backing of the Home Secretary.' `Who could be one of Bella's depositors,' Tweed said with a smile, his normal iron self-control now recovered. `I wouldn't know.' `With all this power I detect a political element.' `Well…' Buchanan hesitated. 'Certain Ministers are concerned that the Main Chance Bank could now be bought out by an immensely rich and ruthless gentleman – who might then use his ownership of this powerful organization to go on to bid successfully for one of our Big Four banks. Which would practically give him control of the country.' `He is British?' `No.' `He originates from the East?' `He does,' said Buchanan grimly. `And his name is?' `I'm not allowed to disclose that.' Buchanan's mood became more light-hearted. 'As assistant you will have Chief Inspector Hammer.' `Always save the best bit till last, don't you?'
Paula groaned, turned to Newman, who had been comforting her when the news about Bella had been first announced. 'Old Hammerhead,' she rasped well above a whisper. `I'm very short of senior detective officers,' Buchanan said, turning to shake a friendly finger at Paula. 'And he is very clear he is your assistant,' he went on, turning back to Tweed. `When does he go down to Hengistbury?' Tweed enquired. `He's gone down there ahead of you with three photographers, two fingerprint experts and the other technicians.' `Then we'd better get down there right away. Pete, you stay behind for the moment. My director, Howard, gets back from holiday tomorrow. Explain everything to him in detail and tell him I'll call him by phone soon as I can.' `Will do, sir,' Nield answered tersely. `You're in charge here for the moment,' Tweed added.
He walked to where Paula stood with two suitcases, took his own off her and hurried down to the visitors' room with Roy Buchanan and the rest of his team following. Opening the door he found Professor Saafeld comfortably ensconced in a chair, his legs perched on another, reading a book. `I really think this is dreadful,' Tweed began, 'leaving you in a place like this while Commander Buchanan filled me in on-' `I've been enjoying Robert Newman's huge bestseller, Kruger: The Computer That Failed.' He stood up. `Isn't that Mr Newman just behind you? Well, Mr Newman, you must be at the least a millionaire from the proceeds. Deserve to be. This is my third reading of your masterpiece. A millionaire at least.' `I have got a bit stashed away,' Newman said, smiling as they shook hands. `You two can talk later,' Tweed said firmly. 'Don't imagine you know the complex route to Hengistbury?' he said to the Professor. 'Thought not. So I'll lead the way with Paula in her red Porsche. You follow in your Rolls. Bob, you'll keep behind the Rolls, bringing the team in your Merc. Now we move.
As they turned out of Park Crescent with the Rolls behind them Tweed issued his warning. `Paula, Saafeld drives his Rolls at a stately speed, as he should. So time your speed to his.' `I had already thought of that,' she chastised him. 'If you like you can take over driving this dynamo. Now I'm wondering what horror we'll see at Hengistbury.'
10
`I phoned Shape before we started out,' Paula said.
She had just stopped her Porsche when the tall wrought-iron gates swung inwards. She drove slowly down the drive with the stately Rolls following and Newman's Mercedes bringing up the rear. `I have the oddest feeling I'm in a dream,' she remarked. 'I suppose it's because we were here so recently.'
Parking near the steps leading up to the terrace, she jumped out to where Saafeld had briskly leapt out with his bag in one hand. Of medium height and in his mid- fifties the pathologist had a shock of white hair, was clean shaven. Below his well-shaped forehead his eyebrows were thick and white, but it was the penetrating grey-blue eyes which attracted attention. His nose was long above a strong wide mouth and the jaw had a pugnacious look, although he was the least aggressive of men except when dealing with fools.
They trooped up the steps and Snape was there to greet them. He smirked and as they entered, Marshal Main, wearing a black suit with a black tie, held out a hand, smiling unctuously. Tweed made a mental note for later that neither man appeared in the least distressed.
Tweed made introductions briefly. From nowhere Chief Inspector Hammer appeared, an even more bulky figure than Paula recalled. His aggressive features appeared even more domineering. `I'll take you up to where she is, Professor,' he smarmed. `Has the body been touched by anyone at all?' Saafeld demanded. `Of course not, sir,' Hammer said with a trace of indignation. `You are quite sure about that?' Saafeld snapped. `It's my job… sir,' Hammer replied sullenly. 'This way.' `I would prefer Mr Tweed took me up. Staircase, first floor?'
