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"I still consider my main office to be the street, Constable Aaronson." Chief Inspector Nicholas Angel of the Sandford and District Police Force swept his hand around to indicate the whole of the Sandford village square. "In fact, despite being in charge of the whole District now, I make the effort to spend at least two half-days walking the beat. It is by far the best way to ensure that I keep up to date with what's happening around the place."Probationary Constable Aaron A. Aaronson, recently graduated from the Police Academy and lucky enough to be assigned back to his childhood home town of Sandford, glanced around the square. He hadn't been back in the last fifteen years, but little had changed since the Battle of Sandford. The Neighbourhood Watch Alliance cameras were long gone, and the spray paint scrubbed off the walls, but there were still bullet holes left in the various stonework buildings that surrounded the cobblestoned area.One major change had been implemented though. The plaque on the front of the fountain no longer bore the names of the NWA who had been responsible for all the deaths. Instead, there was a list of the victims, with an apology from the village for allowing the killings to continue so long. Despite the urging of several residents of the village, the option for a large angel at the top of the fountain had been rejected. Most thought that it was just a bit too much, and would despoil the elegant structure. Nicholas was glad he had put the final veto in – the last thing he needed was to be compared to a fountain.Away from the square, the Police Station had been completely rebuilt in a design both modern and aesthetically pleasing, with its angular glass and steel already softened by a pair of wisteria vines climbing over the front. It was much larger than the old building, as was necessary with the increase in responsibility. Sandford was now the headquarters of the Police Force for the towns of Sandford, Buford Abbey and Foxstream, and the several local villages around them. With increased responsibility had come increased ranks, and the lead position had been upgraded five years previously to Chief Inspector. It had surprised no-one when Nicholas Angel, Inspector for the previous decade, was granted the promotion after applying and beating numerous other applicants (including his own old Sergeant and Inspectors from London).Now, he led an efficient, effective and incredibly well formulated force of thirty Police Officers of various ranks, and the time had come to train up another young Probationary Constable."I take it you heard of the body they discovered on Danderly Down?"Aaron nodded. "In a ditch, covered in heather?""That's the one.""Was it murder?""We don't know yet." Nicholas shrugged. "All we know is his name – Amaranth – and that he was one of the residents of the new Retirement Home up on the old Webley Farm. No-one had reported him missing, and you'll be part of the team heading out to his residence this afternoon to ask questions and check for any clues. Detective Inspector Thatcher had her team go over where the body was found, and there's little that gets past her. We're also waiting on the post-mortem, and there will need to be an inquest.""What do you think, sir?"Nicholas sighed. "It's not my job to jump to conclusions. It's mine to gather facts and work out the possibilities from those. For instance, observation is one of your key tools in your job. Tell me, Aaronson – of those three people approaching the newsagency, which do you think requires watching closely?"Nicholas waited as he watched the expressions on Aaron's face flit from puzzled to curious to satisfied. "Would it be the young woman with the pram?""And what makes you say that, rather than, for instance, the schoolboy with the blue jacket or the old man with the overcoat?" He was right, but Nicholas wasn't going to let him know until he'd explained himself."Well, it's cool enough to need a coat some days, so I'm not worried about that gentleman. Besides, he's just picked up the local paper and put the correct money on the bench." Aaron pointed to where the stack of papers sat outside the shop. "You're not likely to be pinching anything if you're paying honestly.""And the schoolboy?""Has his cash out ready too.""So why the lady with the pram?""Because there's no baby in it." Aaron sounded satisfied. "The blanket's tucked in, but there's no bump for the baby. I think she's going to try and pinch a couple of small things in the newsagent to make sure she's got her technique right, then head down to Summeraisles and work her way around there. Probably after the high-price stuff – coffee, chocolates, razors."This was good. Nicholas had accepted Aaron on the basis of his part in the historic battle, and was pleased that the young boy's fast reaction to Simon Skinner's attempt to use him as a hostage fifteen years before had not been a one-off. There was a smart brain and some good common sense in the young man. "Now, is it our duty to show our efficiency by making a publicly visible show of arresting that young woman?""No, sir.""Then what do you suggest?""We show our efficiency by