A Murder Is Announced

Rydesdale took the words out of his mouth.
‘Yes, he was taken to Milchester General on the 28th. The hold-up at Little Paddocks was on the 29th. That lets him out of any possible connection with it. But his wife, of course, knew nothing about the accident. She may have been thinking all along that hewas concerned in it. She’d hold her tongue-naturally-after all hewas her husband.’
‘It was a fairly gallant bit of work, wasn’t it, sir?’ said Craddock slowly.
‘Rescuing that child from the lorry? Yes. Plucky. Don’t suppose it was cowardice that made Haymes desert. Well, all that’s past history. For a man who’d blotted his copybook, it was a good death.’
‘I’m glad for her sake,’ said the Inspector. ‘And for that boy of theirs.’
‘Yes, he needn’t be too ashamed of his father. And the young woman will be able to marry again now.’
Craddock said slowly:
‘I was thinking of that, sir…It opens up-possibilities.’
‘You’d better break the news to her as you’re on the spot.’
‘I will, sir. I’ll push along there now. Or perhaps I’d better wait until she’s back at Little Paddocks. It may be rather a shock-and there’s someone else I rather want to have a word with first.’