this can’t be rushed,’ said Sir Edward.
‘I want results.’
‘We all share that desire, sir.’
‘We have to separate out the different elements in the case,’ said Marmion. ‘Several people were guilty of wilful destruction of property and looting but there are also individuals responsible for arson and murder. The perpetrators of all those crimes will be brought to book.’
Stone fell silent. His head lowered and his shoulders sagged. He seemed at once hurt and embarrassed. He ran his tongue across dry lips. Marmion and the commissioner put the sudden change of manner down to his grief at the death of his brother but that was not the case. Stone was thinking about Ruth Stein. It needed a conscious effort to force the words out.
‘There’s another crime to add to your list, Inspector,’ he said.
‘Oh?’ Marmion’s ears pricked up.
‘At the time when the shop was starting to burn down …’ He paused, gritted his teeth then blurted out the information. ‘My niece was being raped in the alley at the rear of the property.’
* * *
When they reported to their barracks that morning, they changed into their uniforms and joined the rest of the regiment in the square. Their equipment was checked by an eagle-eyed sergeant, then they climbed into an army lorry that would take them to the railway station. The general banter of their companions gave them no chance for a private conversation. In fact, it was not until they boarded a ferry in Dover that they had an opportunity to speak alone. As the two of them stood in the stern and watched the white cliffs slowly receding behind them, remorse stirred in the shorter man.
‘It was wrong, Ol,’ he said, squirming with regret. ‘What we did last night was very wrong.’
His friend sniggered. ‘It felt right to me.’
‘She was only a young girl.’
‘That’s how I like them.’
‘I can’t stop thinking about her.’
‘Why? I was the one who shagged her. You were too shit-scared to take your pants down. I juiced her up nicely for you and you ran away.’
‘I felt sorry for her.’
‘It was her own stupid fault. She should have given us a kiss.’
‘It was cruel, Ol.’
‘Forget it, will you? It’s over and done with now.’
‘Suppose she reports us to the police.’
‘Let her,’ said the taller man, spitting into the sea. ‘What use will that do? She’s got no idea who we are. The coppers would never find us in a month of Sundays. Besides,’ he went on, ‘the pair of us could be dead soon. I was determined to have at least one good shag before that happens. You should have done the same.’
‘I couldn’t,’ confessed the other. ‘I just couldn’t somehow.’
‘What was the trouble – brewer’s droop?’
‘I thought it was wrong. And – no matter what you say – I still believe we might pay for it one day.’
His friend laughed derisively. ‘Not a chance, Gatty – we’re in the clear, I tell you. If we do ever get back to Blighty, it will all have blown over.’ He slapped him on the back. ‘Now stop worrying about it, will you? Think about shooting Huns instead.’
Given the circumstances, Marmion was amazed that Miriam Stein was prepared to be interviewed about the crime. Ruth was completely unequal to the task but her mother was determined that mourning her husband would not prevent her from seeking justice for the rape of her daughter. When he reached the Stein home, Marmion found that Stone had got there before him and taken charge. His wife and two daughters were also there, as were the rabbi and some family friends who’d come to offer solace. As he entered the house, Marmion removed his hat and was conducted along a passageway by Stone. Beside every door was a symbol that it was a Jewish household. The inspector was shown into a room at the far end.
‘Wait here, please,’ said Stone. ‘I’ll fetch Mimi.’
Left alone for a couple of minutes, Marmion was able to take his bearings. He was in what
‘I want results.’
‘We all share that desire, sir.’
‘We have to separate out the different elements in the case,’ said Marmion. ‘Several people were guilty of wilful destruction of property and looting but there are also individuals responsible for arson and murder. The perpetrators of all those crimes will be brought to book.’
Stone fell silent. His head lowered and his shoulders sagged. He seemed at once hurt and embarrassed. He ran his tongue across dry lips. Marmion and the commissioner put the sudden change of manner down to his grief at the death of his brother but that was not the case. Stone was thinking about Ruth Stein. It needed a conscious effort to force the words out.
‘There’s another crime to add to your list, Inspector,’ he said.
‘Oh?’ Marmion’s ears pricked up.
‘At the time when the shop was starting to burn down …’ He paused, gritted his teeth then blurted out the information. ‘My niece was being raped in the alley at the rear of the property.’
* * *
When they reported to their barracks that morning, they changed into their uniforms and joined the rest of the regiment in the square. Their equipment was checked by an eagle-eyed sergeant, then they climbed into an army lorry that would take them to the railway station. The general banter of their companions gave them no chance for a private conversation. In fact, it was not until they boarded a ferry in Dover that they had an opportunity to speak alone. As the two of them stood in the stern and watched the white cliffs slowly receding behind them, remorse stirred in the shorter man.
‘It was wrong, Ol,’ he said, squirming with regret. ‘What we did last night was very wrong.’
His friend sniggered. ‘It felt right to me.’
‘She was only a young girl.’
‘That’s how I like them.’
‘I can’t stop thinking about her.’
‘Why? I was the one who shagged her. You were too shit-scared to take your pants down. I juiced her up nicely for you and you ran away.’
‘I felt sorry for her.’
‘It was her own stupid fault. She should have given us a kiss.’
‘It was cruel, Ol.’
‘Forget it, will you? It’s over and done with now.’
‘Suppose she reports us to the police.’
‘Let her,’ said the taller man, spitting into the sea. ‘What use will that do? She’s got no idea who we are. The coppers would never find us in a month of Sundays. Besides,’ he went on, ‘the pair of us could be dead soon. I was determined to have at least one good shag before that happens. You should have done the same.’
‘I couldn’t,’ confessed the other. ‘I just couldn’t somehow.’
‘What was the trouble – brewer’s droop?’
‘I thought it was wrong. And – no matter what you say – I still believe we might pay for it one day.’
His friend laughed derisively. ‘Not a chance, Gatty – we’re in the clear, I tell you. If we do ever get back to Blighty, it will all have blown over.’ He slapped him on the back. ‘Now stop worrying about it, will you? Think about shooting Huns instead.’
Given the circumstances, Marmion was amazed that Miriam Stein was prepared to be interviewed about the crime. Ruth was completely unequal to the task but her mother was determined that mourning her husband would not prevent her from seeking justice for the rape of her daughter. When he reached the Stein home, Marmion found that Stone had got there before him and taken charge. His wife and two daughters were also there, as were the rabbi and some family friends who’d come to offer solace. As he entered the house, Marmion removed his hat and was conducted along a passageway by Stone. Beside every door was a symbol that it was a Jewish household. The inspector was shown into a room at the far end.
‘Wait here, please,’ said Stone. ‘I’ll fetch Mimi.’
Left alone for a couple of minutes, Marmion was able to take his bearings. He was in what
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