He looked defiantly at Pascoe who still said nothing. Is this all the poor bastards got to tell me? he wondered. Confession of an ageing teenager.
Now, a couple of times Ive noticed Anita, and shes been really high.
I mean really.
And what did you do?
Halfdane tried to look surprised.
Do? She was an adult, she was responsible. But I did wonder what she was getting, whether shed moved on.
You mean, whether she had started taking a habit forming drug which would eventually kill her? said Pascoe coldly.
For Gods sake! said the other in anger.
But I forgot. She was an adult. Who was she with?
Halfdanes anger subsided.
Thats why I wondered about telling you this. You want names. If its anything to do with her death, fair enough. But if it isnt
Names please, sir.
Cockshut. Stuart Cockshut was the main one, he said reluctantly. Roote and all that gang. But especially Cockshut.
Pascoe made a note in his pocket-book, more for appearance than necessity. The information wasnt all that helpful. It confirmed what he already suspected. It might explain Roote lying on his back, applauding the sky. But there had been no evidence of any sampling of drugs in the autopsy on Anitas body. And the dancing as described by Lapping had seemed to be sex rather than drug-centred. Of course it depended on the drug. And if these people had access to anything more sophisticated than cannabis, despite any assurances Halfdane might imagine had been given, he and Dalziel were going to be very interested indeed. Right, he said, closing his book.
Id better get back and see if your boss has finished with Marion, said Halfdane with slightly nervous jocularity.
Thats what hes really worried about, that Bruiser Dalziel is going to stick something on his girl. So anything which seems to lead elsewhere hes now happy to give me.
Pascoe didnt know whether the thought made him like Halfdane more or less. But another thought came swiftly and unbidden into his mind.
Poor Ellie!
Right you are, he said. we want to talk to you again, well let you know.
He was damned if he was going to thank the man.
He resumed his walk towards the pavilion and Henry Saltecombe.
And thats all he said? asked Dalziel sounding as incredulous as stout Cortez looked on stumbling across the Pacific.
I didnt have my Iron Maiden handy, thought Pascoe; but what he said was, s all. Yes, it was his porkpie hat; no, he hadnt been wandering round the dunes at midnight last Thursday, hed been sitting up late at home after all his family had gone off to bed so that he could watch a documentary on medieval industry. Anyway, if Anita was going into Fallowfields cottage a couple of hours later, what does it matter who disturbed the dance?
Theres a porpoise close behind me and its treading on my tail, said Dalziel thoughtfully. course those kids might have been dreaming. Or for that matter, it might have been some other long-haired beauty that Fallowfields having it away with. We wont know till we find the man, will we?
No, sir.
And of course, if the kids are right, then everyones going to need new alibis, arent they?
Thats right, said Pascoe, brightening. these bloody students.
Dalziel eyed him sardonically.
Watch it, Sergeant, he said. forget, the countrys full of wonderful young people who stand up for pregnant women in buses and run errands for the aged and decrepit. The Daily Mirror said so last week.
Or was it the Express?
Then it must be true. What now, sir?
Dalziel glanced at his watch. It was nearly a quarter to seven. It had been a quick day and he still wasnt sure whether they had advanced or gone back. But first things first.
Dinner, he said with satisfaction.
After dinner, Pascoe sat in his room and contemplated the rest of the evening. He felt lonely. His meal had been brought to him on a tray as usual and used though he was to eating by himself, it always seemed a particularly lonely thing to have to do. He supposed no one would have thrown bread-rolls at him if he had appeared in the dining-hall, but he doubted if he would have felt less alone.
He suddenly thought how lonely such a life could be for many of those permanently committed to it. Perhaps it just seemed so on the surface.
Perhaps the seeming lonely like Disney or Scotby really had troops of friends, tribes of loving relations, acres of exciting interests, at their beck and call.
But it wasnt just them. It was people like Marion, and Ellie as well.
Halfdane too, even Fallowfield. The unmarried. Those for whom home was this. He looked around the room. It was at least as comfortable as his own minute flat. And, God knows, he knew what it was to be lonely even in a job which often kept him at it for anything up to twenty hours a day.
Therefore, he said, if all people are lonely some of the time and some people are lonely all of the time, it is not merely self-indulgence to thrust myself at them, it may even be a social service.
The obvious person to thrust at was Ellie. He reached for the phone and dialled.
Hallo, Ellie.
Oh, its you. Right first time, he said. , Ive been glancing through your manuscript. Very interesting. But I thought Id get it back to you before I do something awful with it, like spill coffee all over it or lose it. Is it OK if I come round and return it now?
