‘I love it when you talk Latin to me. Time of death?’
‘I haven’t done a liver stick yet, but I doubt if the temperature is going to tell us much we don’t know already. I’d estimate she’d been dead about twelve hours when I saw her this morning, which as you know is give or take the usual eight-hour margin.’
‘Helpful.’
‘But I understand she was found at about seven?’
‘Six forty-five. Woman walking her dog.’
‘So that cuts it down this end. And I noticed—’
‘The dew on her hair?’
‘Give that man a coconut. Now, I’ve done a quick bit of research and dew point would have been at about two o’ clock this morning, so given that the ground underneath her was dry—’
‘She must have been put there before then. Was she killed where we found her?’
‘The hypostasis was consistent with it, though as you know that’s only an indicator, not proof positive. But given the trampled grass and her broken shoe and the way the body was lying, I’d say it most likely happened there.’
‘That’s what I thought,’ Slider said. ‘It’s hard to make a body look natural once you’ve moved it.’
‘Oh, it was a trick question, was it? I’m supposed to tell you things you didn’t know.’
‘How about her name? That would be a help.’
‘I’ll send over the fingerprints and dental record as soon as I’ve done them, but I dare say someone will claim her before you have to use them. Oh, by the way, I understand you found some sort of pendant or charm? Well, we found the chain, broken. It was underneath her when we turned her over. Possibly slipped down inside her clothing when it snapped, and slipped out at the bottom later on, when she was struggling. You saw the cut on her neck?’
‘Yes.’
‘I thought you would have. It’s consistent with the chain. Must have exerted considerable force – I’m guessing it was a sharp jerk to restrain her rather than an attempt at strangulation.’
‘Considerable force? So it might have cut his hand too?’
‘Possibly. I’ll test it for tissue or blood, but don’t count on it.’
‘I never do.’
‘Buck up,’ Freddie said sympathetically. ‘At least it wasn’t a rape.’
‘No, just murder,’ said Slider. ‘
Slider let himself in, very late, to the narrow hall of the flat, and at once Joanna appeared, in her dressing- gown, finger to her lips.
‘Don’t wake the baby,’ she said, coming to kiss him.
‘How was he?’
‘Perfect. You have a perfect baby.’
‘How was the day?’
‘It went very well. A good time was had by all, I think.’
He followed her into the kitchen. ‘How was Dad?’
‘He seemed all right. He’s a bit slower about everything, but he’s pretty spry, considering, and there’s nothing wrong with his mind. He and Matthew were ages out in the garden, talking about the countryside and nature and so on.’
‘That’s what he used to do with me,’ Slider said, smiling faintly, remembering pre-dawn trips to watch for badgers.
‘And Kate was wonderful with the baby. She’s mad about him.’
‘If only we could have the children to stay, she could babysit him,’ Slider said.
‘I’ll go out house-hunting again tomorrow. I’ll widen the search area as well.’ She eyed him sympathetically. ‘You look exhausted. Was it awful?’
‘I’ve known worse. But she was so young.’ He told her the bare facts. ‘And we don’t even know who she is yet. Unknown person, killed by person unknown. I’ve had people trawling missing persons and runaways, and another lot looking through the rogues’ gallery. All without success so far.’ He yawned hugely, surprising himself. ‘Any phone calls?’
‘Just one message for me. They’ve changed the programme on Thursday to the bloody old Enigma. I hate that piece.’
‘But you love Elgar.’
‘That’s why I hate the Enigma. What a waste of talent! Variations aren’t music, they’re an exercise: how many different ways can I write this dopey tune? It’s like asking Shakespeare how many words he can make out of “Constantinople”. Like giving Sir Christopher Wren that puzzle with the three houses and the three utilities, and you have to link them all without crossing the lines!’
‘I love it when you get all vehement,’ Slider smiled, gathering her in to his chest.
‘You do realize what this means, don’t you?’ she said.
‘You’re going to have to practise?’
‘Some detective you are,’ she said. ‘Work it out: you, murder investigation. Me, concert Thursday. You were supposed to be home on Thursday night minding the baby.’
‘Oh Lord, yes. I can’t depend on getting back in time.’
‘I know. I’ve been phoning round all evening. Everyone’s away or busy.’
He pondered sleepily. Now he was winding down, Morpheus was catching up, stepping on his heels. With an effort he connected up various threads. ‘Atherton said this morning that he and Emily would sit for us some time if we wanted to go out.’
‘Nice of him. I’d like to go out with you some day, before I’m old and sere.’
‘But he’s going to be busy this week too. So maybe Emily would come over – or you could take George to her.’
‘Genius. The man’s a genius. Why didn’t I think of her? I’ll ring her tomorrow.’ She kissed him affectionately. ‘Look at you, you’re exhausted. Do you want anything to eat?’
He shook his head. ‘Too tired to swallow.’
‘Go on to bed, and I’ll rub your back for you.’ It soothed him when he was tense after a bad day. She let him have the bathroom first, and then popped in and brought the bergamot oil back with her. But he was already asleep, curled on his side with one fist under his chin.
He had surprisingly long eyelashes for a man, she thought, looking down at him. There was a bit of hair on the crown of his head that grew a different way from the rest, and it was hard to get it to lie down. The baby had just the same unruly tuft. She felt the enormous and surprising pang in the loins, that only a woman who has borne a son to the man she loves can feel.
TWO
Tout Passe, Tout Casse, Tout Lasse
Fathom, one of Slider’s DCs, appeared at the door: a big, thick-built, meaty-faced lad who looked as if he ought to be slinging hay-bales rather than negotiating the intricacies of a murder investigation. ‘Guv, I’ve had a breakthrough,’ he announced excitedly.
Slider looked up. ‘Don’t tell me you’ve mastered the photocopier at last?’
‘No, guv,’ he said, wounded. ‘I’ve got the victim’s name. Well, I think I have. You see, I looked up diamond initial pendants on Google, and there were pages of ’em, but none in circles like that one. So I rang up this contact of mine – she does the consumer page in the local rag. She’s brilliant – knows where to find anything in the shopping line. Anyway, she put me on to this jeweller’s shop in King Street, the only local place they do ’em. And bingo! The bloke remembered the Z because you don’t sell many of ’em and he had to order it in special. So he looked up the receipt and it was a Mr Wilding, bought it in May for his daughter when she passed Grade Eight piano.’
‘Piano! Freddie, you’re a genius,’ Slider said.
