would simply have had to walk across the moors and up Gallows View to get there. Also, buses to York and Ripon passed along the same road. Somebody must have seen him. Banks had circulated his description to the bus companies and sent out his mug-shot to police around the country, paying particular attention to Leeds, Liverpool and London. As Burgess said, it was simply a matter of time before he was caught.

“Where did you get that bloody scar?” Burgess asked.

“This?” Banks fingered the white crescent by his right eye. “Got it in Heidelberg. It’s a duelling scar.”

“Ha bloody ha! You’re a funny man, aren’t you? Have you heard the one about the-” Burgess stopped and looked up at the person standing over them. “Well, well,” he said, scraping his chair aside to make room. “If it isn’t-“

“Dr Fuller,” Jenny said. She glanced at Banks and pulled up a chair next to his.

“Of course. How could I forget? Drink, love?”

Jenny smiled sweetly. “Yes, please. I’ll have a half of lager.”

“Oh, come on, have a pint,” Burgess insisted.

“All right. A pint.”

“Good.” Burgess rubbed his hands together and set off for the bar. His thigh caught the edge of the table as he stood up. Beer rippled in the glasses but didn’t spill.

Jenny pulled a face at Banks. “What’s with him?”

Banks grinned. “Celebrating.”

“So I see.” She leaned closer. “Look, I’ve got something to ask you-“

Banks put a finger to his lips. “Not now,” he said. “He’s getting served. He’ll be back soon.” True enough, in no time Burgess was on his way back, trying to carry three pints in his hands and slopping beer over the rims onto his shoes.

“What are you celebrating, anyway?” Jenny asked after Burgess had managed to set the drinks on the table without spilling much.

Banks told her about Paul Boyd.

152

“That’s a shame.”

“A shame! You said he gave you the creeps.”

“He does. I’m just thinking of the others, that’s all. It’ll be a hell of a blow for Seth and Mara. They’ve done so much for him. Especially Mara.” Jenny seemed unusually distracted at the thought of Mara Delacey, and Banks wondered why.

“You know,” Burgess said, “I’m a bit sorry it turned out to be Boyd myself.”

Jenny looked surprised: “You are? Why?”

“Well…” He moved closer. “I was hoping it might be that boyfriend of yours.

Then we could get him locked up for a good long while, and you and me could …

you know.”

To Banks’s surprise, Jenny laughed. “You’ve got some imagination, I’ll say that for you, Superintendent Burgess.”

“Call me Dick. Most of my friends do.”

Jenny stifled a laugh. “I really don’t think I could do that. Honest.”

“Aren’t you relieved it’s all over?” Banks asked her. “I’ll bet Osmond is.”

“Of course. Especially if it means we won’t have to put up with any more visits from him.” She nodded at Burgess.

“I could still visit,” Dirty Dick said, and winked.

“Oh, put another record on. So where do you think Paul is?” she asked Banks.

“We’ve no idea. He took off early this afternoon, before we got a positive identification. Could be anywhere.”

“But you’re confident you’ll get him?”

“I think so.”

Jenny turned to Burgess. “So your job’s over, then? I don’t suppose you’ll want to stick around this god- forsaken place much longer, will you?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Burgess lit a cigar and leered at her. “It has its compensations.”

Jenny coughed and waved the smoke away.

“Seriously,” he went on, “I’ll stay around till he’s brought in. There’s a lot I want to ask him.”

153

“But that could take days, weeks.”

Burgess shrugged. “It’s the taxpayers’ money, love. Your round again, Banks.”

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