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looked round as Patrick approached.
    â€˜Any good news?’ he asked bluntly, his voice carrying effortlessly to where I was standing near the door.
    Patrick came straight to the point. ‘I’m to assist James with the murder here until ordered otherwise. I thought you ought to be the first to know.’
    John said nothing and went back to what he was doing. Then without turning he said. ‘Your mother and I have a very good relationship with everyone in this parish.’
    Except for the black magic practitioners, one imagined.
    â€˜I’m fully aware of that,’ Patrick replied. ‘And I sincerely hope nothing I do changes that.’
    His father spun round and barked, ‘It had better not, Patrick!’
    He turned his back on the pair of us.
    â€˜It’s no good, I can’t concentrate on the job while he’s here,’ Patrick whispered when he rejoined me. ‘We’ll have to come back later.’
    â€˜Coffee with your mother then?’ I suggested.
    â€˜Oh – all right.’
    â€˜You don’t have to knock!’ Elspeth exclaimed, answering the door of the annex.
    â€˜Well, I’ve just taken a full broadside from Dad and holed below the waterline,’ Patrick said with a wry grin as we followed her into the kitchen. ‘If the rigging goes as well . . .’
    â€˜Oh, he’s like a bear with a sore head this morning. It’s this thing about women bishops. He seems to think that if we eventually get one here everyone’ll have to start calling God Madam.’ She paused in carrying the kettle across to the sink. ‘But John doesn’t usually take things out on you.’
    â€˜No, I’d just told him that I’m going to be helping James with our murder inquiry.’
    â€˜ Really? ’
    â€˜I admit he was half joking when he asked me but, as you know, the man’s always overworked and hasn’t really got anywhere with the case at all. He seems to think that because I’m an insider of the village I might be able to solve the case.’
    Elspeth filled the kettle, switched it on and then said, ‘I can foresee a bit of a problem. Some of the elderly people are already very nervous and, rightly so, are worried that someone living near them is a murderer. If you roll up and interrogate everyone like the Gestapo . . .’
    Patrick looked exasperated. ‘But—’
    â€˜Like that!’ his mother declared, pointing an accusing finger. ‘Like that! When you look like that! Cross! You’ll frighten all my old ladies silly!’
    Her son got to his feet. ‘A little rôle-play then.’ He winked at me and jerked his head in the direction of the kitchen door.
    We both left the room and closed the door behind us with Elspeth saying, ‘Where are you going? Patrick? Patrick! I’m sorry if I—’
    He knocked.
    â€˜Oh, come in,’ said Elspeth crossly.
    â€˜Mrs Gillard?’ Patrick said, breezing in.
    â€˜You jolly-well know it is.’
    â€˜My name is Patrick Gillard and I’m with the Serious Organized Crime Agency.’ Here he showed her his opened wallet in lieu of the warrant card which was still in a safe place at SOCA HQ. ‘This is my assistant Miss Langley. I was wondering if you could give us your assistance in connection with the recent murder in the village by answering a few questions.’ All this with a smile that would have made Cybermen coo.
    â€˜All right,’ Elspeth said, playing along. ‘I was just making some coffee. Would you like some?’
    â€˜Lovely,’ I said. ‘Thank you. Neither of us takes sugar.’
    Patrick seated himself at the small kitchen table and appropriated a shopping list pad and pen, which he handed to me. ‘With your permission Miss Langley will take notes.’
    Elspeth smiled at me.
    â€˜How long have you lived in the village, Mrs Gillard?’
    â€˜Getting on for