

Kate said, “If we look at the facts and ignore motive for the present, the obvious suspects are Miss Westhall and Mrs. Frensham. What were they really doing at the two cottages, opening cupboards and then the freezer? It’s as if they knew that Boyton was dead. And why did it take two of them to search?”

Dalgliesh said, “Whatever they were up to, they weren’t moving the body. The evidence shows he died where he was found. I don’t find their actions quite as odd as you do, Kate. People do behave irrationally under stress, and both women have been under stress since Saturday. Perhaps subconsciously they were fearing a second death. On the other hand, one of them might have needed to ensure that the freezer was opened. That would be a more natural action if the search so far had been thorough.”

Benton said, “Murder or no murder, we won’t get much help from prints. They both opened the freezer. One of them may have been taking good care that she did. Would there have been prints anyway? Noctis will have worn gloves.”

Kate was getting impatient. “Not if he was tipping Boyton alive into the freezer. Wouldn’t you find that a bit odd if you’d been Boyton? And isn’t it premature to start using the word Noctis? We don’t know whether this was murder.”

The three of them were getting tired. The fire was beginning to die and Dalgliesh decided it was time to end the discussion. Looking back, he felt he was living through a day which would never end.

He said, “It’s time for a relatively early night. There’s a lot to do tomorrow. I’ll be here but I want you, Kate, with Benton, to interview Boyton’s partner. According to Boyton, he was lodging at Maida Vale, so his papers and belongings should be there. We’re not going to get anywhere until we know what sort of man he was and, if possible, why he was here. Have you been able to get an appointment yet?”

Kate said, “He can see us at eleven o’clock, sir. I didn’t say who was coming. He said the sooner the better.”

“Right. Eleven o’clock in Maida Vale, then. And we’ll talk before you leave.”

At last the door was locked behind them. He placed the guard in front of the dying fire, stood for a moment gazing into the last flickers, then wearily climbed the stairs to bed.

BOOK FOUR

BOOK FOUR

19-21 December
London, Dorset

Chapter 1

1