The Vault

'The person you're after.'

'Not obvious, no.' Steph had a remarkable gift for unlocking mysteries, so he summarised his day, the interviews with Somerset, Dougan, Pennycook, Heath and Sturr. 'I can't see any of them bludgeoning a police officer. Well, old Heath isn't in the frame, anyway. He's too old and too frail.'

'Why did you bother with him, then?'

'Checking back on Joe Dougan-who was the man most likely to be chased across a field by Wigfull. There's no question Wigfull had him top of the list. But everything the little rogue has told us is true.'

'Sounds as if you like him.'

'That means nothing, but, yes, I do. In spite of everything, he's chirpy.'

'And the others?'

'Not so lovable.' He returned to the fridge for that lager. 'But I haven't caught them seriously lying. Somerset is the bloke in a bow-tie you don't see out of doors, let alone wielding a bludgeon in a Wiltshire field. Pennycook is a junkie without a car. And Sturr doesn't have any reason to bash Wigfull. He wasn't even seen by Wigfull. What's more, he has an alibi.'

'There's no one else?'

'No one I would call a suspect. I tried to see a character known as Uncle Evan who Wigfull may conceivably have gone to interview, but he's proving elusive.'

'Where does he fit in?'

'He was one of the people Joe Dougan visited the day Peg Redbird was killed. At one time he owned the book that started Joe on this trail-Mary Shelley's copy of Milton.'

'Uncle Evan?' The microwave pinged and she opened it and peeled the clingfilm off the plate. 'I'm sure I've heard of him.'

'Puppet shows. He tours the fetes and fairs all summer.'

'That's it, then. I've seen his advert in the paper. Do you want to eat here?'

'Fine.'

'Brown sauce?'

'Please.'

'Better take the picture off the table, then. You know what happened last time you shook the bottle.'

She moved it to the safety of the front room. While Diamond ate, Steph gave some thought to the problem of Wigfull's attacker. 'This all happened out Stowford way, didn't it?'

'A field between Westwood and Stowford.'

'Where did they start-Westwood?'

'Must have. We found his car there.'

'John Wigfull's?'

'Yes.'

'Presumably he was following someone-or someone followed him. Have you worked out where he was going?' She doggedly thought through the logic of events, as she liked to do, but this time she appeared to have come full circle.

'Stowford, like I said.'

'Why Stowford?' Steph persisted. 'Not for a cream tea, surely?'

He thought about that, frowning. Then he smiled.

twenty-nine

'THE MURDEROUS MARK OF the fiend's grasp was on her neck, and the breath had ceased to issue from her lips.'

Strangulation was the monster's method. How inconvenient that his victims didn't shed blood.

thirty

MONDAY MORNING, AND WHATEVER happened to the weekend? Feeling blue, Diamond drove into his space at Manvers Street nick, switched off the ignition, sighed, felt for the door handle, heaved himself out and slammed the door. Then he heard a shout of, 'Hi,' from the far side of the car park. He stared across the car tops. She was blonde, a blonde to make Monday morning feel like Friday afternoon. What was even better, she waved and started running towards him.

He no longer felt blue. There was a definite tinge of rose.

'Mr D,' she called out, and he recognized the voice as Ingeborg Smith's. The rose turned purple. It was time he had his eyes tested.

She stopped in front of him, breathless. 'I won't keep you a moment.'

'That's for sure.'

'I just wanted to ask how John Sturr took it last night.'

'You mean your dramatic exit? He didn't say much at all. Stunned, I expect.'

'He didn't mention anything about my chances?'

'Your chances?'

'Of joining the police.'

'Forget it, Ingeborg. He's a big wheel. He's not bothered with recruiting. You're pushing at an open door. You've done enough to get noticed.'

Her face relaxed into a confident smile. 'You've heard then.'

'Heard what? Don't ask me, I only work here.'

'Didn't they tell you? My recruitment interview.' She let that sink in, and then said, 'I got my application in just in time. They phoned me specially. They're seeing some applicants today and could I come in at short notice? Could I, man, oh man!'

'I'll cross my fingers.'

'For me?'

'For Bath Police-if you get taken on.'

She laughed and said, 'Fat chance really. All bets are off after last night. John Sturr can pull the plug on me even if they like me.'

'Did you tell him about the interview?'

'Yes. I thought it would help me. Didn't know I was going to blow a fuse and foul up everything.'

'You spoke for all of us. But I thought you two were friends.'

'Just because he took me to Georgina's party?'

'I saw you leave with him. You did stay the night?'

She said, level-eyed, 'I did.'

'You don't mind me asking? Did you go straight from the party to his house?'

'Yes.'

'And then…?'

She laughed. 'Oh, come on.'

He wanted to know. 'You spent the entire night with him?'

'You know I did.'

'You'd had a few drinks by that time. Maybe your memory-'

She said with scorn, 'I may have looked pie-eyed, but I know exactly what happened… or didn't.'

'Didn't?'

Now she clicked her tongue and looked away across the car park. 'Forget it. This is too personal.'

'Yesterday you made some remark about business calls to America.'

She nodded. 'You don't miss much, do you? When we got in, there were messages on his answerphone. He