No Escape by Josephine Bell Read Free Book Online

smiled.
    â€œI’m not to be allowed into the mystery, I see. Never mind. I’ll get it from the Burgesses—in Reading.”
    â€œHe knows her parents,” Jane explained.
    â€œI see. Are you going down there?”
    â€œI’m not sure. I want to help any way I can.”
    â€œWell, she leaves here tomorrow and as far as I know she’s going straight home. She’s written to her people to say so. At least I presume that’s what she put in her letter. So if you ring them up you can get all the latest gen, can’t you?”
    Timothy’s voice was perfectly polite but there was unveiled antagonism in the look with which he regarded the other man.
    â€œThanks,” said Stone, quietly. “Thanks a lot.”
    He nodded briefly and turned away. Jane went with him to repeat her thanks for the lift and see him start his car. Timothy, left alone in the hall with the two suitcases, stood looking after them.
    He was raging inwardly and his surprise at finding himself in this state only augmented it. That smooth operator was no surprise acquaintance as Jane had led him to believe. A man you had only met a couple of hours before did not hold your hand and gaze into your eyes with a goofy expression. And that was what he had seen from the porter’s office when he was on the telephone there, listening to words of wisdom from Beech-Thomas. No, she knew him all right. After all, why shouldn’t she, since she was a friend of Sheila’s? He reminded himself that the friendship had been broken for several years, according to Jane. So perhaps— He swung round, still angry, still puzzled and walked off to the common room in the residents’ quarters.
    Having seen the sports car sail away through the main gates Jane went in again to the hall. She found the head porter stooping over the suitcases with an expression of strong disapproval on his face.
    â€œI haven’t abandoned them,” she said, gaily.
    â€œI’m glad of that, miss.” The porter smiled at her. He liked Miss Wheelan and was sorry for her and for the other girls under Miss Gleaning, who was not loved by any of the non-medical staff.
    â€œThey belong to Bed 12 in Alexandra,” she said.
    â€œMiss X. I know. The Press have been up again. Can’t seem to lay off. Inquisitive—” He sought for the polite equivalent of what he would naturally say, but let it go.
    â€œQuite,” said Jane. “Anyway, she’s leaving tomorrow, so can I park the big case with you until then? I’ll take the other one up to the ward.”
    The porter tried the locks on the case.
    â€œThis here’s open,” he said, severely.
    â€œI know. She lost her keys with her handbag in the—er—the accident.”
    â€œIt’ll be at her own risk,” the porter said. “I’m not down here all day. I’ll tell my mate to keep an eye, but with the comings and goings—you know what it is.”
    â€œOf course,” Jane assured him. “But Sister would have a fit if I tried to take it into the ward.”
    â€œAlexandra? You’re right there. You take the little one, miss, and I’ll put this fellow out of sight somewhere. Tomorrow morning, did you say?”
    She had not said it to him, but Tim had told Gerald Stone, and no doubt the porter had heard. The porters heard everything that went on in the hall. Everyone knew that. It spoke well for their loyalty that they never gave anything away to outsiders.
    â€œWell, yes, tomorrow morning as far as I know,” she answered cautiously. “I mean, unless there’s a relapse or she alters her plans.”
    Jane went away and changed into her white coat, though she was off-duty. Then she went up to Alexandra Ward. Sister was pleased to see her.
    â€œYes, you can go in,” she said, with relief in her voice. “She’s been getting hysterical again. Really, I think they ought to persuade her to