The Red Door

The former missionary had been the hardest to locate, for he was traveling about England raising funds for various charities that helped support mission work and had no particular itinerary.

He told the constable who had tracked him down in the middle of Hampshire, “Yes, Walter asked if I was coming to London. I told him I was, and he asked for a lift. There was a meeting he had to attend in the morning. He didn’t want to put the family out, although Edwin had volunteered to take him. And I was happy to oblige, it was company on the road.”

The constable asked where the missionary had dropped Teller. “By Scotland Yard,” the constable told them.

“It was all a lie,” Edwin said, angry. “You were here. Why should he go to the Yard?”

“He’s going back to the field,” Leticia told them. “Leaving us to deal as best we can with the problems he left behind.”

Hamish said, “Lancashire.”

Through Sergeant Gibson, Rutledge had already sent a telegram to Hobson, asking Constable Satterthwaite to keep a watch on the house. But would Teller go there as penance for what he’d done to Florence Teller? Or to escape from his family? He could live as a recluse there as easily as he could in Africa.

Mary Brittingham said, “He might have gone to my house. There’s no one there. I’d given the staff a few days off. But Jenny still had her key. He could have taken it. I’ll have a look, at least.”

It was nearly dawn by that time. Rutledge said, “You should rest first.”

Mary, her eyes sunken with worry, laughed without humor. “I doubt I’d sleep at all. Someone ought to look and see if Peter’s revolver is here. I can’t sit still. Let me drive home and look. He may have turned back, to confuse us. I’ll stop at Leticia’s too. I’ll bring him back if I find him. If I don’t, I’ll take your advice and rest.” She held up a Thermos. “Mollie has given me tea to keep me awake on the road. I’ll be all right.”

There was a light breakfast in the dining room, but no one felt like eating. Rutledge said, “I have a feeling he’s not in London. He could have taken a train anywhere.”

Amy, who had gone looking for the revolver, said, “It isn’t there. He might well have shot himself this time. He was so depressed about Jenny. Although you’d think he would have a care for Harry.”

“He may have thought Susannah had reached her house. He could be there.” He went to put in yet another telephone call.

“Tiresome man,” Leticia said. “He’s thinking only of himself. I for one am going up to my bed.” She turned on her heel to leave.

The storm had gone with the night. A pale sunlight touched the windows.

Amy said, “Shouldn’t someone go to Portsmouth?”

Leticia said, “As I learned the last time, no one can simply arrive at a mission and announce his return. There are arrangements to make—travel for one, supplies, money, and so on. Details, like how long he’ll be expected to remain there, what comforts he can expect—or not. Whether Bibles have been translated into that particular dialect. What his expenses are, and who will sponsor him. Enthusiasm isn’t enough.”

“Which is why,” Hamish suggested, “he went with yon auld man.”

It was a strong possibility. Except that he’d left the missionary in London.

Rutledge said, “If there’s any news at the Yard, I’ll make certain you hear it right away. Meanwhile, I need to return to London. I can coordinate a search from there.”

“No, you aren’t,” Amy said. “You’re going along to Hobson. Aren’t you?”

It was true. He’d thought Hamish might be right, and in the silences of the house with the red door, Teller might use his brother’s revolver. Who would hear the shot? Even Mrs. Blaine was gone. But he hadn’t wanted to alarm them.

But on his way he detoured to speak to Inspector Jessup. The Teller motorcar had been moved from the scene of the accident, and it was now sitting in the small paved area to one side of the police station.

Inspector Jessup had gone home to bed. Rutledge was turned over to one of his constables, who gave him the report on the accident.

“Nothing anyone did caused Mrs. Teller to run off the road,” he said. “But someone had tried to tamper with the brakes and failed.”

He went out to have a look for himself and saw that Jessup had been right. “Any report on Mrs. Teller?”

“Dr. Fielding gave her something to calm her and kept her overnight. But he thinks she will be fine. Bruised and shaken, he said, but nothing time won’t heal.”

It was late when Rutledge finally arrived in Hobson, and he was tired. He debated knocking on Mrs. Greeley’s door and asking if his room was available. But he was afraid that Cobb might still be staying there, and the last thing he wanted tonight was to talk to anyone.

Instead, he found his way in the dark to Sunrise Cottage, and well before he reached the house, he stopped and stared up at it. There were no lights. The house looked just as it had done when he’d left it the last time.

“You wouldn’t see a change. He’s asleep,” Hamish said quietly.

If he was even inside.