An Advancement of Learning - Reginald Hill 32 стр.

Sorry to disappoint you, lad. As youre so keen, you can bloody well stay here. No one gets into this block without my say-so. Right?

They made their way back towards the old house, ignoring the groups of students and of staff with fine impartiality. Once back in the study, Dalziel gestured towards the phone.

Is that thing OK?

Pascoe lifted the receiver and listened.

Yes. Theres an outside line.

Get the hospital. Find out whats what.

Outside the door they heard voices raised in heated discussion. The door was suddenly opened and a little, balding man strutted in, pushing past Landor.

Superintendent Dalziel? We met briefly the other day, youll recall.

Superintendent Dalziel? We met briefly the other day, youll recall.

Im Douglas Pearl and Im here to represent

Pearl? bellowed Dalziel, successfully bringing the little man to order; then more quietly, . Well, Mr. Pearl, the swine you wish to cast yourself before have rushed off elsewhere.

Mr. Dalziel! I must protest

So must I. You werent asked in here. Well, what is it, Pascoe? Spit it out, man. Hes dead, said Pascoe slowly, replacing the receiver. s dead. On arrival.

The words engendered a silence which spread through the room and out into the hallway beyond.

How? asked Dalziel, no respecter of respect.

Its early to say with certainty, replied Pascoe. theyre pretty sure its a massive overdose of heroin.

Chapter 15

Sunday morning dawned fine; had been dawning fine before most people in the college got to bed. The scent of the sea was in the air, evocative, invigorating; but it was obviously going to become over-warm later.

Pascoe thought he was probably the first person out of bed, but he gave all the credit for this to the makeshift arrangement of blankets and narrow mattress on which he had finally slept in the study. It was an unnecessary precaution, he was sure, but Dalziel had been adamant. Sheer jealousy, thought Pascoe gloomily.

He decided no harm could be done by having a quick shower and shave. He felt disagreeably grubby and dull witted.

When he returned, he saw that he was no longer alone in the world. Ellie was standing outside the main door of the old house and he felt a gush of pleasure that she had come so early to see him. Then he saw that she was pinning something to the door. A notice. He came up behind her without being observed and coughed gently. She jumped very satisfactorily.

Oh, she said. s you. Good morning, he said reading the notice. It was typewritten and had obviously been run off from a stencil on a duplicating machine.

We the undersigned members of staff dissociate ourselves completely from the high-handed and provocative actions of the police force last night

It was dated and signed by about ten people. Some of them were only names to Pascoe, but others he recognized. Halfdane; Marion Cargo; and Ellie herself.

Thats a bit unnecessary, isnt it? he said.

Ellie shrugged.

Halfdanes idea, Ive no doubt. You must have got even less sleep than I did.

It had to be done quickly. We thought if the notices were there for the students to see first thing this morning, it might help to cool things down.

Pascoe laughed without humour.

Cool things down! Youve got to be joking! People like Cockshut will be delighted when they see this. Its carte blanche for anarchy.

Piddle diddle, said Ellie lightly. are an old reactionary now, arent you? Youve forgotten what its like to be young.

He looked at her coldly.

Dont try to kid me, Ellie, he said. re no political animal.

Youd better watch yourself. Its very easy for single women in places like this to mistake sentimental maternalism for radical idealism. But I dont think youre as far gone as that, though theres always the danger. Then what is it youre after? Pretty boy Halfdanes approval?

She slapped his face, almost dispassionately.

You can go to jail for that, said Dalziels voice behind them. The fat man shouldered his way between them and read the notice.

Bloody cloud-cuckoo-land, he said. all live in bloody cloud-cuckoo-land. Come on in, Sergeant. Weve got a real job to do.

Jesus wept! thought Pascoe as he went inside, not looking back at Ellie, what strange allies we find ourselves lined up with! Dalziel, Disney, Dunbar, Scotby, all the oldies, all the wrong reasons, but facing in the same direction.

Bloody students, groaned Dalziel, once they got inside. social reform and young idealism on the surface, but give half a chance and theyre just young criminals. Protest is hardly criminal, said Pascoe mildly.

Not protest, no. But Ive just been talking to Landor. The stuff thats missing from the admin, block! I warned . Mostly small stuff, but a typewriters gone. And some bright spark broke open all three college posting boxes last night and tore up half the mail. Isnt that criminal?

And the kind of thing theyve scribbled around the place and left in typewriters for sixteen-year-old typists to find doesnt bear repeating.

