‘And it took you how long to reach Clarence Keep?’

‘Well, obviously it’s the other side of the village from here and it took me a few goes to get the car started. We’re going to have to buy a new one. The Morris is on its last legs – or wheels! Anyway, I went round as quickly as I could.’

‘And what happened when you arrived?’

‘I rang the doorbell but there was no answer. So I opened the door – it was unlocked – and went in. That little dog of hers came rushing out, barking at me, but apart from that the place was as quiet as – well, the grave. I called Melissa’s name but there was no answer. I went into the kitchen to see if I could find Eric or Phyllis but they were out. I remembered then that there had been no cars parked in the drive. I tried the living room and the dining room but they were both empty and there was no sign of any disturbance. Even so, I have to say, I was quite worried. I went upstairs, with the dog following me, and I headed straight for the main bedroom. You may be wondering how I knew my way around, but of course I’d visited the house on several occasions when Melissa was unwell.

‘My first thought was that she might be in bed, but as I turned the corner, I saw at once what had happened. The door was open and she was lying on her back with the telephone cord wrapped around her neck. One of the tables had been knocked over. She had kicked off one of her shoes. I rushed straight in, tried to find a sign of life and then gave her CPR. But without success.’

‘You were not concerned for your own safety, Dr Collins? Her attacker might still have been there.’

‘Do you know – that never really occurred to me! My only thoughts were for Melissa. When I realised there was nothing I could do, I went back downstairs as I obviously couldn’t call the police from the bedroom. The cord had been torn out of the wall. I went into the living room and made the call there.’

‘And what of the dog?’

‘What a very strange question, Mr Pünd? What do you mean?’

‘Did it follow you?’

‘Yes, it did. The poor chap seemed quite distressed. Not that I had any time for him. I went back outside and sat in my car and waited for the police to arrive.’

There was a brief pause while Pünd took all this in. Miss Cain had been writing rapidly but she finally caught up with what had been said and stopped.

‘Can you describe your relationship with Miss James?’ Pünd asked. ‘I notice that you refer to her as Melissa and, as you say, you were intimate with the layout of her house. I ask only because it puzzles me why she should have called you first.’

‘As opposed to …?’

‘Well, the police.’

Dr Collins nodded. ‘There’s a simple answer to that. I was much nearer. The police would have had to come all the way from Bideford. As to our relationship, Melissa was something of a hypochondriac so we saw quite a lot of each other. To be honest, there wasn’t very much I could do for her medically speaking, but she liked having someone to talk to and I would say we ended up as good friends. I think she found me reassuring.’

‘You became her confidant.’

‘You could say that.’

‘Did she speak to you of her relationship with her husband? The possibility that she was perhaps seeing somebody else?’

‘I’m not sure I should answer that.’ Dr Collins frowned. ‘I have to think of doctor–patient confidentiality. But actually, she didn’t say anything about Francis. She was an actress. She liked to talk about herself, particularly her work. She was going to do a film with Alfred Hitchcock. She was excited about that.’

‘We ought to be leaving,’ Samantha Collins said, glancing at the clock. ‘We have a train to catch.’

‘Where are you going?’ Hare asked.

‘Up to London,’ Dr Collins replied. ‘But only for one day. We’ll be back tomorrow.’

‘Business or pleasure?’

‘Private business, Detective Chief Inspector.’

‘With respect, sir, nothing is private when you’re in the middle of a murder investigation.’

‘I’m sorry. Of course, you’re right.’ Dr Collins reached out and took hold of Samantha’s hand. ‘We’re seeing a solicitor about a sum of money that my wife may have inherited from her aunt. I can assure you that it has absolutely nothing to do with the death of Melissa James.’

Hare nodded. ‘Is there anything more you need to know, Mr Pünd?’

‘Just one thing.’ Pünd turned to Dr Collins. ‘When she spoke to you on the telephone, I do not suppose that Miss James suggested where she had been before she returned to the house?’

‘I’m sorry?’

