All the Colors of Darkness

ALL THE

COLORS

OF

DARKNESS

Peter Robinson

To Dad and Averil

Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.

—helen keller

For when my outward action doth demonstrate The native act and figure of my heart

In complement extern, ’tis not long after But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve

For daws to peck at; I am not what I am.

—william shakespeare, Othello

The poison is working!

—puccini, Tosca

Contents

Epigraph

iii

1

DETECTIVE INSPECTOR ANNIE CABBOT THOUGHT

IT was a great shame…

1

2

GOT IT!” SAID ANNIE, PUNCHING THE AIR IN

VICTORY. It…

21

3

THERE WERE TEA AND CUSTARD CREAMS IN THE

BOARDROOM of…

41

4

DEREK WYMAN’S HOUSEHOLD AT HALF PAST TEN

ON Sunday morning…

67

5

THE MORNING’S RAIN WAS LONG GONE BY THE

TIME Banks…

89

6

THE EAST SIDE ESTATE HAD BEEN BUILT IN THE

SIXTIES… 108

7

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?”

126

8

ANNIE CABBOT WONDERED WHAT BANKS WANTED

with her as she…

141

9

THE FINE WEATHER HAD BROUGHT OUT THE CROWDS