There was a pause.
Yes. No. Look, Ill come and collect it. Youre in 28, arent you?
Thats right. Worried about the kind of person seen going into your room, are you? he said with an attempt at lightness.
Piss off.
The phone went dead. He wondered if this meant she wasnt coming, but within five minutes there was a tap at the door.
Hi, she said. She looked very attractive in a simple white dress with large black buttons right down the front. He couldnt quite decide whether they were functional or merely decorative.
I enjoyed your book. Liar, she said calmly. havent had time to look at it.
I enjoyed your book. Liar, she said calmly. havent had time to look at it.
No, he protested. of the characterization helped a great deal in understanding life here at the college. Im looking forward to reading the finished thing when its published.
She sat down, smiling now.
Its like listening to some sentimental song, she said. tune, meaningless words, but it works on you. Keep talking.
There was a tap on the door. It was Elizabeth, neat as ever in her nylon overall, come to collect the dishes. It was nice to have such a pretty girl looking after him. She seemed very obliging. In fact earlier he had found her in the room tidying up. Perhaps she fancies me, he thought.
She seemed a little disconcerted to find Ellie there also and let a fork slide on to the carpet.
Sorry, she said, bending down. Pascoe automatically stooped also and the heads nearly cracked together. They both rocked back on their haunches, smiling, the girl showing a lot of leg where the overall parted above her knees. Pascoe glanced down involuntarily. On the inside hem of the garment he saw the initials in indian ink E.A.
There wasnt a blinding flash. There rarely was. Just another certainty sliding into place. Fancies me, hell! he mocked himself.
Tell me, he said conversationally, time did you get back from the beach on Thursday morning?
The girl turned pale. Bulls-eye! thought Pascoe.
Were you asked to keep a close eye on us as well, the superintendent and me? he went on pressing his advantage.
The girl stood up, leaving the crockery on the floor.
I dont know what
Come off it, love, said Pascoe. were there. That makes you a witness. You should have come forward, you know. But better late than never. Well need a statement. And youll want your bra back. I dont know she said again, then turned and hurried from the room.
What the hell are you doing to that poor kid? demanded Ellie angrily.
For Christs sake, Id never have believed it. Youre like the bloody SS. Those sergeants stripes go all the way through, dont they?
Pascoe threw up his hands in mock bewilderment.
That poor kid as you call her was big enough and old enough to enjoy a moonlight orgy after which a girl got herself killed.
She also probably gets high pretty frequently on cannabis and doubtless does a bit of dabbling in the supernatural on the side. I should think she can stand a few straight questions from a policeman.
What the hell are you on about? You mean For a few seconds Ellie was lost for words. For a few seconds.
Look. OK. Whats the difference? If thats the way she likes her sex, whats it to you? Its a lot to her though; these others, students, its nothing to them, a bit of embarrassment at home if mummy and daddy get to hear of it, but thats all. But its that girls job. Shes not just a skivvy, shes doing a training course in catering. And this kind of thing could easily get her chucked out on her ear.
Pascoe shrugged.
Im sorry. It wont come to that. Theres probably nothing she can tell us, no more than the students weve talked to. Its unimportant.
Unimportant! You didnt make her feel it was unimportant!
No. Im sorry. Excuse me.
He picked up the phone again and dialled Dalziels room. There was no reply, so he tried the study.
Superintendent Dalziel. Pascoe, sir. I thought youd like to know Ive identified the owner of that bra found in the dunes. Elizabeth Andrews, the girl who brings our meals.
There was a snort at the other end of the line.
Yes, I know. I saw her leaving Rootes room the other night. Is that all?
Well, yes sir. I thought she might have been keeping an eye on us for some reason.
You havent talked to her?
Well, yes, I have.
Oh God, groaned Dalziel. Ill probably have my meals brought by some sour-faced harridan.
The phone was slammed down.
Well, said Ellie who had come close enough to hear both sides of the conversation. didnt seem madly impressed. Strange. I should have thought the graduate wonder would always be miles ahead of the nonintellectual bluebottle.
He should have told me.
Poor sergeant, laughed Ellie, much mollified by his discomfiture.
Doesnt the nasty super tell you everything then?
He grabbed her violently and kissed her till she gasped in pain.
Lets go and start an orgy in the dunes, she whispered.
This will do me fine.
He kissed her again. Outside a bell began to ring and there was a distant confusion of voices.
Whats that? he asked lifting his head.
Its the Union. Theres a students meeting tonight. They summon them like going to church.