The October Man Page #4

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No.

- At least I don't think so.

- You're not sure?

I was thinking of something else.

I don't remember seeing anyone.

Which way did you go?

I've been trying to remember.

I didn't want to come straight

here, so I walked on the common.

- In the rain?

- It wasn't raining then.

Where were you when the rain stopped?

Near Brockhurst Avenue, I think.

But I'm not sure. I didn't keep to the roads.

Mm.

You say you never met this married

man she knew, the one from Birmingham?

- No.

- Did she ever mention his name?

No. Miss Selby might know it, though.

Well, we'll see.

I'll get you to make a

written statement, Mr Ackland,

- that's if you're prepared to.

- Certainly.

- Perhaps tomorrow morning.

- I'll be at the works.

- Oh, yes, now that's at...

- (Knock on door)

- What is it?

- Excuse me, sir,

- can you spare me a minute outside?

- Excuse me a moment.

Yes.

There it is, you see, sir.

JK Ackland. Last address, Loughton Hospital.

- Yes.

- I've been onto the hospital to check.

- Didn't they know him?

- Yes, they know him.

He was in for a bad head injury.

- Road accident.

- Well?

They said he wasn't quite

right in the head for a time.

Seems all right.

Yes, sir, but... they always do, don't they?

All right.

- Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr Ackland.

- That's all right.

- You wanted my business address.

- Yes, but I think, if you don't mind,

I'll ask you to make your written

statement tonight after all.

I should've thought that

you, being an insurance agent,

would have had some sense of

your responsibilities, Mr Pope.

Don't let's go over all that again, Mrs V!

If the police ask me

questions, I'll answer them,

but I'm not gonna put ideas in their heads.

The police should have the facts.

Yes, and the only fact we know is that

he was out when the murder was done.

So were lots of other people.

I bet he scarcely knew her.

On the same landing?

Well, to say good morning to, yes.

I knew her that much. Mr Peachy knew her.

Yes, I've seen him talking

to her on the stairs.

You see, it doesn't prove anything.

No one's going to tell me that a

girl like her and a man like him

on the same landing scarcely knew each other.

You're talking about the dead!

- He's not dead.

- (Mr Pope) She wasn't his type.

Well, perhaps I should say, several

times he was in her room at night.

When?

Oh... several times. Often.

- How do you know?

- My room is just below.

You must tell the police immediately.

If they ask! It doesn't prove anything.

No, it doesn't.

- Perhaps I shouldn't have said anything.

- Why not?

- Well, one doesn't like to...

- No, that's what I say.

If you don't tell them, I shall.

Men!

Always saying you're so strong and masterful,

and when it comes to it

you're babies, just babies!

Ah. You've been a long time.

Yes.

Miss Selby's in there now.

- Good night, Mr Ackland.

- Good night.

- Good night.

- Will they want us?

I really don't know. Good night, everybody.

Well, Mr Newman, I don't think

I can keep you any longer.

The inquest is tomorrow.

Evidence of identification from you

and then we'll ask for an adjournment.

Anything that'll help to catch that fiend.

- We'll do our best, Mrs Newman.

- (Sobs)

This way, sir.

- Family?

- Yes, sir. Nothing.

- District superintendent's in your office.

- Oh, right.

Sorry to keep you waiting, sir.

That's all right, did you see the doctor?

Yes, sir, not very helpful at first.

- Did he admit the possibility?

- After a bit, sir, but he didn't like it.

I've got a statement.

He admitted that the fellow was only

convalescent when he left the hospital.

Apparently they couldn't

do anything more for him.

What sort of a chap is this Ackland?

Good manner, impress a jury.

He'd be fairly safe on an insanity plea.

Safer if he hadn't lied about his

relationship with the girl, though.

What about Peachy

- is he going to make a good witness?

Yes, sir, a respectable quiet type.

Oh, and we've traced the

Birmingham man, sir. Name of Wilcox.

Birmingham checked up on him.

He was in a local Conservative Club

until ten, so that washes him out.

He has to come up today on business.

I told him to look in

tomorrow before he leaves.

Scared stiff his wife'll find out.

What're you doing about Ackland?

I'll have another go at him,

sir. He may decide to be sensible.

There's this other girl he was

out with. Should be a line there.

You're quite sure he is the man?

Well, sir, his cheque was found by the body.

There's definite evidence he

knew her better than he admits.

He was on the common when she was killed,

but says he doesn't know

whether he saw her or not.

Used to be a mental case. Recently.

I think it's disgraceful.

Nobody's safe with a man like that about.

- No, indeed.

- A man like what, Mrs Vinton?

A man like... like the man

who murdered Miss Newman.

- The police'll find him.

- The police!

They invite the cooperation of the public

and when you go there and try to

help them, all you get is rudeness.

I expect they're fed up

with listening to gossip.

Well, I certainly don't

consider it gossip to...

- Oh, hello.

- Good evening.

Excuse me. I shan't be in to

dinner this evening, Miss Selby.

- Very well.

- Can I have the flowers I left?

Oh, yes. Here they are.

I'm afraid I forgot to

put them into water but...

That's all right, thank you.

Flowers!

(Car pulling up)

Ah, Mr Ackland, could you

spare us a few minutes?

There's one or two points

we'd like to straighten out.

What points?

What we'd really like is a more

detailed statement from you.

- But I've told you everything I know.

- If you don't mind, Mr Ackland.

Won't tomorrow do?

I think it'd be better if

we could settle it up now.

All right, you better come inside.

There's no need to bother the hotel people.

If you'd like to come back to

my office, it'd really save time.

Just as you like. I have to

make a phone call first though.

You can do that from the office too.

"Mr Ackland left me at my brother's house.

"The time was about 10:30pm.

"He did not say he was going back to

the hotel, but I assumed that he was.

"I know of no appointment he may have

had. I did not see him again that night."

Now, if you'll just read that

through yourself, Miss Carden,

and if it's correct, sign it.

Look, what is the point

of all these questions?

Just a routine enquiry, sir.

But this about his being normal

or abnormal, that's not routine.

I just want to get everything straight, sir.

Yes, I suppose it was silly of me to ask.

- Here you are.

- Thank you, miss.

Does Mr Ackland know you're

making these enquiries?

I don't really know, miss. There's no

harm in your telling him, of course.

I should tell him anyway,

whether there was harm or not.

Well, I'll be going.

Thank you very much, miss.

Sorry to have disturbed

you. Good night, ma'am.

- Good night.

- Good night, miss.

We have to do our duty, you know, sir.

Yes, but you mustn't

expect people to enjoy it.

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