He led them into the kitchen where he knew they could sit without making themselves comfortable. Jennison had followed and was looking round hopefully for any sign of tea-making equipment.
Pascoe said, Thank you, Joker. Back on the door if you please, then turned his attention to the newcomers.
Jennisons confusion was soon explained.
The other woman was Pal Seniors sister, Lavinia Maciver.
Cressida seemed somewhat abashed by Pascoes reproof and it was left to the older woman to explain their presence.
I do not care to be troubled by either telephonic or broadcasting equipment, Mr Pascoe, so I knew nothing of this dreadful business till Mr Waverley, who likes to keep abreast of events, came round to tell me this morning, an act of true friendship, I think youll agree.
Indeed. Er, Mr Waverley?
An old friend. I was naturally shocked. Mr Waverley, thinking I would probably want more information than was available from the media, offered to drive me into town. Our first call was at my nieces house
She paused and glanced at Cressida as if inviting her input.
The younger woman seized the chance and, to Pascoes relief, injected a bit of pace into the narrative.
I was still in bed, still in shock from last night, I reckon. Anyway I got up and Aunt Vinnie and I had a heart-to-heart and we decided we needed to come and see you people and get the latest news from the horses mouth. But first we drove out to Cothersley to see Sue-Lynn. Waste of time. No sign of her. Probably it was her day at the beauticians to have her bikini line done. For some reason Aunt Vinnie suggested we called at the Hall to see Kay, but she wasnt in either, for which relief much thanks. Then we went to the hospital to see how Helen was. Stopped to buy some flowers but neednt have bothered. That Yankee bitch had been there already and the place was like Kew Gardens. Spent some time with Helen-Jase turned up as we were going so we had to rap with him too, naturally-then we headed for the cop-shop only to find no one over the rank of tea boy available, so we came on here and struck lucky. Bring us up to date, Chief Inspector.
Im afraid theres little more for me to tell you, said Pascoe. The investigation is proceeding with all possible speed. All violent deaths are treated as suspicious, but in this case I can say that nothing in the preliminary forensic reports contradicts our first impression that your brother died at his own hand.
And thats it? said Cressida incredulously.
What, wondered Pascoe, would she like me to say that wasnt it?
But he was familiar enough with the irrationalities of grief not to let the thought show.
For the time being, I fear it is, he said gently.
So what the hells a big gun like you doing out here? demanded Cressida.
This was a good question and not one to which he could offer an easy answer.
Novello said, Sir
What?
I thought I heard a noise
Was she being merely diplomatic to get him off Cresss hook?
He said, Where?
She raised her eyes to the ceiling.
Id better check, then. Excuse me, ladies.
He went out into the corridor and back to the main stair. The front door was ajar and he could see Jennisons substantial frame on the step. Not much chance of anyone having got past him. Unless they had a bum to die for.
He ran lightly up the stairs, and halted when he came to the landing.
The study door was wide open. He remembered pulling it to behind him.
He advanced quietly and looked inside.
A man hed never seen before was down on one knee by the old record player on which Pal Macivers farewell music had been played. He supported himself by leaning on a silver-topped ebony walking stick. He looked to be in his sixties and was smartly dressed in an expensive-looking mohair overcoat in charcoal grey and a black trilby.
What the hell are you doing here? demanded Pascoe.
The man rose, removed his trilby to reveal vigorous near-white hair, smiled and said, DCI Pascoe, is it? Good to meet you. Laurence Waverley. I brought Miss Maciver, both Misses Maciver, here.
Did you? Then youll know that this is a crime scene, Mr Waverley. Would you care to tell me what you are doing here without authority?
The change of tone was partly a matter of personal style but also down to the fact that, upright and face on, authority wasnt something you could accuse Mr Waverley of not having.
Reluctant though I am to shelter behind encroaching age, I have to admit to a slight prostate problem. I came upstairs in search of a loo. Idle curiosity, I fear, made me open the study door. Idle but not altogether morbid. I recall the sorrow occasioned by Mr Maciver Seniors death, and I am distressed that my dear friend, Miss Lavinia, is having to go through this dreadful experience yet again.
You knew the father then?
Waverleys gaze went to the portrait on the wall.
Only in a professional sense. We were not friends. Few people make friends of a VAT investigator.
Ah, said Pascoe, ushering him through the door on to the landing. Youre a VAT-man.
