“About the Biggadyke case, sir?”
“That comes into it, yes.” Pointer cupped his hand and gently rattled the coins.
“But the affair’s closed now. You don’t disagree with the verdict, do you?”
“No, certainly not. It was what everyone expected. We went as near as we decently could—the council deputation, I mean—to telling the Chief Constable that Biggadyke was the fellow he ought to be after.”
“The fellow your son-in-law ought to be after.”
Pointer accepted the correction with a scowl. “Don’t you worry: I’d already made sure that Hector knew the risk he’d be running if he ignored Stan Biggadyke, for all he was a personal friend—because of that, in fact.”
“And he acted on your advice?”
“He certainly questioned Biggadyke officially. And with a witness. I don’t think that any stories—malicious stories, mark you—about protection or turning a blind eye would stand up after that.”
“A timely demonstration, was it, Mr Pointer?” Purbright’s tone was guileless.
“If you like to put it that way. I’m quite sure that Hector was doing his duty without prejudice.”
“Prejudice occasioned by friendship?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me, Mr Pointer: did you approve of that friendship?”
Pointer answered without hesitation. “No, I did not. Biggadyke was a scoundrel. He was the last man in the town anyone in my son-in-law’s position should have mixed with.”
Purbright said nothing. His companion regarded the coins that he still shuffled irritably in his hand and finally thrust them back in his pocket. “Look here,” he said, “what exactly did you come over here to find out?”
“Oh, come now, sir...”
“No, don’t dodge, man. You weren’t sent to help a bunch of country bobbies catch a joker who couldn’t even work his own tricks properly. I’m not fool enough to believe that.”
“What do you believe?”
“I’m not sure. Unless it’s politics—is that it?”
Purbright smiled.
“You might well smile, Inspector, but I wouldn’t put it past that Special Branch lot, or whatever they’re called, to believe the blatherings of that poor idiot Mulvaney. He confessed, you know.”
“Yes, sir. There was something mentioned about a Mr Mulvaney.”
“Don’t let him hear you call him mister. It’s lieutenant. He thinks he’s in the I.R.A. We’ve all known him for years, though. The poor fellow wouldn’t know a bomb from a baby’s bottle.”
The inspector seemed preoccupied with the prospect of the opposite hill.
“Do you mind telling me, sir, if your daughter was friendly with Mr Biggadyke?”
Pointer stiffened. “My daughter?”
“Yes. sir. Mrs Larch.”
“Both Hector and Hilda saw a good deal of him, I believe.”
Purbright turned to face him. “Did you know that Mrs Larch was seen, on one occasion at any rate, to visit Biggadyke’s caravan on her own and late at night?”
Pointer’s expression changed, but not as Purbright had expected. Instead of furious disbelief, it registered bitter resignation. He shook his head slowly. “No, I didn’t know.”
“Do you suppose Mr Larch may have been aware of it?”
“It’s very difficult to say. Hector keeps his feelings to himself. Some people think he hasn’t any, but they’re wrong. When there’s something on his mind it just smoulders away until he can do something positive about it.”
“At all events, he gave no sign?”
“Oh, no. Not the slightest.”
“I don’t want to intrude into your family’s private affairs. Mr Pointer, but if I could have a word with your daughter...perhaps on your introduction and in your presence, if you wish...”
Pointer frowned. “Talk to Hilda? But what about?”
“About Mr Biggadyke, for one thing.”
“Do you mean to say you’re prepared to come over into another’s man’s police division and start snooping into his family affairs just because you’ve heard some unsavoury gossip about his wife? Damn it all, man, I think it’s high time you told me exactly what you have been sent here to ferret out!” Pointer looked as if he had just swallowed a heavy draught of his own port.
“Very well, sir,” replied Purbright patiently, “I’ll tell you. We wish to find where Biggadyke obtained his fireworks. Also, if at all possible, the real reason for his using them.”
He hesitated. “You see, sir, there are three disturbing things about this case—disturbing, that is, when considered in association. One is the disappearance from a Civil Defence store in Flaxborough of a quantity of explosive. The second is the fact that Mr Larch is an instructor who has access to that store. Thirdly, as you’ve told