creating an absence of crime and disorder. I think if we went into the shop and quietly let the woman know that we're onto her, she might abandon her plans." Aaron looked to Nicholas, who nodded, pleased."Excellent idea, Constable. I'll have you performing the cautioning another time, but today, watch and learn. Have you your notebook ready?"Nicholas was not disappointed. Aaron A. Aaronson tapped his pocket, then the pair entered the small shop. Separating at the centre display, they circled it from opposite directions until they reached the young woman simultaneously.She looked up defiantly. "I have a right to be here!""You do, yes." Nicholas looked her up and down. Her clothes were worn and patched, her shoes run-down, and the pram was an old one that had been painted up to look like new. Reaching down into it, he ignored her protests of you'll wake the baby! and gently pulled the blanket back.Underneath lay two tins of milk powder and a packet of disposable nappies.The woman's face went white as the Chief Inspector pulled out his own notebook and pen. "You're Hester Lovell, yes?"She didn't answer."And I'm guessing you didn't pay for these items from the supermarket?"Her shoulders slumped as Nicholas nodded to the other police officer."We have an agreement with the Head of your family. Your group can camp at the end of Callahoun Park so long as you don't try and work the town. I'm guessing that you haven't let Wester know you were coming here?".She still said nothing, and Nicholas gestured to the goods. "I should arrest you, and caution you not to say anything, but I have an idea. We're going to take these back to the supermarket, then you and I and my associate here will take a trip around to the Church Hall. You've picked the right day to be in town."The woman looked puzzled, but acquiesced silently to being escorted to the supermarket checkout, where Nicholas put the items on the cashier's desk. Five minutes later they arrived at the back of St Vincent's, where Mrs Draper took one look at the woman's thin clothes and worn shoes, and had her sit down with a cup of tea while she packed a box with some essential children's supplies. "And don't you go pinching none, either, missy. Mister Angel here might be nice once, but he doesn't hold with bad behaviour in this town. Come see me – and bring the small ones. We'll have some clothes here for them too."Nicholas led Aaron away as Mrs Draper's voice faded into a background buzz. "Hester won't be doing that again.""How can you be sure?""We're paying a visit to her people." He led the way to the park at the back of the castle, where a small campsite had been set up. An old man with an amazing spiked walking stick came up to the Chief Inspector, and after a short conversation where Elder Wester agreed to keep Hester from pinching any more stuff, Nicholas headed back to the Police Station."Can you be sure Hester will behave herself?" Aaron sounded dubious."Their people were hit by the NWA as well. It's part of the town's reparations, but it's only with agreement on both sides," Nicholas said as they turned into the front entrance. "Elder Wester is our main contact with the Travellers, and they listen to him."He would have said more, except that at that moment, Sergeant Bill Turner came rushing out of the security door. "There's been another body!"
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A slight shiver ran down Nicholas's back. Shaking himself, he took refuge in routine. "Details, Sergeant?"Sergeant Turner had taken leave from the force after the Battle of Sandford, after being severely injured when the police station was blown up. It took him five years to return, and he only worked part time. His brother Benjamin had not been on duty when the land mine exploded, but had decided that the police force was no longer for him. Now he only returned occasionally to visit his brother, his married sister Daisy Barker, and twin nephews Roger and Mark.From the look in Sergeant Turner's face, Nicholas could tell this was bad."Sorry, sir. This one looks like it was deliberate.""Remember your training, Sergeant. The facts.""Yes sir. You're right. Body of a person approximately thirty years old, IC1, found in a dumpster at the back of Summeraisles supermarket at five minutes past four when the delicatessen staff were emptying the day's leftover bread bins.""Any attempts at resuscitation?""Not as far as I can tell." The Sergeant winced. "They had been stabbed through the heart with an icecream.""An icecream?" Both Nicholas and Aaron exclaimed in unison."A cornetto that was frozen solid." Turner held out a picture that showed clearly the pointy section of the well-known cold confectionary buried deep in the chest of the victim. "Apparently, when they're delivered, it's in a box surrounded with dry ice. Those things are lethal!""And the crime scene?""DI Thatcher's got her team there right now.""Do we have any identification?" Nicholas looked at the picture again. The victim wasn't at all familiar."Yes. According to their wallet, they're known as Mx Tangerine." At Nicholas's raised eyebrow, Turner continued. "Gender non-binary, resident of the Rainbow Retirement Home, was present at breakfast