Someone telephoned him, explained Pascoe. met him on the drive. The others will be here shortly.
Telephoned? A Miss. Disney, sir, said the constable.
I thought our lives were in danger when the noise woke me up, declared the lady, unrepentant before Landers reproving glance.
Tine, said Dalziel giving unexpected support. s Shattuck, isnt it?
Get round into the garden, unobtrusively as you can. Watch the window of this room. Anyone tries to get out of it, grab . Sergeant, wait outside for the others. Let me know when they arrive.
Superintendent, you will be careful? It was Landor, worry deepening the lines of his finely drawn face. they think Ive brought a whole gang of police in well, records of this kind of thing show that when the police have been involved, reactions can be very violent. Panic, anger not your fault I know, but
Ill be discreet as possible, and the main body of students is in the new admin, block, not here, I gather, said Dalziel. I wont let any consideration prevent me from dealing with this lot.
He nodded fiercely towards the door which at that moment swung quietly open.
Come in, Superintendent, said Franny, standing courteously by the door like a butler.
Dalziel stepped forward, Landor and Disney hard on his heels, but the door was closed quietly but firmly in their faces and he found himself alone in the room with about two dozen students. Some he knew: Roote, Cockshut. Others were familiar though he had no names. Some few he had never seen before. The room itself was reasonably tidy. There was no sign of damage; the filing cabinet showed no evidence of any attempt to force it open. He walked over to it, stepping carefully across the bodies of some students who lay sprawled on the floor and examined it without touching. The same with the desk, ignoring the couple who lay on it, fast in each others arms, mouths pressed together as though in violent passion, but their eyes open, following his every move.
Satisfied, fat man? said Cockshut who was sitting arrogantly in his chair. He had the top of a Thermos flask in his hand; there was other evidence packets of sandwiches, crisps, blanket-rolls that they had come prepared for a lengthy stay. Dalziel locked eyes with Cockshut and leaned so close to him he could smell the whisky fumes rising from his plastic cup.
I will be before I leave, he said quietly.
Ah, get stuffed!
Roote coughed politely behind him.
Im sorry, Superintendent. We didnt realize that this was no longer the principals study. If we had known that the police had taken over the room absolutely, of course we wouldnt have entered.
Dalziel turned and saw for the first time the long wall facing the window. Across it someone had scribbled his name, misspelling it but managing the accompanying four letter word correctly.
An odd thing to write if you thought you were occupying Dr. Landers room, he said with a faint smile.
Franny returned the smile apologetically.
It was done when you started shouting at the door. Im sorry. Ill send someone in to wash it off.
Id be obliged, replied Dalziel.
Tine, said Franny. ll leave quietly now and go and join the others in the new block. This is purely an internal dispute, of course. Im extremely sorry youve been fetched from your bed. Right, everybody.
Pack up! Were leaving.
There was a general bustle round the room, everybody moving except Cockshut who sat glowering at the superintendent. Roote walked over to the door, unlocked it and opened it. Landor and Disney were still outside, joined by a group of other members of staff now. Ellie Soper was there, Marion Cargo and Miss. Scotby. Also Pascoe who nodded at Dalziel, and received a slight jerk of the head in reply. He turned and went out of the main door.
Good evening, Dr. Landor, said Franny. re just leaving.
A look of relief passed over the principals face, but did not linger long.
No, said Dalziel.
Everyone stopped. Everyone looked at him.
No ones leaving.
For a second nobody moved, then there was a general surge towards the open door.
Sergeant!
Through the main entrance came Pascoe accompanied by half a dozen uniformed policemen. They filled the study doorway in a very solid fashion. There was only one of Constable Shattuck who came and stood outside the window, but seen through a glass darkly, he looked even more stern and unpassable than those within.
Dalziel spoke.
I am holding everyone in this room on suspicion of illegal entry, of interfering or being accessories to interfering with evidence and statements in an official investigation
But weve touched nothing! protested Franny.
I really think, began Landor nervously, but Dalziel ignored them both.
of causing damage to property by defacing a wall and he sniffed the air I think we might add illegal possession of the drug, cannabis. Sergeant. I want the names of everyone here, I want them cautioned individually, I want their statements and I want their fingerprints. He cant do it, said Cockshut, mockingly. fat bastards bluffing.
He lifted the cup to his lips. Dalziel moved swiftly across and took it from his hand, careful not to spill the contents.
