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question was
aimed at Zeke, who was as unshaven and dishevelled this morning as
the world was ever likely to see him. He turned to look at
her.
    “ See what, Mother?”
    “ This is what marriage is. Men with women, men with men, women
with women—anything. The people live together, love each other,
care for each other.”
    “ Yes, Mother, but—”
    “ But nothing, Ezekiel, ever again. Do you see how your brother
and your brother-in-law watch out for each other, even though
Gideon has been working all night, and they both are plainly sick
with exhaustion and grief?”
    Gideon
wondered if he’d curled up in a corner of the cornfield and
accidentally fallen asleep. His mother, in comparison to poor
Zeke—reddening under the onslaught—looked fresh as a daisy, and
full of business. “You’re a tremendous ally, Ma,” he said. “But
Zeke didn’t say anything to the contrary. And although we’re
pleased to see you...”
    “ It’s six in the morning, and you want to know why we’re here.”
Zeke flashed Gideon a grateful look. “I went to see Mother last
night, to tell her what had happened before she heard it from
anyone else. And it seems she had an... inspiration of some sort in
the night, and I’m afraid she wouldn’t rest until she’d phoned me
and persuaded me to drive her out here to see you. Still, we
wouldn’t have come if we’d known...”
    This was
going to be interesting. “Can I ask what you do know?”
    “ Well, that there’s been a murder. One of your local
farmers.”
    “ And is that because Mystic Meg grilling sausages over there
told you, or—”
    “ No. I’m afraid some of your neighbours were already out on the
streets when we arrived, despite the early hour. They were rather
agitated, and deeply embroiled in gossip.”
    “ I swear, one day I’m gonna swing for Darren
Prowse.”
    “ Is it a problem? Is there anything we can do?”
    Gideon
released a sigh. “No. Everything’s under control up there. Darren
found the body, and I got the Truro and Bodmin lads over straight
away. The scene’s secure. They just sent me off to shave and have a
shower, because...”
    “ Because the poor sod’s on duty in an hour.” Lee placed an
aromatic plate of sausages, toast and tomatoes in front of Gideon,
his usual ladies-first courtesy overruled by the impulse to feed
his weary husband. “Isn’t that right?”
    “ Oh, surely not,” Ma Frayne protested. “Hasn’t he been on duty
all night?”
    “ Not officially, Ma.” Gideon flickered her a reassuring smile.
“Got to put on my uniform and tour the streets of Dark like an
old-fashioned beat bobby. My constable took one look at the bits of
poor John Bowe and decided she didn’t want to be a copper
anymore.”
    “ That’s ridiculous.”
    “ I’m not so sure. The forensics assistant fainted, and he’s
been on the job for years. She’ll be okay. Just needs a bit of time
off.”
    “ But what about you, Gideon?”
    “ Oh, I’ve got my other half to protect and serve me.” Gideon
caught Lee’s hand in passing, pulled him gently down to sit next to
him. “Where’s your breakfast?”
    “ I’m okay. Not much of an appetite this morning.”
    “ Share mine. Please.” Gideon speared a piece of tomato, and was
about to pop it into Lee’s mouth on the fork before deciding the
spectacle might be too much for his ma. He loved her advocacy, but
poor Zeke was getting his arse kicked for the perceived lack of it,
a punishment he these days scarcely deserved. In his stiff-necked
way, he’d become a good friend to their relationship, and this
morning looked as bereaved as anyone could wish. Gideon let Lee
take the fork for himself. “So, Ma, I’ve got to know. What’s the
big idea?”
    “ Ezekiel and I will follow Elowen to France. He’s a church
minister, and I’m Tamsyn Elizabeth’s grandmother. I’m sure she
won’t refuse to see us.”
    She was
fragile today, underneath her valiant uniform of cashmere and
pearls. Gideon