destroy reputations. It must have been a fascinating time.”
“Well, Gloria Taylor worked for a shop.”
“She sold cosmetics. How angry would a woman have to be to shove her cosmetician down the stairs?”
“I don’t know, Janice tells me she gets pretty annoyed when they don’t have her eye-liner in stock.”
“Most of us tend to limit ourselves to verbal assaults these days. But in some ways, the cities of the past weren’t much different to the present. The main thoroughfares were just as noisy. Imagine the processions and pageants, the duels, cockfights and boxing matches, crowds jeering at prison-carts, public hangings, floggings, and everyone having their say.”
“Hm. I can see you at a public hanging.”
“The point I’m making is that they were there.”
“What? Who? Where?”
“Do try to pay attention, John. The anarchists, they shared a house in Bloomsbury. And these students of yours – ”
“You’re not going to suggest they’re living in the same building as the anarchists. It’s nearly three centuries later!”
“No. But they were in the same street, right next door, in fact. And back in 1725, the two buildings might once have been one.”
“So you think a bunch of university students are running an organisation of secret anarchists just because they’re on the same spot? Everybody in central London is living where someone else lived. That doesn’t make us adopt their habits.”
“I’m not saying they’re all anarchists. Perhaps only one, for reasons of his – or her – own. And somehow it involves the taking of life.”
“I can guess where you’re going with this, Arthur, but you’re way off track. These students don’t look like anarchists. I imagine they do a little ethical shopping and wear a badge or two, but they’re more concerned about their future prospects. A fall down some stairs and a missing lad, that’s everyday life in the city, not a criminal conspiracy. Don’t you have any better ideas?”
The ringing of Bryant’s old Bakelite phone made them both jump. May answered the call and listened for a minute. “Tony McCarthy’s off his respirator,” he reported.
“What, dead?”
“No, it sounds like he’s going to be okay.”
“A witness. Hallelujah. Can he talk?”
“Nurse says we’ll be able to see him late this afternoon.”
“Why not now?”
“He’s just had a tube down his throat, Arthur, and he’s heavily doped up. His doctor doesn’t want him seeing anyone before five P.M. at the earliest.”
“Book us in,” announced Bryant. “As long as he survives, he’ll remain a threat to Mr Fox. I stayed up late last night thinking about everything. I’m starting to see a way forward, but it will require diligence, nerve and a complete lack of scruples. Best not to tell Raymond what we’re up to.”
“What are we up to?” May wondered.
“Let’s see the boy first. Make sure nobody else goes near him. Meanwhile, perhaps Janice could arrange a little informal gathering of your students for me in about an hour. I want to meet them alone. I don’t care where they are or what they’re doing; have her find them, pull them out of class, but get them waiting for me at their house.” Bryant bared his false teeth in an approximation of a grin. “You know how I always enjoy meeting young people.”
? Off the Rails ?
27
Personal Space
“Some of you met my partner, John May.” Bryant was fumbling in his voluminous coat for a toffee eclair and searching for somewhere to sit.
“Yes, he was very nice,” said Ruby, clearing an armchair for him.
“Well, I’m the other one.” Unable to locate the sweet, he pulled out one-half of his pipe and waved it about. “Mind if I smoke?”
“Yes, we do actually,” said Nikos, with a censorious look.
“Ah. Only I saw the ashtray…” He pointed to the side table.
“We use it as a paperweight,” said Ruby hastily.
“Odd that it has ash in it, then.”
“I’m the only smoker, but I use the balcony.” Ruby indicated the others. “This is Nikos – ”
“I met Detective May at the library,” Nikos interrupted. “He was asking me about some stickers. I couldn’t help him.”
“You gave him my email address,” said Ruby with a trace of indignation.
“Theo Fontvieille,” interjected Theo, jumping forward to pump Bryant’s hand.
“That must be your car outside,” said Bryant. “You’re very lucky to have such a beautiful motor.”
“Yes, it’s funny,” said Theo, “the harder my parents work, the luckier I seem to get.” He threw himself back in his armchair with an annoying
“I meant no offence. You’ll know when I do.” He glanced at the slender Indian boy sitting beside Fontvieille. “And you are?”
The student looked about theatrically. “I am what?”
“Your name. The question was in simple enough English.”
“Well, that’s not my nationality.”
“We seem to have got off on the wrong foot. Let’s try again. My name is Arthur Bryant. What is yours?”
“You don’t have to talk to me as if I were a child. My name is Rajan Sangeeta.”
“And you live here as well?”
Sangeeta bristled. “I pay my rent like everyone else in this room.”
“You seem very aggressive.”
“I don’t like being questioned by the police when I’ve done nothing wrong.”
“Oh, don’t worry, the police can always find something wrong.”
“Mr Bryant is here to help us, Rajan,” interposed Ruby. “He and his partner are trying to find Matt.”
“Which just leaves you,” said Bryant, pointing to the only person in the room who had not spoken. The boy had an impudent, friendly face, a stepped haircut and a broad baby nose. He looked a year or two younger than the others. He had seemed keen not to draw attention to himself, but now he uncurled from the seat and held out his hand. “Toby Brooke.” He brushed Bryant’s hand and drew back, casting his eyes downwards again, his dirty Nikes drawn up beneath him.
“Tell me about Mr Hillingdon. Does anyone know anything that might be able to shed some light on his disappearance?”
The assembled students glanced at each other but remained silent.
“Let’s keep it simple,” Bryant persisted. “Where is he from originally?”
“What does it matter where a person is from?” snapped Sangeeta. “What relevance could that possibly have?”
“Matt’s from somewhere in Hertfordshire,” Ruby offered. “He’s got a sister and a stepbrother. He doesn’t get on with his parents.”
“And he’s always broke,” added Theo. “Entirely unambitious, finds his studies a struggle – ”
“Theo.”
“Well, he does, Ruby. Whereas the rest of us are concentrating on making our first million.”
“You’ve spoken to his teachers?”
“First thing I did,” said Ruby. “They haven’t seen him.”
