Page 87 of M for Murder

‘Not really.’ Agnes shook her head, opening another sachet of sugar to pour into her already overly sweet tea. ‘They were all put into foster care and eventually adopted.’

‘By different families?’

‘Yes, I believe so.’

Max paused to take a sip of his coffee. The black liquid was strong and tasted good. ‘Do you know what happened to Rodney’s two brothers? Who they were adopted by? Whether they still lived locally?’

‘I’m sorry, Mr Sutton,’ Agnes apologised, stirring her tea. ‘I’m afraid I wouldn’t know.’

‘What were their names?’

‘Oh, now you’ve got me.’ She bit down on her bottom lip, staring intently past Max’s shoulder. ‘One of them was Clint or Clive. Something like…’ She paused mid-sentence as the old-fashioned bell rang above the door and a tall, blond man entered the diner.

‘Doctor Turner!’ she cried, getting to her feet.

The man ambled across. He appeared to be in his late thirties, not unattractive, with a broad forehead and a strong jawline, and he was smartly dressed in a grey suit and a conservative pale blue shirt that matched his eyes.

‘Agnes,’ he greeted her, his voice soft and reserved. He took hold of both her hands. ‘How are you doing?’

‘I’m very well, Doctor Turner.’ She turned to look at Max and Boaz, and then back at the doctor. ‘I’m having coffee with these nice policemen.’

‘Policemen?’ Doctor Turner’s eyebrows rose slightly as he turned to study Max.

Max nodded to him. ‘Agent Sutton with the FBI. This is Officer Boaz,’ he said, waving a hand in Boaz’s direction.

‘Boaz?’ The doctor smiled faintly. ‘I knew some people called Boaz once.’

‘Yeah?’ Boaz slurped up the rest of the milk shake and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. ‘Well my family used to live out this way. Maybe it’s them.’

‘Maybe.’

‘Mr Sutton and Mr Boaz are in town doing some investigating,’ Agnes explained, not wanting to be left out of the conversation. ‘They are following up a lead on a lady I used to know, Helen White. They’re trying to find her sons.’

‘Really?’ Doctor Turner looked from Max to Boaz and back again. ‘I’m afraid I don’t know anyone by that name.’

Agnes shook her head. ‘You wouldn’t, Doctor. This was a long time ago, a long time before you moved to town.’

‘I see.’

‘I was just trying to remember what their names were. Rodney, Clive…’ She knitted her brows together as she struggled to remember. ‘I think it was Clive. And then there was the baby. Now what was his name?’

‘It would really help us, Ms Barnes, if you could remember,’ Max pushed.

Agnes nodded, sitting down.

‘I’m sorry, Mr Sutton. It was a long time ago and my memory’s not what it used to be.’

‘That’s okay,’ Max told her. ‘Take your time.’

‘Do you mind me asking why you’re looking for these gentlemen,’ Doctor Turner asked. ‘Are they criminals?’

Max had no intention of telling the doctor or Agnes Barnes exactly what leads they were following up. Before he had the chance to politely foil the question, Boaz piped up.

‘We think these men might know the whereabouts of a serial killer,’ he said brightly, ignoring Max’s scathing look.

Not for the first time, Max wished he’d never brought the loud-mouthed officer with him.

‘Really? A serial killer,’ the doctor mused.