Inspector Morse 11 The Daughters of Cain

Morse continued his questioning, poker-faced, as if he had failed to hear the tintinnabulation of a hell: "What did you think of Dr. Mc Clure?"

"Very nice man. Kindly--genuine sort of person. And, as you say, he took a real interest in Matthew."

Morse produced a letter, and passed it across to Mrs.

Rodway: a single handwritten sheet, on the pre-printed stationery of 14 Evington Road South, Leicester, dated June 2, the day after the Coroner's verdict on Matthew Rodway's death.

Dear Felix

I was glad to talk to you on the phone however briefly. I was so choked I could hardly speak to you. Please do as we agreed. If you find anything else among M's things which would be upsetting please get rid of them. This includes any of my letters he may have kept. He had two family photos in his room, one a framed one of the two of us. I'd like both of them back. But all clothes and personal ef-fects and papers--get rid of them all for me.

I must thank you for all you tried to do for Mat-thew. He often spoke of your kindness, as you know.

I'm so sorry, I can't go on with this letter any more.

Sincerely yours

Mary

Morse now accepted a second cigarette; and as Mrs.

Rodway read through the letter Lewis turned his head away from the exhalation of smoke. He was not overmuch con-cemed about the health risks supposedly linked with pas-sive smoking, but it must have some effect; had already had its effect on the room here, where a thin patina of nic-otine could be seen on the emulsioned walls. In fact the whole room could surely do with a good wash-down and redecoration? The comers of the high ceiling were deeply stained, and just above one of the radiators an oblong of pristinely bright magnolia served to emphasise a slight ne-glect of household renovation.

"Did you write that?" asked Morse.

"Yes."

"Is there anything you want to tell us about it?"

"Pretty clear, isn't it?"

"Did Dr. Mc Clure find anything in Matthew's rooms?"

"I don't know."

"Would he have told you if, let's say, he'd found some drugs?"

"I doubt it."

"Did he think Matthew was talcing drags?"

It was hard for her to say it. But she said it: "Yes."

"Did you ever find out where he got his drags from?"

"No.'

"Did he ever say anything about his friends being or drags?"

THE

DAUGHTERS OF CAIN

"Do you think they may have been?

"I only met one or two of them--on the same staircase "Do you think drugs were available inside the college' "I don't know."

"Would Dr. Mc Clure have known, if they were?"

"1 suppose he would, yes."

"Was Matthew fairly easily influenced by his frienc would you say?"

"No, I wouldn't."

The answers elicited from Mrs. Rodway hardly appeart to Lewis exciting; or even informative, for that matter. B Morse appeared content to keep his interlocution at lc key.

"Do you blame anyone? About the dmgs T' "I'm in no position to blame anyone."

"Do you blame yourself?."

"Don't we all blame ourselves?"

"What about Dr. Mc Clure--where did he put ti blame?"

"He did say once... I remember..." But the vol, Wailed off as she lit another cigarette. "It was very odd ally. He was talking about all the pressures on young pe pie these days--you know, about youth culture and all son of thing, about whether standards were declining in well, in everything, I suppose."

"What exactly did he say?" prompted Morse gently. But Mary Rodway was not listening. "You know, if or Matthew hadn't... killed himself that night, whatever reason was--reason or reasons he'd probably have be perfectly happy with life a few days later, a week later That's what I can't... I can't get over." Tears were dropping now. And Lewis looked away. But not Morse.

"What exactly did he say?" he repeated.

Mrs. Rodway wiped her tears and blew her nose noisi "He said it was always difficult to apportion blame in Ii But he said.., he said if he had to blame anybody it wot be the students."

"Is that all?"

"Yes."

"Why was that an 'odd' thing to say, though?"

"Because, you see, he was always on the students' side. Always. So it was a bit like hearing a trade-union boss sud-denly siding with the Conservative Party."

"Thank you. You've been very kind, Mrs. Rodway." Clearly (as Lewis could see) it was time to depart; and he closed his notebook with what might have passed for a slight flourish--had anyone been interested enough to ob-serve the gesture.

But equally clearly (as Lewis could also see) Morse was momentarily transfixed, the blue eyes gleaming with that strangely distanced, almost ethereal gaze, which Lewis had observed so often before a gaze which usually betokened a breakthrough in a major case.

As now?

The three of them rose to their feet.

"Did you get to university yourself?." asked Morse. "No. I left school at sixteen--went to a posh secretarial college---did well--got a good job---met a nice boss--became his PA--and he married me.... As I told you, In-spector, he's got a weakness for his PAs."

Morse nodded. "Just one last question. When did your husband leave you?"

"I told you, don't you remember? Four years ago." Sud-denly her voice sounded sharp.