A Will to Kill, стр. 54
Athreya spun to his right and strode along the space behind the pews until he came to the end where two mats were missing. He switched on his torch and crouched, studying the floor.
Five minutes of examination yielded no result. There was not the slightest trace of blood or discolouration. Athreya straightened up slowly. This meant that the two mats from here had been taken to replace the bloodied mats somewhere else in the chapel.
He could get two policemen and have them lift every mat in the chapel and examine the floor. Alternatively, he could guess where Phillip had been killed. A possible answer leapt at him. The one spot that was different from every other in the chapel was the altar.
He strode down the aisle and stopped in front of the altar, studying the mats on the floor. Two mats here showed less signs of wear than the ones beside them and the ones on the aisle. He bent down, picked up the corner of one mat and pulled it up. Immediately, he saw it.
On the floor was an irregular patch of discoloration the size of a football.
He picked up the other mat and moved it aside. Under it was another patch, a smaller one. A closer examination revealed that it was blood—blood that had soaked through the mats and stained the floor. He replaced the mats and stood with his hands on his hips.
So, Phillip’s throat had been slit in front of the altar. Visions of medieval blood rituals and human sacrifices rose to his mind. Suddenly, he recalled the words of Sarala, the wing commander’s wife, whom he had met on the toy train on his way to Coonoor. She had talked about devil worship and human sacrifice at Greybrooke Manor.
Whether that was true or not, what was certain was that something evil and malevolent had happened at the altar after midnight. Candles had been moved around, unlit. Someone wearing gloves had done something on the altar. The mats behind the altar had shifted under the weight of bodies. And then, someone without gloves, possibly the one who had slit Phillip’s throat, had wiped down the wheelchair.
What a gruesome night. An involuntary shiver ran down Athreya’s spine.
He was sure now that more than two people had been at the chapel that night. Not just Phillip and his killer, but other people too. But not one of those present that night had admitted to it. Before he could investigate further, a series of loud knocks sounded at the chapel door. It was Inspector Muthu and two policemen.
‘They told me you were here, sir,’ he said, his attitude towards Athreya having undergone a sea change. ‘Did you find anything new? Our forensics team went through the chapel with a fine-tooth comb.
‘I’m sure they did,’ Athreya said. ‘What did they say about the blood spots under the mats?’
‘Blood spots?’ Muthu scowled more out of habit than from any disrespect to Athreya.
‘The ones in front of the altar. Under the mats.’
‘Show me.’
Two minutes later, Muthu was berating a forensic man over the phone. Athreya slowly walked out of the chapel, his face set in grim lines. He had to call out the bluffs now. Just as he had said to Varadan, he had to strip away the extraneous. Only then would he be able to look at the core.
* * *
He found Dora at Sunset Deck, sitting alone and contemplating the ripples in the stream below. He went and sat beside her.
‘Do you think I was unjustified in what I did, Mr. Athreya?’ she asked.
‘Not really,’ Athreya replied, picking his words carefully. ‘Being under a cloud of suspicion is never a pleasant thing. It gnaws away at you, makes you tense and makes you irritable. People in situations like yours have said worse things than you did today.’
‘I couldn’t stand what Uncle implied. It was too hurtful.’
‘That, I cannot argue with. The implications were clear. You had the courage to call it out. The others didn’t.’
‘Do you think they have something to hide?’ Athreya let out a long sigh.
‘There were thirteen at dinner that night,’ he said.
‘One died. That leaves a dozen of us. Most of the dozen have something to hide. They have either lied or are withholding information.’
‘Mr. Athreya,’ Dora said slowly. ‘You do realize the implications of what you are saying, don’t you?’
Athreya turned to face her.
‘I do, Dora,’ he said equally slowly. ‘And I hope you do too.’
Dora remained silent. When she didn’t speak for a full minute, Athreya went on gently.
‘The time for hiding things is past. You do everyone more harm by hiding things. But, most of all, you harm yourself.’
Dora remained silent, neither acknowledging Athreya’s allegation nor denying it.
‘It is about what you heard and saw after you retired that night, isn’t it?’ Athreya continued, staring at the stream along with Dora. ‘You had heard the sound of two doors opening. One was Michelle’s. But you know about the other one too. That’s what you are hiding. Did you also see him go down the stairs?’
‘Yes…’ Dora whispered through a choked throat. ‘Yes.’
‘It must have been between 12:50 a.m. and 1 a.m. Am I right?’
Dora nodded again, and slowly turned her face to Athreya.
‘What would you have done in my place, Mr. Athreya?’ she croaked. ‘He is my brother.’
‘You can’t shield Richie forever, Dora. I have one more question to ask you. You remember Thursday evening, the first dinner I had here? Richie came in late?’
She nodded.
‘There was a sudden silence when he came in, and tears came to your eyes. I think I know the reason for it. Will you confirm it for me?’
Chapter 16
Father Tobias had been true to his word. After completing the morning service at his church, he had come down to Greybrooke Manor. When Athreya and Dora