I want this analyzed as well, Sergeant. If, as my sensitive nose tells me, it is Glen Grant thats being debased in this coffee, I think well add a charge of theft against Mr. Cockshut. Right, now, whos got the keys?
Again a stunned silence.
Keys? said someone tremulously.
The set of duplicate, or master keys, said Dalziel patiently. The ones you used to get into this room, to unlock my desk and my filing cabinet.
Those keys. Oh come on, Mr. Roote, youre an intelligent man, I hear.
Therell be fingerprints over every bit of paper you touched in there.
And over my whisky bottle too Ive no doubt.
Youre mistaken, I assure you, said Franny, spreading out his hands before him, the picture of injured innocence. I do think if youre going to make this absurd fuss, lovey, we ought to have some legal representation. Were entitled, arent we?
He picked up the telephone before anyone could stop him. Obviously someone was sitting at the ready at the other end of the line.
Hello, love, he said softly. here. Were having a bit of trouble with the police down in Simeons old study. Yes, the police.
Just tell the others in case theyre worried, theres a dear. And get Mr. Pearl, the solicitor, on the line. Ask him to come over. Many thanks.
He replaced the receiver. Dalziel had made no attempt to interrupt, but his face was hard.
Dr. Landor, these students names please.
Landors face was a mask of misery as he hesitated whether to speak or not, but he was saved from the decision and its attendant obloquy by Miss. Disney who pushed forward, majestic in her voluminous, quilted dressing-gown, and said, is outrageous! For a second, Dalziel thought she was referring to him. But instantly she followed it up by beginning a recital of the names of those present.
Pascoe busily made notes.
Dalziel knew he had to move quickly now. The last thing he wanted was for his investigations to be complicated by a full scale student-police confrontation. While it had seemed possible to isolate this small group, he had been happy to see they got what he firmly believed they deserved.
But the moment Roote had been allowed to lift the telephone, he knew that it would require swift thinking to avoid either a retreat or a battle. Personally, he didnt give a damn how unpopular he was; in fact at times he gave the impression of revelling in it. But the job he was here to do was nothing to do with student politics and he had no desire to get involved at that particular moment.
Disney was coming to the end of her recital of names now, oblivious to the abuse which was being directed at her from one or two quarters.
Privately, Dalziel appreciated the aptness of many of the epithets, but he was too busy talking to the uniformed men to pay full attention.
Move away quietly. Wait outside the main gates for half an hour, but dont come back in unless you get a message direct from me. All right? And keep out of sight, eh? Roote watched them disappear with an amused smile on his face.
Finished, Sergeant? Right, Mr. Roote, if you and your friends will kindly leave, well sort out this matter in the morning.
Youve changed your tune, blubber-gut, jeered Cockshut.
Yes, I have, said Dalziel quietly. I can start playing another, laddie, thatll make you dance if I have much more of your lip.
Cockshut looked as if he was going to indulge in another outburst, but Roote silenced him by making for the door.
Come along, my dears, he said. s go and see the t others.
He too knew when to make a diplomatic withdrawal. Dalziel followed them out into the warm night and took a couple of deep breaths. They had been just in time. A large and noisy group of students, some hundred he reckoned, was making its way down the drive from the new admin, block.
Franny and the others were greeted with rapturous cheers.
Shall we get inside? suggested Pascoe at his shoulder.
No. Theres just a lot of wind in that lot. Get back in. Heres my keys. Check theres nothing missing. I doubt if there will be, theyre not quite daft. In fact Roote looked a sight too complacent. I doubt if well find a print. Not his anyway, but the others are probably less careful. And check my whisky, eh?
Why did they want to do it anyway? asked Pascoe.
Thatll bear thinking about. Give me a ring if anything turns up. Im off to my bed. Youd better make yourself a bed up in the study and spend the night there. I doubt if theyll be back, but you never know.
Right, sir, said Pascoe, moving back into the building.
And, Sergeant, by yourself, mind. Youre on duty, and on duty you sleep by yourself.
On or off duty you sleep by yourself, thought Pascoe viciously as he went through the door wondering how many of those in the hall had heard.
Dalziel chuckled to himself as he walked towards the block in which his room was situated. The students saw him and a cry of mockery and abuse went up.
Sieg Heil! shouted some wit. bastard!
Roote detached himself from the crowd.
Is there something else, Superintendent?
No, thank you, Mr. Roote. Im just away to my bed.