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us。〃 ‘Yes。 Two of the psychiatrists spent a long time taking David back through childhood and his teens。 Mrs March appeared to have been some kind of martinet。 She was also a bit of a religious fanatic。 Laura was only； what fifteen？
sixteen？ when her brother was arrested； but the trauma went quite deep； because by then her mother had absolute control over her in matters religious。 She； Mrs March； was a practising Christian； but took everything to extremes。
Sundays in the March household were like stepping back to Victorian times。 Church in the morning and evening； reading the Bible or some other worthy book…in between： no games； nothing frivolous。〃 ‘I should imagine that young David told the same story to each of his victims；' Bond mused。
‘Which story？〃 ‘That his father was old and ailing； and that his mother was dead。 We know that's what he told the second one Bridget Bellamy。〃 ‘He admitted that。 It seemed he really considered his mother dead。〃 ‘Makes sense。 Did they help him at all I mean at the institution？〃 ‘They diagnosed a plex series of symptoms。
He seemed to be a very unhealthy mixture； a witch's brew of all the worst kind of mental problems manic depressive； psychotic； hysteric； psychopath。 They controlled him with drugs for a while； but he was highly intelligent。 Went through long periods I mean months at a time of appearing perfectly normal； likeable； friendly Then； out of the blue the terrors would strike。 …‘There was a need to kill？〃 ‘That's what was said。 He tried to murder another inmate； and also attacked a nurse on one occasion。 Nearly did her in。
‘Mmmm。 And； from all this； you think Laura was also affected？〃 ‘Don't see how she could avoid it。 One of the shrinks had a very long session with the father； and came to the conclusion that he was seriously unbalanced。 The entire mating situation was fraught with dangers。 A hyper…religious； superdominant mother； and a weak； mentally unstable father。 They produced one monster。 It makes you wonder if they spawned two of them。〃 ‘Let's say Laura March was unbalanced。
She's the victim here； so； when we begin to examine her murder； we have to take her possible mental state into consideration。〃 He gave another short laugh； heavy with irony。 ‘Her colleagues must be going through all kinds of hell。 Courts of Inquiry； investigations on those who did her PVs。 Couldn't happen to nicer people。〃 He looked up； and saw the fear still deep in Fredericka's eyes。 Touching the bulky file on his knee； he said； ‘This thing's really spooked you； hasn't it？〃 ‘More than I can say。 I was concerned up on the mountain； at the crime scene。 This story's so horrible that I'm genuinely frightened。 Damn it； James； in their wisdom； our respective services want us to go in there and carry out our own clandestine investigation。 I'm even nervous of looking through Laura's effects。〃 ‘The cops haven't taken them away？〃 ‘As a favour to us； the room she had at the Victoria…Jungfrau in Interlaken has been left as they first found it。〃 ‘They've removed nothing？〃 ‘That's what they say。 Of course who knows when you're dealing with cops。 The room's been sealed。 The hotel expects us； but； since reading this stuff； it's the last thing I want to do。〃 She paused； her hand going to her hair； once more raking it with splayed fingers。
‘James； couldn't we stay here for the night？ Put it off until morning？〃 A weak smile briefly lighting her eyes； and her intentions quite positive。 ‘It's so nice here； no ghosts。 We could fort each other。〃 The pause lasted for almost thirty seconds。
‘We could just as well fort each other in Interlaken； Fredericka； if that's what you have in mind。〃 ‘Yes； but。
‘But it's best to face things like this head on。
You say the hotel's expecting us。 We should go。
Really we should。〃 She looked away； then back at him with a wan smile； reaching across the low table； allowing the tips of her fingers to touch the back of his hand。
Then she nodded gravely and slowly picked up her shoulder bag； ready to leave。
As they pulled out of the car park； Bond caught a glimpse of another car's headlights e on。 It was one of those almost subliminal experiences： he was aware of the car starting up； and preparing to pull out； a few slots to their right and behind them。
In the sodium lamps illuminating the car park he thought it was a red VW； but would not have put money on it。 When they reached the turn…off back to route six； he thought he saw the same car again； too close for any fort； though maybe too close to be a professional。
While not dismissing the possibility of a tail； he put it on the back burner of his mind。 No experienced watcher would use a red car； nor would he so blatantly call attention to himself by staying so near。
Less than an hour later； they pulled up in front of the imposing Hotel Victoria…Jungfrau…a building which still retains the splendour of the British Victorian architectural influence on so many large Swiss hotels。 There had been no sign of the red car once they had got fully under way。
Inside； there was the usual gravity over the formal registration： a neat； unsmiling dark…haired under…manager； whose little plastic nameplate revealed her to be Marietta Bruch； watched them as though intent on taking their fingerprints。 She then went through the passport routine before saying that she was so sorry about what she actually called ‘the untimely demise of your relative' Then： ‘You have； I believe； papers from the police？〃 Fredericka smiled； digging into her large shoulder bag； carefully keeping it below the level of the reception desk so that nobody could glimpse the pistol。 ‘Yes； I have them； don't I； darling？〃 She beamed； giving Bond a quick； raised eyebrow。
‘Well； I gave them to you； but I've known things go missing from that handbag before now。〃 He turned away； giving the porter a hint of a wink。
The porter regarded him as though he had just ordered malt vinegar with Dover sole。
She pulled out the official documents； passing them across to the redoubtable Fraulein Bruch who inspected them closely； as though looking for possible bacteria。 ‘These seem to be in order；' she finally pronounced。 ‘Would you like to see first your cousin's room； before you go to your own？ Or do you wish to settle in？〃 It was all too obvious that the hotel wanted them to check Laura March's room as soon as possible。
‘The police have already given permission for the room to be cleared once you have been through her items。〃 Marietta Bruch gave them a bleak smile； behind which Bond detected the not unnatural desire of the hotel management to get the murdered girl's effects out of the way； and have the room free to rent。 ‘We have ample storage space for her cases； if you wish to make ~。。。 ‘Yes；' Bond sounded decisive。 Yes； we understand； and I think it would be best if we looked through her things now。 It will be easier for us also。 And we will； of course； ask you to keep her cases until matters have been arranged。〃 Fraulein Bruch gave a sharp； official nod； then asked； ‘Mrs March's husband？
When she arrived this time； she said he was ill and wouldn't be joining her。 I hope it's not serious。 She said it wasn't。〃