‘What time is it?’
‘Struck three a few minutes ago.’
‘Couldn’t you get to sleep?’
‘I keep thinking of Laura Kelburn. It must be awful having a daughter like Julia. Paul, do you think she was lying when she said she hadn’t telephoned me?’
‘I can’t see why she—’ Paul stopped as the ’phone started ringing again.’ Who could be telephoning us at this hour?’
‘Take your time, Paul. If they really want us they won’t ring off.’
Temple waited for a little while before switching the light on and picking up the ’phone.
‘Hello.’
‘Is that Paul Temple?’ A woman’s voice, speaking softly, as if she was afraid of being overheard.
‘Yes, speaking.’
‘This is Mrs Kelburn…’ There was a crackling on the line and he could hardly catch the name.
‘Who?’
‘Mrs Kelburn…Laura Kelburn…’
‘Oh, good evening – er – good morning, Mrs Kelburn.’
‘Mr Temple, I’m sorry to disturb you at this time of night, but – I’ve got to see you.’ There was desperation in her voice as she added: ‘It really is important.’
‘Well – what is it you want to see me about?’
‘About – about Julia. My stepdaughter.’
‘What about Julia?’ Temple asked, not trying very hard to conceal his impatience.
‘When can I see you, Mr Temple?’ She was still speaking so softly that he could hardly hear her. ‘Will nine o’clock be all right? I’ve got your address so…’
‘Look, Mrs Kelburn, I’m quite prepared to see you, but first of all I must know what this is all about.’
‘I’ve told you. It’s about my stepdaughter – Julia.’
‘Yes, I know, but what about Julia?’
There was a long pause, but no indication that she had rung off. Temple wondered whether someone had taken the receiver from her. Then suddenly she said very quickly but quite distinctly: ‘She’s going to be murdered.’
There came a click and Temple was left listening to the dialling tone.
‘Hello, Steve!’ Temple had finished his toast and marmalade and was pouring himself a second cup of coffee before his wife appeared for breakfast the next morning. ‘You’re nice and late this morning!’
‘Yes, I know,’ Steve admitted wryly. ‘I didn’t get to sleep until five o’clock.’
‘It’s not surprising. We didn’t stop talking until half past four. I’ll pour you some coffee.’
‘No, I don’t want any coffee, dear. I’ll just have the orange juice. What time is it, anyway?’
‘Twenty past nine.’
‘My word, we are late…’
‘Yes – and so’s your friend, Laura Kelburn. She said she’d be here by…‘He was stopped by a long peal on the doorbell. ‘This will be her now.’
‘Do you want me to stay?’
‘Yes, of course.’
Temple had time to pour an orange juice and put it down at Steve’s side of the table before Charlie opened the door.
‘Superintendent Raine would like to—’ Charlie broke off scandalised as the Superintendent pushed in past him. He had not even taken time to remove his overcoat.
‘Excuse me! Mr Temple, may I have a word with you?’
‘Yes, of course. All right, Charlie.’ Temple dismissed Charlie with a reassuring nod. ‘What is it, Raine? What’s happened?’
‘We picked a girl out of the river – about two hours ago. She’d been strangled. It was George Kelburn’s daughter.’
‘Julia Kelburn?’
‘Yes. But that isn’t everything.’ Raine paused for a moment. ‘The dead girl was wearing a coat. There was a name label stitched inside the collar. We’ve seen that name before, sir.’
Temple nodded. He was already ahead of Raine.
‘Margo?’
‘Well, there’s one person who won’t be surprised by the murder, Superintendent. That’s Julia’s stepmother – Laura Kelburn.’
Raine had accepted coffee and Charlie had deigned to bring an extra cup. The three were sitting round the breakfast table.
‘Why do you say that, Mrs Temple?’
It was Temple who answered. ‘Mrs Kelburn telephoned – at three o’clock this morning, mark you – and made an appointment to see me at nine o’clock. When I asked her why she wanted to see me she said it was about Julia – and that her stepdaughter was going to be murdered.’
‘This is extraordinary!’ Raine shook his head in bewilderment. ‘Quite extraordinary!’
‘I agree. When I picked up the ’phone and…’
‘No, you don’t understand,’ Raine cut in. ‘I’ve seen Mrs Kelburn – about an hour ago. I went to the house in the Boltons. She didn’t say anything about telephoning you – on the contrary she seemed staggered by the news of the murder. If anything, I think she was even more shaken by the news than her husband.’
‘She never mentioned the ’phone call?’
‘Not a word.’
‘How did Mr Kelburn react?’ Steve asked.
‘He was pretty badly shaken, of course, but I had the impression he’d been worried about his daughter for some time. She mixed with a pretty notorious crowd, you know, Mrs Temple.’
‘Yes. She was friendly with a man called Tony Wyman.’
‘I’m checking on Mr Wyman. I’ve got an appointment to see…’ Raine broke off. A receiver had been plugged in to the telephone socket in the dining-room and its bell had started to ring.
‘Excuse me.’ Temple swivelled round in his chair and reached for the instrument.
‘Paul Temple?’
‘Yes, speaking.’
‘This is Mike Langdon, Temple…’
‘Yes. I recognised your voice. Good morning, Langdon.’
‘Temple, I’ve got some terrible news…’
‘We’ve heard about Julia Kelburn.’ Temple cut the agitated recital short. ‘The Superintendent’s with me now.’
‘Then I expect he’s told you all the details?’
‘Well, yes. It’s a pretty awful business.’ Then, more sympathetically: ‘It must have been a shock for you, Langdon.’
‘Yes, it was – a terrible shock. I never realised the poor kid was so mixed up…But look, Temple – I want to ask you a favour.’ Paul met Steve’s eyes. Langdon’s voice was audible throughout the room. ‘Kelburn’s determined that