Chapter 32 Section 10

Mary Odin fidgeted.She walked in and out of the house, casually picked the stamens of withered geraniums, and returned to the living room to change the position of the vases without meaning. Faint conversations could be heard in the study.Mr Treroney and Neville were talking inside.Kay and Audrey were nowhere to be seen. Mary went out into the garden again.She saw Thomas Lloyd smoking his pipe by the fence and came towards him. "Oh, my God." She sat down beside him and sighed deeply, bewildered. "What's the matter?" Thomas asked. Mary laughed hysterically. "Only you would say something like that. There was a murder in this house and you said, 'What's wrong?'"

Thomas was a little surprised and said: "I mean did something happen again?" "Oh, I know what you mean. It's such a relief to see someone as laid-back and carefree as you!" "It's no use being poor and nervous, is it?" "Yes, yes. You are wise. I can't see how you can." "Oh, I guess it's because I'm an outsider." "Of course, you're right to say that. You can't be as relieved as we were to get Neville cleared." "Of course I'm glad he's cleared," Roydy said. Mary shrugged. "What a risk. If Carmela hadn't thought of ringing the bell for Barrett after Neville had left her—"

She didn't go on.Thomas finished for her. "Then Neville won't be able to clean up even if he jumps into the Yellow River." He felt a little gloating. When he met Mary's condemning eyes, he smiled and shook his head. "I'm not really that callous, but now that Neville's all right, I can't help but secretly glad he's a little taken aback. He's always been so complacent." "He's not really complacent, Thomas." "Probably not. It's just a matter of his attitude. Anyway, he was really freaking out this morning!"

"You are so cruel!" "Oh, he's all right now. You know, Mary, Neville's lucky even for that. Some of the other poor wretches don't have that kind of luck when all the evidence points to him." Mary shivered again. "Don't say that. I like innocent people - protected." "Really, my dear?" His voice was soft. Suddenly Mary exclaimed: "Thomas, I'm worried. I'm worried as hell." "Ok." "About Mr. Traves." Thomas's pipe fell on the stones.He leaned over to pick it up, changing his tone and saying:

"What about Mr. Traves?" "He was here that night - the story he told - about a little murderer! I kept wondering, Thomas... Was that just a story? Or did he have a purpose in telling it?" "You mean," said Lloyd veiledly, "that the story was told to someone in the house?" Mary whispered, "Yes." Thomas said calmly, "I'm trying to remember... what he said, you know, I was thinking when you came here." Mary half closed her eyelids. "I'm trying to recall... you know, he said it so subtly... he was almost talking casually. He said he'd recognize the guy anytime, anywhere. He was emphasizing that, as if he already recognized killed him."

"Well," said Thomas, "I've thought about it." "But why did he do that? What's the point?" "I suppose," said Rowdy, "that it was a warning. A warning to the man not to act again." "You mean to say that Mr. Traves knew at that time that Carmela was going to be killed?" "No—yes. I think that's too speculative. It might just be a general warning." "What I've been thinking about is, do you think we should tell the police?" Thomas thought deeply again. "I don't think so," he said at last. "I don't see any connection in it. It would be better if Mr. Traves was alive and could tell them all himself."

"Yes," said Mary, "he's dead!" and she shivered quickly. "Thomas, he died so strangely." "Heart attack. He has a bad heart." "I mean the weird thing about the elevator malfunctioning. I don't think it's right." "I don't feel right myself," Thomas Lloyd said.