Equinox

actually in denial anyway — at least they were when I last spoke to them.'

'You're speaking in riddles, Laura.'

'The thing is, these murders have a ritualistic aspect to them. No, more than that — the murderer is following a schedule, an astrological schedule.'

Charlie's eyes narrowed. He took a long drag on his cigarette. 'You say the murderer is working to a schedule, which implies you think he hasn't finished yet.'

'That's exactly what I think. I'm afraid he's only just begun.'

'OK.' Charlie leaned back in his chair, scrutinising Laura through the smoke that billowed in the air between them. 'Could you start from the beginning? I need to get a handle on this.'

Laura told him as much as she dared. When she had finished, she was alarmed to see that he had turned even paler than usual.

'You know something about this, don't you, Charlie?'

He took a final drag from his cigarette and pulled another from the packet, lighting it with the fading red tip of the first. 'Why do you say that?'

'I know you. Remember?' Laura noticed how dirty his fingernails were. She also saw that the index and middle fingers of his right hand, through which the cigarette protruded, were stained orange.

'Look, all I've 'eard are rumours. That's how the occult works these days. It's all Internet chat rooms, but we have to be discreet. If you know the language you can talk the talk, as they say'

'And what does the talk tell you, Charlie?'

As he dragged deeply on the cigarette, his face became a skeletal mask. 'Something big is going

down, something very big and very nasty.' 'What do you mean?'

'A group, a small group — completely anonymous, you understand — are playing dangerous games.'

'In Oxford?'

'In Oxford.'

'What sort of games?'

'That, darlin', I can't say, 'cos I dunno.'

'You don't know. .? Can't you hazard a guess?'

'People are too nervous to talk too much about this one.'

'OK.' Laura could not conceal her exasperation. 'I understand it's delicate, but forget the details — give me the broad strokes.'

Charlie was sucking on his cigarette again, filling the air with more grey smoke. Finally, he said: 'The word is that some very old hands are involved. I don't know what they're doing, nor do I wish to know, to be honest. But I've 'eard. .' He paused for a full ten seconds. 'I've 'eard that there's a manuscript.'

'A manuscript?'

Charlie stubbed out the cigarette, took a gulp of his tea and picked up the lighter. He flicked it on, then closed the lid. Laura tried her best to ignore him but after he had repeated the action four times she suddenly sprang forward and grabbed the lighter from him.

'Charlie. . what manuscript?'

'Laura, doll, I'd tell you if I knew, but you see, that's it. You know all I know. Whoever's behind this, it's someone big, and not just big within the community, either. Someone with great power.'

Chapter 19

After leaving the White Stag bookshop Laura tried Philip again, but still all she got was his answer service. Frustrated, she snapped her mobile shut. Part of her was almost ready to believe that Monroe was right after all and that the astrology stuff was just so much nonsense.

Five minutes later her phone rang. It was Philip.

'No news,' he said immediately. 'I have two missed calls from you. Sorry, my battery was flat. When are you getting back?'

She looked at her watch. 'As I'm here I might as well make a day of it. I'll probably catch a train about five- ish. Any chance of a pick-up?'

'No problem. Call me from Paddington.'

Laura caught the 5.29, which turned out to be a bad choice as it was stuffed with commuters. Fortunately, she had arrived at Paddington early and had found a seat; even so, she was jammed in for most of the journey and almost everyone on the train was getting off at Oxford. She allowed the rush of passengers to flow past her as they pulled into the station and she was one of the last to emerge from the carriage. She passed through the barrier, handed her ticket to the collector and saw Philip waiting for her at the door to the street.

'Something's happened, hasn't it?' Laura said, thrusting her hands into her pockets. She gazed down at her feet and took a deep breath before meeting his gaze. He put an arm around her shoulders and walked with her to his car, parked a few yards away. Their breath produced puffs of white in the chill air. It was a clear, starry evening and the temperature had dropped suddenly.

She folded herself into the passenger seat of the tiny old MGB and Philip turned the rather feeble heater to max.

'So tell me,' she said finally and sighed. 'And don't spare the grisly details.'

Philip started the engine and put the car into gear. Reversing out of the parking space, they joined the queue for the Botley Road. 'I would have phoned you,' he began. 'But I was only called in just over an hour ago, while you were on the train, and I thought it would be better if I. .'

'Sure, Philip, that's OK.' Laura gave him a weak smile. 'I'm not angry with you. I'm just. . fucking angry, period. So what happened?'

'According to Forensics, the murder occurred between eight and ten last night. A couple this time, otherwise exactly the same MO.' 'A couple?'

'Young lovers. Caught in flagrante.' 'And — don't tell me — the girl's kidneys were taken?'

'Yes.' He looked at her, a little surprised.

'I did some reading on the train: Ancient Astrology by Evaline Tarintara. Garbage, of course, but it contains some useful hints for following the thoughts of a believer. Venus, the planet that entered Aries last night, is linked with the kidneys. I imagine the killer left another coin — copper this time?'

Philip nodded. 'You're right. So how do the planets, dates and metals match up?'

'From what Tom found out, it looks like there are two more planets due to join the conjunction, Mars and Jupiter, and two more murders planned. According to Ms Tarintara's book, Mars is linked with iron and the gall bladder; Jupiter is associated. with tin and the liver.'

Philip nodded again but said nothing.

'So, this latest murder?' Laura asked matter-of-factly.

'Two students, house in East Oxford. They were having sex when the killer struck. Both victims had their throats slashed. The guy. .' He paused for a moment. 'Simon… Simon Welding, untouched after he was dispatched. The girl, Samantha Thurow, a beautiful. .' As they pulled out onto the main road, Laura could see the muscles in Philip's jaw tense.

'Her kidneys were removed with surgical precision. According to the lab guys there is not a single fingerprint or any DNA from the perp left at the scene — just like the first two.' He hit the steering wheel with the flat of his hand suddenly, making Laura jump.

She looked out the passenger window, watching the buildings flash past. Ahead, a set of traffic lights had changed to red and Philip slowed to a halt.

'The bodies weren't discovered until early this evening. The couple were in a shared house. Two other students came back with their partners at about midnight. They went straight to bed and left for college this morning. It wasn't until after they got back from lectures that someone noticed bloody footprints on the landing carpet and leading from the couple's room. They hadn't heard anything from Simon and Samantha, and at about quarter to five they knocked down the bedroom door. The police arrived there just after five and I got the call about five-thirty.'