this morning.""Then we need to find all their movements for the rest of the day." Nicholas shook his head. "And this then means we need to look more closely at that other body.""Do we have to, sir? It was smelly enough when they lifted it." Turner shuddered."Not like that, Sergeant. As the two victims are both from the same place, it is quite likely there is a link between the two. As soon as DI Thatcher returns, ask her to come and see me. Aaronson?""Sir?" The new recruit jumped."You'll be part of the teams gathering evidence and witness statements. So you've just got time to go and write up your observations today on Miss Lovell's actions before you're assigned to a group.""Sir!" The young constable headed for the main office and a quiet corner, while Nicholas headed for his own quarters. He had a bad feeling about all of this.Twenty minutes later, the top ranking officers of the Sandford and District Police Force sat around a table in the main meeting room with Acting Sergeant Sarah Buttle taking notes."Talk to us, Doris. What have we got?""Something's very very wrong with this one, Chief." The normally unflappable Detective Inspector Doris Thatcher looked more concerned than Nicholas had seen her in years. "The body was wrapped in some old polypropylene woven-plastic bags, previously used to hold potatoes and identified as only being delivered yesterday. Sally from the Butchery section said she dropped the out-of-date mince in the skip this morning at ten, and there was definitely no body in there then. The mince was under the body when it was lifted, and there was nothing else.""So it could have gone in any time between ten this morning and five past four." Inspector Danny Butterman was also madly taking notes as he listened to the information. "Is there a camera on that area?""Normally, yes, but it's been out of action for three weeks and Mr. Brewster, the manager, hasn't arranged for the repair." Doris pulled a bundle of large pictures out of an envelope. Two were shots of the body that Nicholas had already seen, and several were of the area surrounding the skip. Four, though, showed something different."What's that on top of the body?" Detective Sergeant Andy Wainwright pointed to the dark object clearly visible on the white plastic fabric."Just one of the strange things we found." Doris laid out a close-up. "Looks like an old arrow head – made of flint or glass or something. We're waiting on an expert to identify it. It must have been put in by whoever put the body there – there's no way you'd just chuck one of those in a dumpster and have it land so neatly. But that's not all." Another photograph joined the pile on the table. "These were inside the plastic, with the body.""Crocuses?" Sarah Buttle peered closely, then noticed everyone else looking at her. "My uncle Bob at the Gardens says they're just coming out now.""Could these be from there?" Danny asked."Possible." She wrote down the details. "I'll go ask him this afternoon.""Not you, Sergeant. It can wait until tomorrow, and I have other things I need you to do." Nicholas smiled as he told her. She knew her worth and it was no slur on her abilities – only a matter of many sudden priorities."There was one other thing." Doris flipped a page on her notebook. "There was a smell when we moved the body." She paused, then continued. "Bleach.""From the dumpster?" Nicholas asked. Everything was important."Not as far as we know." She pointed to some writing. "That thing smelt as usual – rotting meat, slimy bananas, mouldy bread. No, the smell came from inside those bags. As if someone was trying to get rid of some evidence.""Watched too many American crime shows, probably," Danny pronounced, bringing the first laugh to the room. Nicholas, though, remained stern."If they have, then that'll make things difficult. All right – here's the way we'll do this. First, we set this room up as our Incident Room. Danny, you know where the boards and markers are – get one team setting this all up while the other two are on questions. One set to the Retirement Home to get the movements of both the victims, and times and locations of the rest of the residents for today at least. One set to the supermarket and all the businesses and houses that face onto the back of it.""On it." Danny drew a line under his set of instructions as Nicholas went on."Doris?""Boss?""A cadre of yours with Andy leading to re-check the ditch on Danderly. Anything odd, anything out of place that you might have missed last time – take the lamps if you need to." Nicholas blessed his own foresight in having the high-intensity lights' battery system overhauled just two weeks before. "And the rest with Danny's team at the Home to go over the victims' rooms looking for information, checking the last time President Amaranth was seen, and tracing the movements of Mx Tangerine.""Sounds good. What about Sarah's group?""Sergeant Buttle?""Sir!"The young Constable had been acting Sergeant while Tony Fisher had been seconded to the Bath Police Academy. Plus she had her experience as a member of the teenaged graffiti group during the Battle fifteen years before. Now was her chance to really shine."Normal policing must continue while