Daisy and Bernard (The Blind Sleuth Mysteries 3)

Chapter 4

For the second time, Daisy was escorted to Bernard Thistlehurst's office, led to the armchair in front of his desk and asked to please sit down. "I hope you had no trouble getting here, my dear..."

"None whatsoever, Bernard. I know the London Tube system like the back of my hand, and there are always friendly souls around to assist me when needed... Now, what are the results of the dental test?"

"It is not a match, I'm glad to say. You did not bite Martin McCullough to death, that is now confirmed as a fact."

"And why couldn't you just tell me that on the phone? Why did I have to come back here, as much as I enjoy your company?"

"Sorry about that, my dear, but last time I told you that we have some unresolved issues. I want to get to the bottom of your relationship with McCullough. And the dental test has added another issue to that. Even though it is not a match, our forensic experts tell us that there is possibly a family resemblance between the two sets of teeth."

"Hmm... I see. You do realise, though, that I have very little family left?"

"Yes, we checked the registry records. Your parents have passed away, just like mine, which is normal for people of our age. You have no siblings, just like me. You hardly have any cousins. There we differ: I have quite a lot of cousins, but we've lost touch altogether."

"Well, come to think of it, my branch of the Hayes family is dying out. So it sounds like a family conspiracy is not on for the moment."

"True. But the fact remains: there might be a family connection. So back to the original line of inquiry. Your relationship with McCullough intrigues me because I don't understand it. It doesn't make any sense."

"Well, I'm in the habit of getting to know all kinds of people from very different walks of life."

"Very commendable, my dear Daisy. I do the same professionally. But what is very unusual, is a relationship where one is willing to kill a man on behalf of another person."

"I'm not sure I know what you're talking about, my dear Bernard."

"Could I ask you to stand up and lean over my desk, Daisy? There is something I want to give you."

"Erm... Can't you just stand up and lean over, like a gentleman?"

"Well, no. Actually it's not so easy for me to do that, as both my legs are paralyzed and I'm bound to a wheelchair."

"Really? Good God! Sorry about that. I wasn't aware..."

"Yes, I'm a paraplegic, and it is very refreshing to meet someone like you who cannot even see it. That is also the reason why I was feeling a bit jealous of you, a moment ago, when you told me that you know the Tube system like the back of your hand. I could never take the Tube on my own. Anyway, please reach over."

When Daisy finally did as she was told, Bernard put a small paper strip in her hand, with Braille letters embossed on it. Even without reading it, Daisy knew at once what it was. But she sat down and read it with her fingertips anyway.

DO NOT WORRY ABOUT OTHER VICTIMS. I KILLED THE MAN WHO DID THIS TO ME.

"How on earth did you manage to get hold of this, Bernard? What I wrote on this tape was supposed to be strictly confidential, a medical secret!"

"I know. I'm sorry to spring this on you like that, but I obtained it in an entirely legitimate way. With medical secrets, you see, there are all sorts of rules and conditions that the doctor and the patient are not always aware of. The doctor is bound to secrecy as a person, but if he puts the confidential information into the medical records, the authorities will uncover it there when they receive a court's permission to investigate such records. Besides, your doctor left St Mary's a long time ago; he should have removed this when he departed.