‘She left the hotel at 5.40 p.m. but she didn’t get home until a little after 6 p.m.,’ Hare explained. ‘We’re trying to work out what happened in the missing twenty minutes.’

‘I can tell you that,’ Samantha Collins replied. She paused, seeing that she had taken everyone by surprise. ‘She was in the church.’

‘St Daniel’s?’

‘That’s right, Detective Chief Inspector. I went upstairs briefly to read to my son and I glanced out of the window and saw her car parked beside the gate. You get a good view of the church from Mark’s room. She got out and stood there for a moment. Then she went inside.’

Pünd thought for a moment. ‘I understand that you are very active with the local church, Mrs Collins.’

‘Yes. I try to help where I can.’

‘Did you often see Miss James there?’

‘She didn’t attend many services, although she was quite good about doing a reading at Christmas and Harvest Festival, and as you may know she asked to be buried in the churchyard, although so far the police haven’t released the body.’ Samantha looked accusingly at Hare.

‘That will happen very soon,’ Hare assured her.

‘But since you ask, I did see her going in and out quite a few times.’

Pünd frowned. ‘Is that not a little strange? She does not strike me as having been a very religious person.’

‘You don’t have to be religious to enjoy the peace and comfort that you find in a church,’ Samantha said.

‘Was she alone, on that last day?’

‘Yes.’

‘Did you see her leave?’

‘No, I didn’t. I came back down to the surgery and after that I forgot all about her.’

Dr Collins stood up. ‘Time we were on our way,’ he said. ‘You mentioned you wanted to see my brother-in-law.’

‘It would be helpful, yes,’ Pünd said.

‘I’ll call him down.’ He went over to the door, then hesitated, suddenly uncomfortable. ‘This may sound a bit strange, but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention what I told you – about where we’re going. As I said, it’s something that Samantha and I are trying to keep private.’

‘Of course.’

‘Algie and Aunt Joyce didn’t get on very well,’ Samantha explained after her husband had left the room.

They heard him calling up from the hallway.

‘I’m surprised you have to leave your children with Mrs Mitchell,’ Hare remarked. ‘Wouldn’t they be better off staying here with their uncle?’

‘I’m afraid he’s not very good with children. Anyway, they love being with Brenda. They know her because she comes here and helps me with the housekeeping. And it’s a real treat for them, sleeping in a lighthouse.’

Dr Collins walked into the room, followed by a nervously smiling, fair-haired man with a gold signet ring on one finger and an expensive watch. He was wearing a white shirt and cavalry twill trousers.

‘I hope you’ll forgive us, leaving you like this,’ Dr Collins said as he came in. ‘We have to be on our way.’

Samantha got up and put on her gloves. ‘We’ll see you tomorrow, Algernon. There’s dinner in the fridge. And the number of the hotel is on my desk in the surgery if you need to reach us.’

‘Enjoy the play.’

So they had told him they were going to the theatre. Pünd made a mental note. That was most certainly of interest.

Algernon Marsh stood where he was until Leonard and Samantha Collins had left. Only then did he say: ‘Len said you wanted to speak to me. What exactly is this about?’

‘What do you think it’s about, Mr Marsh?’ Hare replied. ‘We’re still investigating the death of Miss Melissa James.’

‘Well, of course. Yes.’ He had seemed very tense but now he relaxed a little. ‘I’ve already spoken to you, Chief Inspector. I’ve answered all your questions. So I’m a little surprised you want to talk to me again.’

‘It is I who am responsible, Mr Marsh,’ Pünd explained, apologetically. ‘But I am led to believe that you were very close to Miss James.’

‘I wouldn’t say that. I was advising her on some of her investments.’

‘But you were also a good friend to her.’

‘I’d like to think I’m a good friend to all my clients.’

‘How often did you see her?’ The question sounded innocent but arrived like the twist of a knife.

‘We met socially in London now and then.’ Algernon had sensed that the private detective with his round glasses and rosewood walking stick might actually be a danger to him. He did his best to sound non-committal.

‘And you also came down here to visit her.’