The Lost Gardens(49)

Sensing that there was nothing more to be said by either of them, Kingston gestured with open hands. ‘Well, that’s about it,’ he said. What he really wanted to say was that he was disappointed in Chadwick’s seeming lack of enthusiasm for what Kingston thought was diligent work on his part. At least some acknowledgement for his time and effort would have been appreciated.

‘Sorry,’ said Chadwick, with a slight shake of the head, as if reading Kingston’s mind. ‘Your theory about the body being Kershaw’s is certainly admissible but we have a new piece of evidence that would suggest that that’s not the case.’

‘A new piece of evidence?’

‘Yes. It was found after the remains were analysed at the lab. Tangled up in some of the debris and sludge that came up with the bones there was a wristwatch. We found a leather belt at the site but the watch wasn’t discovered till later.’

‘How does the watch corroborate that it’s not Ryder’s or Kershaw’s body?’

‘Because it had initials engraved on the back. CMA. Not anyone you know, by chance?’

Kingston was thrown off balance. This was not what he wanted to hear. For a moment he said nothing. He was subconsciously rubbing his chin, thinking hard, looking away, to avoid Chadwick’s gaze. Then he looked up. ‘CMA. No, nobody I can think of.’

Chadwick leaned back in his swivel chair. ‘Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like it’s going to help us much.’

‘The watch. Obviously you know the make?’

‘It was a Hamilton. A tank watch, I think it’s called.’

‘Hamilton? That’s American, isn’t it?’

‘You’re right, it is.’

‘Hmm. Any idea when it was made?’

‘Late thirties, as best I recall.’

‘Meaning, it could have been purchased several years later.’

‘Exactly.’

‘So we know that the body couldn’t have been in the well prior to 1937 or thereabouts?’

‘But any time after. Up to today as a matter of fact because that particular watch is now a collector’s item. Worth quite a few bob, I’m told.’

‘But American made?’

‘Yes, but we know they were exported to Britain, if that’s what you’re thinking, so it doesn’t tell us much.’

Kingston looked up at the ceiling. ‘CMA,’ he said shaking his head. ‘I’ve no idea. Unless it was bought as used.’ He got up from his chair. ‘Well, inspector, thanks for taking the time to see me. I trust that if you learn any more you’ll let Jamie or me know. That would be appreciated.’

Chadwick rose. ‘Unfortunately, none of this sheds any more light on why Ryder left his estate to Miss Gibson. Which, I believe you said, is what motivated you in the first place.’ He walked around the desk. ‘Not unless you can connect CMA with Jamie in any way.’

‘I’ll ask her, of course, but I would seriously doubt it.’

‘Good,’ Chadwick said with a smile. ‘Let me know. Meanwhile tell Jamie that the case is by no means closed but given everything we know at this point—which I’m afraid is not much—we may never discover whose bones they are and how they came to end up in the well.’

Kingston paused, one hand gripping the back of the chair. ‘I have one more question, inspector,’ he said. ‘You had a phone conversation with Jamie shortly after the skeleton was found.’

‘Yes, I remember. We’d just got the results back from pathology.’

‘The victim was a male, roughly sixty years old, about five eleven. Been down there a long time, I believe you said?’

‘Sounds right.’

‘She said there was more but it was a bit over her head. You know, medical terminology.’

Chadwick gave the question frowning thought. ‘As I recall, there really wasn’t much more. I’d have to go back and look at the pathologist’s report.’

‘If it’s not asking too much, could you do that?’

‘It’s frowned upon to provide information to any outside source on an active case but in this case I don’t see why not. I’m curious, what do you expect to find?’

‘I’m not sure. Just grasping at straws, I suppose.’ Chadwick shrugged and got up from his chair. ‘It might take a couple of days. I’ll call you when I have it.’

They shook hands and Kingston departed.





Two days later, at eight o’clock in the morning, the phone rang in Kingston’s cottage. It was Chadwick.

‘I’ve just finished reading the pathologist’s report again,’ he said. ‘I’ve got it in front of me.’