Shape of Snakes

sigh, 'I couldn't think of anyone other than Wendy who had the guts to come with me.'

Sam gave an abrupt laugh. 'Did I hear right? Did you seriously consider asking your mother? Is this progress ... or what?'

'Actually, she was the first person I thought of,' I said with a wry smile, 'until I realized she'd handbag the lot of them and leave me worse off than when I started.' I gave an indecisive shrug. 'But it is odd ... maybe it's true that blood's thicker than water.'

He sobered rapidly as we approached the station. 'Well, just keep that in mind when you're talking to Alan Slater,' he advised. 'Unless he's a complete idiot, he's bound to realize that the best way to keep his children in ignorance is to stand by his mother...'

We were fifteen minutes early but I refused to let Sam hang around to meet Wendy. I was afraid he'd be shocked by her age and her thinness-in his mind I believe he thought of her as a larger-than-life person, a mighty Valkyrie come to conduct me through a battlefield-and I had visions of him putting his foot down about the whole enterprise when he was presented with the reality. It was worse than I feared. Wendy's early start and long journey from Exeter had exhausted her and, away from the secure confines of the vicarage, the impressive vulture had given way to something with about as much substance and solidity as a stick insect.

'Oh dear,' she said cheerfully as she crossed between the taxis on the forecourt in response to my wave, 'do I look that bad?'

'No,' I lied, giving her a warm hug, 'but are you sure you want to go through with it? There'll be four of them and two of us,' I warned, 'and it could get very rough.'

She nodded. 'Nothing's changed then. You made that all very clear on the phone the other day. But don't forget I have the advantage of knowing a few of their secrets'-she gave a little chuckle-'so if all else fails I ought to be able to shame them into behaving well.'

Or fire them up even worse, I thought worriedly. 'It just seems more real now,' I said lamely.

She tucked her hand through my arm and turned me firmly in the direction of Graham Road. 'If you'd wanted someone to tan their hides, you'd have invited your husband and your sons to go with you,' she pointed out. 'Instead you invited me. Now, I can't promise not to let you down-I may fold at the first huff and puff-but I have no intention of giving up before we've even tried.'

'Yes, but-'

She rapped me sharply over the knuckles. 'You haven't come this far to walk away at the last hurdle, so let's have no more argument about it.'

Sharon and Geoffrey were standing in their open doorway when we came abreast of their house, but they made no move to come out. 'This is pure bloody blackmail,' snapped Geoffrey angrily. 'And what's she doing here?' he demanded, catching sight of Wendy at my side. 'What the hell business is it of hers? She was always poking her long nose in where it wasn't wanted.'

'Hello, Geoffrey,' said Wendy with an amiable nod. 'I see your temper hasn't improved much since I left. You really ought to have your blood pressure checked, my dear.' She switched her attention to the woman. 'And how are you these days, Sharon? You're looking well.'

A tight little smile thinned Sharon's lips, as if she suspected the compliment was insincere, although as she'd taken so much trouble with her appearance-Intent on putting Maureen in the shade, I thought-Wendy had spoken only the truth. 'We're not coming,' she said. 'You can't make us.'

I shrugged. 'Then the Slaters can say whatever they like about you and I'll have to accept it because this is the only opportunity you'll have to set the record straight before I go public.'

They stared at me with fear in their eyes.

'Look, I know you were together that night until nine o'clock and that because of it Geoffrey was the last person tc speak to Annie,' I said bluntly. 'And I'm guessing that if I could work that out then so could Maureen.' I watched their fear increase. 'So what did she do? Demand money?' I shook my head impatiently as I saw from their expressions that I was right. 'And you have the nerve to accuse me of blackmail?'

'You're no different,' said Geoffrey, clenching his fists. 'Sending us threatening letters ... on our backs all the time ... trying to ruin our lives.'

'If you'd been honest at the time,' I said wearily, 'I wouldn't have had to write any letters at all. You weren't responsible for Annie's death, Geoffrey, any more than my husband was. He passed her after you-also thought she was drunk-and also did nothing to help her. You were both guilty of unkindness but neither of you killed her.' I watched his eyes widen in shock and smiled unkindly. 'But I'm glad you've spent so long thinking you did. You deserve to pay some sort of penalty for lashing out when she begged you for help. That's what you did, isn't it? Knocked her down, then panicked when you thought you must have pushed her into the path of the traffic?'

He put a nervous hand on the door, but whether to steady himself or slam it in my face it was hard to say. Whatever his intention, Sharon thrust him away and wedged her foot against the bottom of the door. 'Go on,' she told me tightly.

'Whoever killed Annie attacked her in her house three or four hours before Geoffrey passed her in the street and those are the injuries she died of. She was beaten so savagely that she passed out ... but she came to some time later and found the strength to stagger out into the street to look for help. The most likely time for the assault was around six o'clock but, as far as I've been able to discover, neither of you was in Graham Road at that time, so I can't see what you have to fear by telling the truth.'

Geoffrey wasn't easily convinced. 'How do we know you're not lying?' he asked.

'To what purpose?'

'To catch us out ... make us say what you want.'

'Oh, for heaven's sake!' said Wendy in sudden exasperation. 'I had no idea you were such a stupid man, Geoffrey. Is the truth really so frightening that you must keep Sharon a prisoner to it?' Her eyes sparkled angrily. 'Mrs. Ranelagh's trying to help you-though, goodness me, I'm not sure you deserve it-but you'll be tying her hands if you can't find the courage to stand up to Alan and Maureen.'

'It's not just them though, is it?' he said unhappily. 'They've got Derek in there as well.'