‘Oh yes,’ said Scott. ‘He was the Bagman - the secretary, sort of thing. But he had new ideas.’
‘What sort of ideas?’
‘Well, this year, he wanted everyone to go and dance up the sun on May Day.’
‘Dance up the sun? You mean a ceremony at dawn?’
‘That’s it. Neil said it was a tradition in other places. If you ask me, he’d got that from the vicar. But Dad told him it’s never been a tradition here, so we weren’t doing it. And that was that, really.’
‘So there was a disagreement? Was that why Neil left the
294
rehearsal before anyone else on Friday night?’
‘Could have been/ said Scott. ‘But he was stubborn, was Neil. He didn’t give up on the idea, did he?’
‘How do you mean?’
‘Well, I reckon that’s why he was up there by the air shaft next morning. He said that was the best place to see the dawn come up. I think he went to prove a point and show it was possible. But none of us would have gone up there with him.’
‘Are you sure?’ said Cooper.
‘Sure. Dad would have killed us.’
The others nodded and laughed. They began to wipe their faces, smearing their black make-up into grotesque patterns as they waited for Cooper to leave.
Fran Oxley took Cooper through into the next room to get away from the young men, who had raided her fridge for cold drinks.
‘It was just something I wanted to tell you about Neil,’ she said. ‘I don’t suppose you’ll believe me, but I had to say it.’
‘Yes?’
‘I know your lot will be assuming he was up to no good and got himself killed through his own fault.’
‘Well, not necessarily …’ began Cooper, wondering how she had seen that so clearly. Was the thinking of the police really so predictable?
‘You don’t need to deny it. I know how it works. I’ve seen it often enough round here. For what it’s worth, I wanted to tell you that Neil was all right. One of the best. He was a hard worker, and he was honest, too. He wouldn’t have got involved in anything he shouldn’t. Well, not unless …’
‘What?’
‘Well, he had his views on what’s right and what’s wrong, that’s all.’
Cooper wondered how far he could push his luck with Fran Oxley. But he was here now, so he might as well try.
‘You know the young woman who went missing - Emma Renshaw? What do you think Neil’s relationship with her was?’
Fran laughed. ‘Oh, that theory again. You’re totally blinkered when you get an idea into your heads, aren’t you? Neil must have attacked Emma Renshaw, mustn’t he? He must have done her in somewhere. He was just the type, after all. That would be very convenient.’
295
I
Cooper began to shake his head. ‘That’s not quite the way it works.’
Wf]
‘No? Well, you can forget it. Because Neil wasn’t in the least ‘2j
bit interested in Emma Renshaw. For a very good reason.’ IS
‘You mean because he was gay?’
‘You know? Who told you?’
‘Neil’s brother.’
Fran frowned. ‘Philip told you? But why?’
‘I’m sure he thought he was helping. He wants us to find the person who killed Neil and not waste our time looking at things that aren’t relevant.’
But Fran continued to look baffled.
‘Oh, I’m sorry/ said Cooper. ‘Have I spoiled your revelation?’
He regretted his tone as soon as her mouth screwed up into an expression of contempt. He might have ruined his one chance of getting some information voluntarily from one of the Oxleys.
‘I suppose you’d better go, then/ she said. ‘I can’t tell you anything you don’t already know.’
‘There’s one other thing/ said Cooper, as she stood to see him out.
‘Yeah?’
‘What about Craig?’
Fran stopped quite still. ‘Craig?’
‘Your brother, is he? Or another cousin?’
She stared at him speechlessly. Cooper knew he was close to something. But would she tell him? He was
