“August Tardieu is France’s leading authority on forensic medicine,” Dr. Lewis said. “He first wrote about this condition nearly ten years ago.”
“It’s the rare English doctor who keeps up with professional developments outside of Britain,” Julia said.
“True enough, my dear. Tardieu identified those spots as a sign of asphyxia. Often the result of strangulation or smothering.”
Julia held up the report. “There’s no mention of marks on her neck. But it’s winter, and they found her outdoors. Perhaps a scarf pressed to her nose and mouth?”
“The magistrate ordered a postmortem for tomorrow,” Tennant said. “I asked if a Yard consultant could be present to assist.”
Dr. Lewis asked, “Have you any private patients tomorrow morning, my dear?” Julia shook her head. “An afternoon in the clinic won’t exhaust this old duffer.”
“Thank you, Grandfather.” Julia kissed him on the forehead.
“My occasional substitutions are hardly taxing.” Dr. Lewis shrugged. “Nurse Clemmie seats me with a cup of tea and does most of the work.”
“They’ve scheduled the postmortem for eleven in the morning,” Tennant said. “And I’ll be surprised if you don’t turn up evidence of murder.”
CHAPTER 12
Inspector Tennant and Sir Lionel waited outside the county coroner’s examining room for the postmortem to conclude. For once, Dermott was in no mood for jokes. He sat forward, head down, with his hands hanging between his knees.
“My God, Tennant, an old woman. The man is a monster,” Dermott said.
“A careful and audacious one. It takes nerve to smother a victim in the open air in the middle of the day.”
“And in Windsor Great Park, by God.”
“Not getting caught required planning.”
Sir Lionel rubbed his forehead. “It will be my unhappy duty to inform Her Majesty. What are your next steps?”
“Superintendent Eager is waiting for the autopsy’s results. If it’s murder, it happened on his patch, so he’s in charge at this end. He’s preparing to canvass the immediate area and the Windsor railway station.”
“The logical mode of travel.”
“It won’t be easy,” Tennant said. “Eager tells me that Eton’s Lent term began on Monday. On Sunday, the station overflowed with schoolboys and their parents.”
“Almighty Christ! Nothing is easy with this case.”
“I’ve recommended that Superintendent Eager widen his calendar,” Tennant said. “The killer must have surveilled his prey. He wouldn’t count on stumbling on the old lady by accident.”
“So, he kept his eye on her.”
“It’s probable.”
“When will the superintendent release the body?”
“Immediately. Lady Middlebury resumes her final journey to Ireland tomorrow, accompanied by one of Superintendent Eager’s most reliable sergeants.”
“Is there someone at the other end?” Dermott asked. “I understand she had no children.”
“Eager says a great-nephew travels to Dublin from Cork to take charge of the burial. The sergeant will ask what, if anything, he knew about his aunt.”
“Living on separate islands two generations apart.” Dermott shook his head. “I wouldn’t count on his knowing much.”
A young constable with a pillow in his hand strode past them and into the examination room.
“Something’s turned up,” Tennant said. “Perhaps the murder weapon.”