the investigation is going. Can you and your team handle the rest? Radar checks, night patrols, village rounds?"Her face lit up. "Just watch us!""Excellent." Nicholas pulled his notes together then looked at all of them. "This will be tough. We need to show that Sandford knows how to handle this. Daily briefings here, report back to me if any of you or your teams are getting overwhelmed, and be honest about it. I'll draft a statement for the press, because they'll be after something as soon as they hear about this. And I'll get in touch with the Chief Constable.The rest of the Thursday flew by as the various groups covered their ground, and the incident room was set up professionally. Photographs were up on the boards, computer catalogues cross-linked so that any common information was easily picked up on, and reports started filtering back in from the various locations. But Nicholas couldn't help feeling that this was just the start of something big. Once everything was in place, he headed home for a good night's sleep. He was certain he was going to need it.
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Friday morning dawned bright and sunny, with the trees around the village starting to turn the golden hues of autumn. Nicholas could feel the frustration building as he toured the Incident Room, although he was pleased at how ready the place looked. The Chief Constable had told him to carry on, but to keep Bath informed of any new developments. Thus, the situation at this moment this was a regional effort. But the need to do something was overwhelming, so he dealt with it the best way he knew."Constable Aaronson?"The young redhead looked up from where he was helping sort some empty file folders ready for data. "Sir?""Come with me – we have important policing to do."The constable grabbed his round-topped hat that was so much a symbol of the British Police Force, and joined his Chief Inspector in the car."Where are we off to, sir?""Tiller Memorial Gardens." Nicholas sent the car along the road to Ewok's Entrance and within a couple of minutes had arrived at the Gardens, the symbol of forgiveness and healing in the village."Arfen owt better to do?" Bob Walker, ex-PC and dedicated gardener greeted them, shaking Nicholas's hand and waving at Aaron. "Bring en youngling for fun?"After fifteen years, Nicholas no longer needed a translator for Bob's deep Somerset accent, and as an old local, it seemed that Aaron didn't either."I need some information on a crocus.""Appen Andy'll know." Bob's two main assistants, Andy Cartwright (ex-Detective Constable) and Michael Armstrong (ex-Somerfield Supermarket shelf packer) were out making the most of the autumn sunshine.The old constable gladly led his ex-colleague and the trainee through the gardens as Nicholas pointed out some of the newer features."It made sense for Lesley Tiller's extensive nursery to be turned into this beautiful park." Nicholas paused a moment and put a hand for a moment on the small Japanese Peace Lily that he had personally planted in the grounds. "There's a rose garden with the names of all the victims, and the playground in memory of the children murdered by the NWA." That had been particularly hard to deal with. That the NWA felt that the youths who had been drinking underaged in the pub should be condemned to death … above all, that had disgusted him the most. "And there's the statue of the Living Statue."Sure enough, at the side of one of the paths stood a copy of the Living Statue who had been another victim of the NWA. It was hard to walk past – Nicholas felt that at any moment, it would start moving.Up ahead, near the playground, Michael Armstrong was tolerating the taunts of the local school children."Hey Lurch!" One boy in particular was being particularly rude."Yarp?" Michael, his large round face looking rather puzzled, was patiently waiting for the boy's question."What's this blue covering called?""Tarp!"The children giggled, and Michael seemed pleased that he could help them but puzzled by the request. At that moment, the children caught sight of the approaching police, and scattered. Michael remained, his hands folded over the top of a rake handle, and a pile of fallen leaves at his feet."Nice work, Michael!" Bob said as he approached. "See if you carn git all 'em leaves in t'compost afore sunset."Michael's face brightened even more as he nodded. "Yarp!""Wasn't he one of the NWA?" Aaron asked as they went on to the Annuals and Perennials greenhouse. "I thought they were all behind bars still.""Not Michael." Nicholas looked back to where the tall man was making good progress with the leaves. "The court agreed that he had been led into being part of the whole scheme by Skinner, and that he really didn't have the mental capacity to know what he was doing. He had a terrible two years in jail, then there was a petition to release him on parole. Bob here had already retired, and Andy was badly injured in the Mine Explosion, and together they started turning Lesley Tiller's Nursery into the gardens we see now. It turned out to be something Michael excelled at – he adores working with the plants and especially his prize fishpond. He's been here ever since."They