looked round as Patrick approached.
âAny good news?â he asked bluntly, his voice carrying effortlessly to where I was standing near the door.
Patrick came straight to the point. âIâm to assist James with the murder here until ordered otherwise. I thought you ought to be the first to know.â
John said nothing and went back to what he was doing. Then without turning he said. âYour mother and I have a very good relationship with everyone in this parish.â
Except for the black magic practitioners, one imagined.
âIâm fully aware of that,â Patrick replied. âAnd I sincerely hope nothing I do changes that.â
His father spun round and barked, âIt had better not, Patrick!â
He turned his back on the pair of us.
âItâs no good, I canât concentrate on the job while heâs here,â Patrick whispered when he rejoined me. âWeâll have to come back later.â
âCoffee with your mother then?â I suggested.
âOh â all right.â
âYou donât have to knock!â Elspeth exclaimed, answering the door of the annex.
âWell, Iâve just taken a full broadside from Dad and holed below the waterline,â Patrick said with a wry grin as we followed her into the kitchen. âIf the rigging goes as well . . .â
âOh, heâs like a bear with a sore head this morning. Itâs this thing about women bishops. He seems to think that if we eventually get one here everyoneâll have to start calling God Madam.â She paused in carrying the kettle across to the sink. âBut John doesnât usually take things out on you.â
âNo, Iâd just told him that Iâm going to be helping James with our murder inquiry.â
â Really? â
âI admit he was half joking when he asked me but, as you know, the manâs always overworked and hasnât really got anywhere with the case at all. He seems to think that because Iâm an insider of the village I might be able to solve the case.â
Elspeth filled the kettle, switched it on and then said, âI 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 . . .â
Patrick looked exasperated. âButââ
âLike that!â his mother declared, pointing an accusing finger. âLike that! When you look like that! Cross! Youâll frighten all my old ladies silly!â
Her son got to his feet. âA little rôle-play then.â 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, âWhere are you going? Patrick? Patrick! Iâm sorry if Iââ
He knocked.
âOh, come in,â said Elspeth crossly.
âMrs Gillard?â Patrick said, breezing in.
âYou jolly-well know it is.â
âMy name is Patrick Gillard and Iâm with the Serious Organized Crime Agency.â Here he showed her his opened wallet in lieu of the warrant card which was still in a safe place at SOCA HQ. âThis 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.â All this with a smile that would have made Cybermen coo.
âAll right,â Elspeth said, playing along. âI was just making some coffee. Would you like some?â
âLovely,â I said. âThank you. Neither of us takes sugar.â
Patrick seated himself at the small kitchen table and appropriated a shopping list pad and pen, which he handed to me. âWith your permission Miss Langley will take notes.â
Elspeth smiled at me.
âHow long have you lived in the village, Mrs Gillard?â
âGetting on for
Natasha Solomons
Poul Anderson
Joseph Turkot
Eric Chevillard
Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child
Summer Newman
Maisey Yates
Mark Urban
Josh Greenfield
Bentley Little