He shook his head in what seemed like genuine bewilderment. Pascoe felt an impulse to cluck sympathetically but checked it. Dalziels gloom changed into a huge yawn.

To hell with , he yawned. doesnt want us officially, so well just stick to our brief. Now, the question is, do we still have a case to investigate or dont we?

Pardon?

A good suspect for one, possibly two murders goes and gets himself killed. Very convenient, saves the state a lot of money, us a lot of bother. I want to be convinced he did at least one of , preferably both. So convince me, Sergeant.

He settled himself comfortably in his chair, picked up the phone, dialled, and said, Dalziel, love. Breakfast for two in the old study. Kippers are fine. .

The only thing weve got that connects Fallowfield with Miss. Girling, said Pascoe, the coincidence that he was interviewed on the nineteenth of December. Presumably he was offered the job on the spot, accepted, shook hands all round, collected his gear and headed for the station.

Or he might have had a car?

That makes it worse. If he did knock old Girling on the head while he was here, presumably he drove her car a hundred miles to the airport leaving his own here. How did he pick it up without being noticed?

Good point. Check with whoever keeps details of expenses paid. They might still have a record of whether he got his train fare or a car allowance.

In any case, why? As far as we know, he had no previous acquaintance with the woman. How do you work up a motive in a few hours, especially to kill a woman whos just offered you a job? No, I think hes a non-starter there, sir. Its the mouldy-oldies who were here at the time who are our best bet.

Youre not helping much, lad, said Dalziel sadly. ll have to stick with it. The other one looks better though.

Yes, sir. But it still puzzles me why he would publicly accept her allegations that he had seduced her when he patently hadnt.

But he obviously wasnt going to agree he had fiddled her marks to get her out of the place. No, said Pascoe thoughtfully. might be a motive there. He didnt give a damn about his reputation, but he wasnt going to lose his career so easily.

Still, why did she send him that note? And why above all did he never deny they had been lovers?

And who wrecked his flat? And why?

They were silent for a moment.

Thats the trouble with you bloody intellectuals, said Dalziel finally. want answers, and all you give is a lot of bloody questions.

Henry Saltecombe took Anitas note to Fallowfield, said Pascoe inconsequentially. hes got a porkpie hat.

Thatll really make them sit up in court, said Dalziel. in!

It was breakfast, brought, to Pascoes surprise, by Elizabeth Andrews.

Hello, love, said Dalziel. , eh? The fairest fruit of the sea.

Obviously encouraged by his tone and studiously avoiding Pascoes eyes, the girl planted the tray on the desk and said in a low voice, , what happened the other night, the dancing I mean, will anyone have to know about it? Like the bursar or my parents. I wouldnt like I dont see why, love, said Dalziel, slitting open a kipper. as long as you keep on bringing me food like this. What made you decide to be a witch, love?

The girls hand went to her mouth, a completely natural example of a classic gesture.

Oh, I didnt want Im not a witch not really, I dont believe

It was just exciting, was it? And of course, Mr. Rootes very nice, isnt he?

She blushed deeply.

Yes, yes. I think so. I just went because of him. Id only been once before and then he went with me. And I thought itd be the same. Id rather thered been just the two of us. But it was dark, and it didnt seem to matter. But this time, last Thursday, it wasnt me. He explained. It was a special one, midsummer or something

Pascoe and Dalziel exchanged glances and Pascoe began consulting his pocket diary.

and he had to have someone who hadnt before. You see. It was the ceremony, that was all, hed rather have been with me.

My God! said Pascoe.

So it was Anita, instead, said Dalziel quietly.

Yes. It should have been. I didnt want to stay, but I thought if I went anyway, I was glad when someone came, before anything really happened.

You all ran?

Oh yes. I grabbed my clothes and ran as fast as I could. It wasnt until later I found Id left my bra and I wasnt going back for it then.

She managed a bit of a smile which Dalziel returned.

I dont blame you. Well let you have it back. You didnt happen to see who it was who disturbed you all?

No. Im sorry. She was too far, just a shape

She?

Oh yes. I could tell it was a woman, from the outline of the skirts, I mean. But I didnt wait to look closer.

Well, thank you very much, my dear. If theres anything else you remember, just have a chat with me, eh? And remember, mums the word.

He placed a stumpy finger across his lips and winked ludicrously. With a look of great relief on her face the girl left the room, still ignoring Pascoe.

So much for Henry, said Dalziel through a mouthful of kipper. he was wearing a kilt. Your breakfasts getting cold.