Strange Affair

“How was her state of mind recently?”

“Fine,” said Carol. “Though, come to think of it, she did seem a bit scatterbrained last week.”

“Any idea why?”

“No. She just seemed sort of on edge.”

“Was she happy working here?”

“She always seemed to be, but I didn’t know her well enough for her to confide in me. Anyway, how can you tell if someone is really happy? I mean, you read in the papers about people killing themselves when their friends think they’ve got everything to live for, don’t you?”

“Sometimes,” A

“No. I know that. I’m sorry.”

“No need to be. Look, I want to speak to a few people here, people who knew her, but maybe you can give me a bit of background on the place first.”

The phone rang and Carol excused herself. She adopted her professional voice and made a consultation appointment for a new patient.

“Sorry,” she said when she’d hung up. “Of course, I’ll fill you in on what I can.”

“How many people work here?”

“Seven,” said Carol. “That’s including Je

“What’s Julian Harwood’s role?”

“Mr. Harwood? He’s managing director of the whole group. But we never see him. I mean, he doesn’t really have anything to do with the day-to-day ru

“Clinics?”

“Yes. We don’t carry out terminations here. If a client decides that’s the route she wants to go, we make an appointment at whichever of our clinics is most convenient for her.”

“I see,” said A

“Hardly,” said Carol. “We’ve had one or two small demonstrations, you know, when there’s something’s in the news, but nothing violent. We offer advice on all aspects of family pla

“How does the system work?”

Carol sat back in her chair. “Well,” she said, “first they come to me, or phone, and I explain what our services and charges are and give them some pamphlets to read; then I send them to Lucy, who handles the preliminary paperwork. Usually at that point Louise runs a proper pregnancy test, just to make sure. We usually tell them to bring a urine sample with them, but there are facilities here if they forget. Anyway, then they’ll go to the waiting room, where they can read through the brochures until Andrea or Georgina is ready to see them.”

“Then what?”

“It’s up to them, really. Our counselors will ask a few personal questions, and they’ll also answer any questions the client has at that point. You’d be surprised how many are confused by their pregnancies, poor things.”

No, I wouldn’t, thought A

“After that they’ll discuss the choices available,” Carol went on, “give guidance and advice if necessary. They’re specially trained. Then the client sees Dr. Lukas, who asks them about their medical history and examines them to confirm the gestation of the pregnancy, then Nurse Griffiths takes a blood sample. There’s more paperwork – consent forms and so on – and the doctor will discuss the different methods available and help you decide on the type of procedure most suitable.”

“What if the client decides against abortion?”

“Then Andrea or Georgina will give her information about adoption agencies and so on. She’ll still see the doctor, though, to determine her general health and so on.”

“Do you offer antenatal care?”

“No. Not here, at any rate. We usually refer.”

“You say Je

“Everything to do with the ru

“That reminds me,” said A

Carol frowned. “ ‘Late girls’? No. Why, what does it mean?”

“That’s what I’m trying to find out.”

“I’m sorry, but it’s not familiar to me.”

“Do you remember ever having a client here called Carmen Petri?”

“No.”

“You’re sure.”

“You can ask Lucy to check the records, but I think I would remember a name like that.”

“Probably,” said A

“They worked together. Je

“Who was closest to her?”

Carol thought for a moment, then said, “Georgina, I’d say. They’d talk about the center, some of the clients, and I think they even went out for a drink a couple of times after work if Je

“Thanks,” said A

“Yes, she’s in her office.” Carol picked up her phone. “I don’t think there’s anyone with her right now. Would you like me to let her know you want to see her?”

“That’s all right,” said A

Carol’s hand faltered. Clearly this went against standard procedure. “Okay,” she said, putting the phone back. “It’s up the stairs, second door on the right. It’s got her name on it: Georgina Roberts.”

“Did you ever have any trouble with a man called Victor Parsons?” A

“Oh, him. I remember him all right. Had to get security to throw him out.”

“What was he doing?”

“Making a fuss. Upsetting our clients.”

“About what?”

“He demanded to see Je

“What happened?”

“He went away in the end.”

“Did this happen more than once?”

“The first time he went without too much fuss. It was the second time I had to get security.”

Twice, then. “Did he make any threats?”

“Not that I heard. He just said he’d be back.”

“When was this?”

“Couple of weeks ago.”

That recently, A

“One more thing,” said A

Carol’s face brightened, then reddened a little. “Mr. Banks? Yes, of course. He and Je

“Not yet,” said A

“Quite. He’d pick Je

“What about?”

“Oh, nothing in particular. Films, the weather, just small talk. And Arsenal. We’re both big Arsenal fans.”

“Was he ever here at the same time as Victor Parsons?”

“No.”

“You know he was an investor in the centers?”

“Yes, he mentioned it once. But he didn’t have any airs or graces.”

“Is that why he came here the first time, when he met Je

“Oh, no,” said Carol. “No, he was here as a client. Accompanying a client, I should say.”

Now it was A

“Yes,” said Carol. “His daughter. She was pregnant.”

Long before A