The Sudbury School Murders Read Online Free PDF Page B

mine, if someone
should see her return from her late walk."
    "Very sensible of you. How long did you
stay?"
    "I do not know. I was deep in thought. Then I
decided not to return to the stables, but to visit my family." He
gave me a defiant look, as though I would not believe him. "I knew
they were moored down the canal near Great Bedwyn, so I walked that
way. I boarded their boat, and we shared food and wine and
conversation. It was good to see them."
    Some Roma traveled up and down the canals in
boats with all their worldly goods, much like other Roma traveled
overland in caravans. They would take odd jobs and buy food and
wine from any that would sell it to them.
    I sometimes envied the gypsies their freedom,
although I knew it was not true freedom--they lived hand to mouth
and could not give it up when they liked.
    "Did you stay with them all night?"
    "A good part of it," Sebastian said. "I
argued with my uncles--they do not believe I should work for the .
. . English." He paused before he said English , and I knew
he'd suppressed a more derogatory, Romany term. "But I want to have
maybe a better life. Not hungry, not stealing."
    "I understand," I said. "What then?"
    "We argued for a while, then I left the boat
and walked back to the stables."
    "What time did you arrive?"
    He bowed his head, stared at his fingers. "I
think the clocks had struck two."
    "Did you see Middleton?"
    He looked at me, shrugged. "No. I thought
he'd gone to bed. It was very quiet. I went to sleep."
    He'd have had no reason to check that
Middleton had actually returned. I let that go.
    Sebastian went on. In the morning, he'd began
his duties as usual, turning the horses out to the yard while he
mucked out stalls. At about dawn, one of the stable hands had
dashed in, looking horrified, and said that Middleton had been
found dead in the lock.
    Sebastian's story sounded plausible and was
probably true. Unfortunately, however, the story provided ample
gaps of time in which Sebastian could have met Middleton, killed
him, and disposed of his body in the lock.
    Even if Belinda dared admit that Sebastian
talked with her between ten-thirty and eleven o'clock, there was
still the time he waited on the canal bank, the time it took him to
walk to his family's boat, the time he'd spoken with them, and the
time he'd walked back to the stables. He had stood right next to
the lock in question, lost in thought, which was not good. A canny
magistrate could poke plenty of holes in his story.
    On the other hand, his very vagueness spoke
of his innocence. If Sebastian were guilty, would he not come up
with a story that accounted for his whereabouts every minute?
    His family would no doubt confirm that
Sebastian had visited them, but would a magistrate believe them?
Would a jury?
    I sighed. "Did you see anyone, anyone at all
in your journey up and down the canal? Hear anything?"
    Sebastian shook his head. "I heard only
noises of the night. I saw no other person."
    Most helpful.
    I rose, remembering in time to duck my head
in the low-ceilinged room. "I will do what I can to help you,
Sebastian. I cannot promise it will be easy, but I will help."
    "Do not tell the magistrate about Belinda,"
Sebastian pleaded quickly.
    He was a handsome lad. A girl constantly
bullied and sheltered by her father would seek solace in the smiles
of an attractive man who admired her. But theirs was a doomed
love.
    "I hope we do not have to." I paused. "Who
was the Romany woman who tried to visit you?"
    Sebastian started. "Woman?"
    "The constable's housekeeper told me that a
Romany woman came to visit you, but the housekeeper would not let
her see you."
    Sebastian's mouth was open. He looked pale,
but that might still be his fear of the enclosed room. "My mother,
most like," he whispered.
    I could always ask her. Questioning the Roma
would be my next task.
    "A piece of advice, Sebastian," I said. "When
you face the magistrate, tell the truth. Stick to the truth, do not
try to embellish and do not