Unknown by Unknown

the business.'
    'That sounds lovely,' Fenella told him, eyes sparkling at the suggestion. She would have Max to herself for a few hours, she thought happily, with sick patients and local crime put to one side for a while.
    She looked down at the clothes that she'd been wearing all day at the practice. 'I need to change into something more suitable. Do you mind waiting a few moments?'
    'No, not at all,' he assured her. He was dressed in casual clothes himself—trim-fitting jeans and a smart cotton shirt, with sensible shoes on his feet.
    As she dashed upstairs with fast-beating heart, Fenella was telling herself that Max wouldn't be there if he didn't want to be with her.
    'Will I do?' she asked when she came back down, dressed in jeans that were a tighter fit than his, and a cotton top that was bereft of sequins but was still showing a fair amount of smooth golden flesh.
    She was entrancing, he thought. Fenella was beautiful but completely without guile. She was seeking his approval, rather than fishing for compliments.
    'You most certainly will "do,"' he told her. Removing his gaze from the fast rise and fall of her breasts inside the cotton top, he took her hand and led her outside.
    As they strolled along towards the hilltops, still holding hands, Max said, 'The police don't seem to be any nearer to finding out who killed that poor woman. But the pathologist will be examining the body far more thoroughly than I was able to do under the conditions that were present. There were some black hairs caught in her grasp that I presume will have gone for DNA testing.'
    'Has she been identified?'
    'Yes. She was with the travellers. A group of caravans arrived in one of the fields a few days ago. They appear each year, stay for a while, then move on. They're decent enough folk. We never have any trouble with them. This will have brought them great grief as they are a close-knit community. The woman's husband claims that she had gone into the woods, gathering plant specimens.'
    They walked along in sombre silence for a few moments and then, wanting to lighten the atmosphere, Fenella said, 'Alice's cottage is just along the road. Shall we pay her a visit?' He rolled his eyes heavenwards. 'She's so lonely, Max.'
    'All right,' he agreed. 'Never let it be said that we don't give our patients the full treatment.'
    When she opened the door to them, Alice's greeting was typical. 'Two of you! What have you come for? I'm not poorly.'
    'We know that, Alice,' Fenella told her, hiding a smile. 'Dr Hollister and I are out for a walk over the tops and I suggested that we call to see you.'
    Alice almost managed a smile of her own, but not quite.
    'So had I better put the kettle on?'
    As Max began to shake his head Fenella forestalled him by saying brightly, 'A cup of tea would be lovely, Alice. Especially in one of your beautiful china cups.'
    'I made a cake this morning. Would you like a piece?'
    'We'd love one, wouldn't we, Max?'
    'Absolutely,' he said. Leaving himself open to a long dialogue about her ailments, he added, ,'How are you, Alice?'
    But this was a woman of few words. 'As good as I'm ever likely to be, I reckon,' she replied, and started making the tea.
    'You'll have to see what the rheumatologist says. He should be able to help you.'
    She nodded and looked in Fenella's direction. 'I have this young woman to thank for that. You've got yourself a top-notcher there. She has a way with her.'
    'Yes, I know that,' he said smoothly, and took the cup and saucer from Alice's outstretched hand.
    'Have they found out who killed that woman in the woods yet?' Alice wanted to know as they sat eating cake and drinking tea.
    'Not yet,' Max told her. 'It could have been someone who is miles away by now. I hope you are keeping all your doors and windows locked.'
    'What, and die from lack of fresh air? No way. But I'm being sensible. I wouldn't have opened the door to you folks if I hadn't seen you coming up the path. So you're off for a walk across the