Was. Safely retired. Please accept my apologies for trespassing in this way, Chief Inspector. I should have realized the study would be treated as a crime scene until the authorities have established beyond all doubt it was suicide. That process, I presume, is not yet complete?
Why do you say that?
A DCI on site? My slight experience of the police suggests that CID likes to wash its hands of suicides as quickly as possible and get on with the investigation of real crime.
Just routine, Mr Waverley. Lets join the others.
They went down the stairs. Jennisons form was still visible through the front door. Waverley must have entered in the few moments when the constable had been in the kitchen.
Novello looked at the newcomer curiously, then raised an enquiring eyebrow at Pascoe.
Mr Laurence Waverley, he said. In search of a loo.
Cressida, who was sitting at the table looking pale and angry, didnt even glance up. Lavinia, standing at the window which gave a view of the extensive and heavily wooded rear garden, turned and smiled.
Cressida, who was sitting at the table looking pale and angry, didnt even glance up. Lavinia, standing at the window which gave a view of the extensive and heavily wooded rear garden, turned and smiled.
There you are, Mr W, she said. Would you believe it, the green peckers are still here. Do you recall the first time we met? We heard one hammering away and I was able to take you right to its nest? I wonder if theyre still using that old beech. Of course it may have blown down by now. It was quite rotten ten years ago. Shall we go out and look?
Waverley glanced at Pascoe, smiled wryly as if to say, We each deal with death in our own way, and said, Of course, my dear.
He tried the back door. It was locked. He turned to the glass-fronted key cupboard on the wall under the electricity supply box, but before he could touch it, Pascoe said, I wonder, would you mind going out of the front door?
Once let them start opening other entrances to the house, it would become a public thoroughfare. He glanced at Novello. This was a good chance for her to have a chat with Lavinia out of Cressidas presence.
She gave a little nod as if hed spoken the instruction out loud and set off after them. He returned his attention to the key cupboard. On its top there was a scatter of fine debris, plaster, mortar, the kind of stuff youd expect to accrue in an old neglected house, but thicker here than on any other surface. By contrast the tiled floor beneath looked like it had been well brushed.
Behind him there was a sound midway between a sigh and a groan from Cressida. He turned, anticipating a renewed verbal assault now they were alone, but instead found her slumped forward with her head in her hands. For a second he thought she was crying but when she raised her face to him, though pale and drawn, her cheeks were dry.
Christ, Pete, I could do with a drink, she said.
He noted that hed ceased to be a rank and become a name. Fair enough. She was Ellies friend, and if there were anything to be got out of her, he guessed it was more likely to be offered to Pete than to Chief Inspector.
She rose suddenly and started pulling open cupboard doors. Lots of crockery, but the nearest thing to booze was a row of crystal tumblers. She seemed to lose interest and flopped back down again. Pascoe stared at the tumblers. Glasses left unused for any length of time soon lose their fresh-washed shine and eventually they start collecting dust. These looked like they hadnt been touched for weeks. Or months. Maybe years. Except for two.
Carefully he picked one of them up. It left a damp circle on the shelf as if it had been recently washed and put back not quite dry.
Last night, thought Pascoe. Probably last night someone in the maternity party had wanted a glass of water. Then washed the glass-two glasses-and put them neatly back in place? Not likely, not with them all running around, in Dalziels elegant phrase, like blue-arsed fleas.
Pete, said Cressida helplessly, is there something wrong here or am I just being a pain in the arse for nothing?
He replaced the glass and closed the cupboard, taking his time. Resisting the urge to get irritable because grief had provoked someone into being a pain in the arse was easy. Resisting the equally dangerous urge to be open in response to a simple emotional appeal was much more difficult.
He sat down opposite her and said, I honestly dont know, Cress. All I know is that its my job to look for something wrong so I can be absolutely sure that nothing is. When Im sure of that, my jobs done, but it still leaves you with a brother who was depressed enough to take his own life, and you didnt see it coming. But its no use blaming yourself. Not seeing something coming doesnt make it your fault.
Well, thats a real comfort, she said with a flash of her previous aggression. Whoops. Sorry. There I go again. No, the real trouble is, being a Macivers like eating out with a bunch of people so drunk no one can remember what they had so in the end its easiest just to divide the bill so you all pay the same. In other words, were such a fucked-up family, collective guilt is the order of the day. Not that that stops us pointing the finger at each other, of course.
She broke off and fixed him with her huge, almost violet eyes.