The Circle

made it up?'

'British Fantasy Convention.'

Another pause.

'You're not having me on? Fantasy isn't your thing at all.'

'Who says?'

He was forced to accept that she was speaking the truth. 'All on your own?'

'Got a lift, didn't I?'

'Who from?'

'Who d'you think?'

Johnny was all attention now. What he'd just learned would throw Hen Mallin's theories into confusion. If this was true about the trip to Harrogate, Sharon was out of it, and so was Zach.

19

Anyway, [poetry] is not the most important thing in life, is it? Frankly, I'd much rather lie in a hot bath sucking boiled sweets and reading Agatha Christie, which is just exactly what I intend to do as soon as I get home.

Dylan Thomas, quoted by Joan Wyndham in Love is Blue.(1986)

Hen said she was going to hang Naomi out to dry. 'I should have realised she's the interfering witch who's given us the runaround. Who does she think she is, breaking into a sealed building and pilfering evidence? Yes, Duncan, go now, and tell Zach Beale from me that he's just as culpable as she is in the eyes of the law. He's up to his neck, right? Make him suffer.'

'He's bricking it already, guv.'

'Only because Naomi scares him. I want him scared of me.'

After Shilling had left the room, Hen said to Stella, 'Between you and me, none of this would have happened if Johnny Cherry had done his job right. I should put him and Naomi together in a tank like two Siamese fighting fish. Let 'em tear each other to bits.'

'Looking on the bright side, we've found the picture, guv,' Stella said.

'Yes, this exercise is bringing dividends. It's the onion-skin principle. You peel off a layer and find a different one underneath.'

Stella had heard from Hen before about the onion-skin principle, but valued her job too much to say so.

'First we had all these would-be writers with their hopes dashed by the obnoxious Edgar Blacker. We were looking at anger and frustration as a motive. But now we find other stuff underneath. Tudor sold this insurance policy to Blacker and lost his company a heap of money and put his career on the skids. Naomi climbs into a dangerous, burnt-out building to nick that photo. Sharon goes off for the weekend with Zach and, bingo, they both have a lovely alibi.'

This was the first Stella had heard of Sharon and Zach. 'Get away.'

Hen explained about the British Fantasy Convention. 'She's going to show us a photo. It was taken up there on the Saturday morning with someone dressed up as Gandalf and it has a time and date.'

'Why didn't Zach tell us this?'

'He didn't get the chance yet. He's been off home with DC Shilling to pick up the picture of Blacker and the other guy'

Stella couldn't get over that pairing. 'I wouldn't have put those two together in a million years.'

'Why not?' Hen said. 'His head is full of dumb princesses.'

After a moment's thought she returned Hen's smile. 'Now you put it like that. . '

'They went up north on his motorbike. He paid for the room, so presumably he can show us the receipt.'

'I hope she was worth it. She strikes me as rather dull.'

'Darling, he wasn't after conversation.' Hen shifted back to the business in hand. 'So we seem to be narrowing the field. What else have we learned about our suspects?'

'Jessie goes for late night walks.'

'Yes, and runs an old car on leaded petrol. There's more to come, I'm certain. I haven't finished with Anton yet. He thought his telephone statements gave him an alibi. Looked sick when I pointed out that they proved nothing.'

This seemed to be as far as the onion-skin principle went for the time being, so Stella said, 'Some of us are ready to start more interviews, guv.'

'Hint, hint. I'm taking too long over Anton, am I?'

'I didn't say that.'

'Well, there's no reason why you shouldn't start with someone else. Have you finished with Tudor?'

'Definitely. I'm due for Bob Naylor next.'

'The man who stood in for Miss Snow and nearly lost his life.'

'Or so he claims.'

'Right. Take nothing for granted, Stell. Go for it.'

One thing you could say in Thomasine's favour: she was willing to talk. After being stuck with Sharon for over an hour, DI Johnny Cherry felt he deserved a talker. This lady appeared relaxed and ready to treat the interview as a chat instead of the inquisition.

'You're a poet, then,' he said when the preliminaries had been got through. 'Saw you on the video.'

'Funny word, 'poet',' Thomasine said. 'Visions of pasty-faced women in round glasses and sandals talking to themselves. I don't want to be one, thanks. 'Writer' has a better ring to it'

'But that's not the day job?'

'No. I teach.'

'English, I suppose.'

'Mainly. Bit of everything in my time, filling in for colleagues.'

'Hard work, teaching.'

'Satisfying, though.'

'Your poems are hot stuff — right?'

She grinned. 'You wouldn't think so. Some of the circle lead sheltered lives.'

'Mr Blacker seemed to find them saucy.'

'That bullshitter. I wouldn't believe a thing he said.'

'Some of them did.'

'Taken in by his flattery.'

'He talked about publishing you.'

'Didn't offer me a contract, did he? Said he 'envisaged' some slim volumes. That could mean anything.'

Johnny was secretly amused. None of these writers claimed to have taken Blacker's comments to heart, yet each of them could quote him verbatim. 'You weren't disappointed, then?'

'No, I didn't pin my hopes on him. Mind if I smoke? An interview room is one of the few places it's allowed, if The Bill is anything to go by. Keep the witness sweet.'

'Be my guest.' He was glad of the chance to check his notes. Hen had given everyone a sheet with the key questions. 'Did you know Edgar Blacker before he came to the circle?'

'I know o/him, from Maurice, our chair.' She paused to light the cigarette.

Johnny didn't need telling about McDade. He'd arrested the rat. He still believed he was heavily implicated.

Thomasine said, 'Blacker was supposed to be publishing Maurice.'

'But you hadn't met him outside the circle? He was local, so you could have done.'

'If I did, it made no impression.'

'Let's talk about McDade, then. You're very loyal to him.'