It was obvious Saafeld had taken an instant dislike to the chief inspector. Which was unusual, Tweed noted, since the Professor rarely showed his reaction to anybody. He led the way across the hall. At the side of the staircase; seated in a hard-backed chair, was Lavinia.
She wore a black dress, underneath which was a white blouse with a ruffled collar. Perfect, Tweed thought, she had not overdone the mourning. He smiled at her and let it go at that.
Saafeld walked quickly, alongside Tweed, while Paula followed them. When they entered the library adjoining the study they found it was occupied by four paramedics in white coats, all standing. Saafeld gestured towards them. `I arranged for this squad to come here from Leaminster, which is closer to this mansion,' he explained to Tweed_ 'They know the way to my place at Holland Park but I'll guide them in my Rolls.'
There were four other men, uniformed policemen. Two had large cameras slung round their necks, the third carried a briefcase. One of the fingerprint experts, Paula assumed. At that moment the study door was opened from the inside and Sergeant Warden, Buchanan's personal assistant, stood in the opening. Paula was surprised. She hadn't seen him for a long time. Buchanan had moved very fast to get this technical team here already. And so had Saafeld, arranging for the paramedics to arrive from Leaminster.
Warden, clad in a business suit, as always had a wooden expression and stood very erect. He addressed Tweed as he spoke. `Since I arrived no one except myself has entered the study. May I show you in, sir?' `If I may suggest it,' Saafeld said kindly, looking at Paula, 'it might be best if Tweed and I go in first.' `I'll come out for you in a minute,' Tweed said quickly to Paula.
Paula did not feel self-conscious, standing in a room with so many strange men. She felt she should say something.
One of the photographers was eyeing her lecherously. 'Not often we get the pleasure of being so close to such a tempting lady,' he said with a leer. `George,' his fellow photographer snapped, 'clean out your friggin' mouth with a strong disinfectant.'
Paula nodded her appreciation to him, didn't look at the lecherous type. The door from the study opened and Tweed stood there. He beckoned to her. `Thank you very much,' she said to the man who had told off his fellow photographer. `Up to you whether or not you come in,' Tweed said to her lowering his voice. `I'm coming in,' she said firmly.
He closed the door behind her. Sergeant Warden was standing close to a panelled wall. Saafeld was waiting behind Bella's chair. Paula took in a silent breath. Bella was still seated in her chair, her magnificent head drooped forward. Her clothes were drenched with blood and she had a brutal collar round her neck, a collar of barbed wire with vicious spikes. The section of her neck still visible was slashed open with a deep bloodstained wound. It was one of the most horrible sights Paula had ever seen.
When she had entered the study Paula had tucked both her hands inside the pockets of her windcheater and both were now clenched tight. Her expression was calm and Saafeld was watching her closely before he spoke. `To understand how it was done you need to come behind the chair.'
She walked steadily forward with Tweed close behind her. Joining Saafeld, she saw the ends of both sections of the fiendish barbed wire-collar had small wooden handles. The handles had been drawn close together and the ends of the wire twisted together to tighten the collar. `I think I see how it was done,' she said, relieved that her voice sounded normal. `The killer stood behind this chair and dropped the necklace over her head to her neck, then grasped the handles, tied the wire together as you see.'
He spoke as though explaining an anatomical point to a class of students. She nodded as she studied the blood soaking the back of the neck. Saafeld added a comment which was out of character. `One of the most ghastly methods of murder I have so far encountered.' `I don't understand how the murderer carried what you call a necklace into the study without Bella seeing it. And whoever did this must have been someone she knew well and trusted.' A thought struck her. 'Of course it could have been carried in concealed in something like a briefcase.'
She looked at Tweed, who was keeping silent, listening to her with an expression of admiration. He nodded agreement. `But then,' Paula continued, 'the killer had to stand behind her to drop the necklace over her head.' She
