The Burden of Doubt Read Online Free PDF

parked my car in the village, and then I went … for a walk.’
    ‘You went for a walk,’ Laura echoed. ‘In this weather?’
    Patel turned slowly to meet the constable’s gaze. ‘The snow hadn’t yet reached that part of the county.’
    ‘No. But the weather must still have been pretty unpleasant for a stroll. Where did you go?’ Laura asked.
    ‘I walked up Ingleborough.’
    No easy walk, Swift thought, having climbed the same peak himself the previous autumn as part of a charity raising venture. He recalled feeling uncomfortably creaky around the joints the next day. He inclined forward a little. ‘What time did you leave your house this morning, sir?’ he asked.
    ‘About five-thirty,’ Patel answered, appearing in no way perturbed by the swerve in the line of questioning. ‘Or maybe nearer a quarter to six.’
    ‘Registration at the conference started at nine-fifteen,’ Swift pointed out. ‘Why did you set off so early?’
    ‘I anticipated the journey might be slowed down by the weather conditions,’ Patel said, ‘and there’s always the danger of traffic queues getting into Sheffield in the rush hour.’
    ‘And how was your wife when you left, sir?’ Laura asked gently.
    ‘She was still in bed. She—’ Here he stopped, closing his eyes.
    ‘She what, sir?’ Laura injected a touch of pressure into her voice.
    ‘She said she hoped I’d have a good day.’
    ‘And she was fit and well when you left her?’
    Patel paused for a moment. ‘Yes. Yes, she was.’ He dipped his head and fell silent. ‘I didn’t kill her,’ he added, his tone weary rather than challenging. ‘And indeed, I’m very willing to offer any help I can give you in proving that. For instance providing a sample of my blood or a DNA swab to help your investigation.’
    Laura glanced at her boss, wanting to know if she should dig deeper, but Swift shook his head.
    ‘I’ve just one more question, sir,’ he said, ‘and then we’ll leave you in peace. Do you know of anyone who would want to harm your wife?’
    The delay stretched on. A nerve vibrated at the side of Professor Patel’s mouth. ‘I can think of no one who would want to kill her,’ he said eventually.
    ‘Did she have any enemies?’ Swift followed up, his glance intent.
    Patel sat back in his chair and sighed, his gaze falling blankly on the wall behind his questioners’ heads.
    Swift kept a constant watch on the Professor’s face, wishing he had the means to access the tangle of thoughts which were passing through the bereaved man’s mind.
    ‘Everyone has foes, Chief Inspector,’ Patel said, rallying from his torpor.
    ‘Does that mean you can think of someone who would have a serious grudge against your wife?’ Laura followed up.
    ‘No, it doesn’t,’ Patel said with a degree of sharpness. ‘Not the kind of grudge that would make someone commit a murder.’
    Laura glanced once again at her boss. He made a small negative gesture.
    ‘Does Sylvia Farrell know?’ Patel asked. ‘Do I have to tell her?’ The reluctance was patently clear.
    ‘She’s already been informed, sir.’ Swift was watching the widower closely.
    Patel nodded. ‘I’ll contact Moira’s colleagues at the hospital,’ he offered, ‘although I suppose that will hardly be necessary, given that her body is already there.’ A spasm of pain twisted his face.
    Swift left a short silence and then said, ‘Your house is now a crime scene, Professor Patel. We shall need to have it sealed off for a time whilst the forensics team gather evidence.’
    Patel nodded in numb acceptance.
    ‘Is there anywhere else you can stay?’
    ‘Yes,’ Patel said after consideration. ‘I have the keys to my neighbours’ house. They’ve just gone away for a month’s holiday in New Zealand and asked if we—’ He stopped, his face stabbed with pain. ‘If I would keep an eye on it for them. I’m sure they won’t mind if I stayed there for a short time. It would only be for sleeping; I shall