Sir Henry said gravely,
"No.
There's been another tragedy.
Blazing car in a quarry."
Miss Marple caught her breath.
"Was there someone in the car?"
"I'm afraid so, yes."
Miss Marple said thoughtfully,
"I expect that will be the Girl Guide who's missing.
Patience no, Pamela Reeves."
Sir Henry stared at her.
"Now why on earth do you think that?"
Miss Marple got rather pink.
"Well, it was given out on the wireless that she was missing from her home since last night.
And her home was Daneleigh Vale - that's not very far from here and she was last seen at the Girl Guide rally up on Danebury Downs. That's very close indeed.
In fact, she'd have to pass through Danemouth to get home.
So it does rather fit in, doesn't it?
I mean it looks as though she might have seen or perhaps heard something that no one was supposed to see and hear.
If so, of course, she'd be a source of danger to the murderer and she'd have to be removed.
Two things like that must be connected, don't you think?"
Sir Henry said, his voice dripping a little,
"You think a second murder?"
"Why not?"
Her quiet, placid gaze met his.
"When anyone has committed one murder he doesn't shrink from another, does he? Nor even from a third."
"A third?
You don't think there will be a third murder?"
"I think it's just possible.
Yes, I think it's highly possible." "Miss Marple," said Sir Henry, "you frighten me. Do you know who is going to be murdered?"
Miss Marple said, "I've a very good idea."
Chapter 25
Colonel Melchett and Superintendent Harper looked at each other.
Harper had come over to Much Benham for a consultation.
Melchett said gloomily,
"Well, we know where we are or rather where we aren't!" "Where we aren't expresses it better, sir." "We've got two deaths to take into account," said Melchett.
"Two murders. Ruby Keene and the child, Pamela Reeves.
Not much to identify her by, poor kid, but enough. One shoe escaped burning and has been identified as hers, and a button from her Girl Guide uniform.
A fiendish business, superintendent."
Superintendent Harper said very quietly,
"I'll say you're right, sir."
"I'm glad to say Haydock is quite certain she was dead before the car was set on fire.
The way she was lying thrown across the seat shows that.
Probably knocked on the head, poor kid."
"Or strangled, perhaps."
"You think so?"
"Well, sir, there are murderers like that."
"I know. I've seen the parents.
The poor girl's mother's beside herself. Damned painful, the whole thing.
The point for us to settle is: are the two murders connected?"
The superintendent ticked off the points on his fingers.