came up to the greenhouse where Andy Cartwright was repotting a raspberry cane."Well if it isn't Knickerless Crockett.""Good to see you too, Andy." Nicholas didn't mind the nicknames – they were said with affection these days. "Fancy helping in an investigation for us?""Depends." His hands deftly around the raspberry cane, he worked it gently into its place in the pot, then looked at Nicholas. "Do I need to come up to the station?""Just have a look at this and tell me what you know." Nicholas held out the photograph of the flowers found on Mx Tangerine's body. Andy briefly washed his hands and dried them on his apron, then took the pictures and looked closely at them."Wondered who'd taken them.""You know these flowers?" Nicholas asked, and indicated to Aaron that he should take notes."Crocus sativus, native to the Middle East, grown in warm places around Britain, and carefully nurtured at the back of the gardens by myself and my esteemed colleagues." Andy tapped the picture. "Took us three years to finally get them to grow from the bulbs, and then yesterday some filthy blighter went and swiped half a dozen of them. Michael's furious, by the way, and you don't want him angry.""I can imagine." Nicholas winced. An angry Lurch was not something to be encouraged. "You don't happen to know what time they went missing?""They were there when I took the wheelbarrows down to the lower shed at 7am, but definitely gone by midday. Can't help you more than that.""Let us know if you find anything else out of place then.""Do you think it's more than just the two?""Don't know yet. I hope not." Nicholas shrugged. "But we need to stop whoever it is."Andy grinned. "If anyone can find them, you can." Then he looked again at Aaron. "Young Aaronson? How's your dad?""Loving looking after the models at Lego World. But I think he misses the village.""Say hello from me then, next time you're in touch. We used to be in school together." Andy shook Aaron's hand, then Nicholas's. "Later, Crockett."The two policemen walked out, Aaron writing the last information on his notepad. "Excuse me, sir – may I ask a question?""Always, Constable. It's an important way to learn.""Why did he call you Crockett?""A reference to an old television show. You've heard of Davy Crockett?""I … think so.""He had a saying, apparently. Always be sure you are right, then go ahead." Nicholas grinned. "I think it fits me.""Oh." Aaron shook his head. "What now, sir?""Sergeant Buttle asked for someone to run the speed camera down at the bypass on the Buford Abbey Road. Have you ever run one?""Only in training.""Then it's time you learned."
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People coming from London who had started out in the morning tended to be a bit tired and frazzled by this time in the afternoon, and also tended not to check the speed signs as carefully as they ought to. Nicholas had spent many a long hour in the layby, although a lot less now as the number of pips on his epaulets increased. Teaching a new student to use the equipment though was always a buzz, and Nicholas took Aaron through the workings of the camera first off, then set him taking note of the speeds of the cars that passed.The quiet country road had a speed limit of 30 miles per hour (Nicholas wished that the speeds would catch up with the rest of metrication) and for the first ten minutes, all the light traffic that passed was behaving. He had Aaron read off the speed and give the car details, but it was taking a while to get into the rhythm."Twenty-seven.""Make and model?""Oh, sorry – white Volkswagon beetle. Twenty-nine, red Renault Fuego.""Good.""Navy Range Rover.""And?""Bother. Twenty – five, I think?""Twenty-six. Still under."At that moment, the detector pinged wildly as a shiny black sports car whizzed down the road."Thirty-seven, black Jaguar S-type!" Aaron's excitement was obvious."Let us go." Nicholas sat back as Aaron hit the button for the siren and the flashing blue light. Within a minute they had caught up to the saloon car and escorted it to the side of the road in a safe manner. The occupant, an older woman dressed in black, opened the window and smiled ruefully."Was I over, officers?"Nicholas gestured for Aaron to take charge, ready to step in if the probationary constable did anything that would ruin the charge."Yes, madam. May I see your licence?" Aaron's voice was slightly wavery, as he performed his first legal proceeding.She handed the small card over with no fuss, the black glass beads on her necklace jingling as she did. Nicholas was relieved to see that, unlike so many other drivers, she wasn't protesting or complaining. He was also pleased to see Aaron jotting down what the woman said as it happened."I'm most terribly sorry. I've just come back from three days in London, and I probably should have taken a break before now.""How long have you been driving for, in this stretch?" Nicholas nodded as Aaron asked the important question. He might be a raw recruit, but he had obviously studied and remembered the proper forms."A bit over two hours, I think. How fast was I going?""Thirty-seven miles per hour," Aaron replied. "That's seven over the limit, Mrs Obsidian.""My own mistake." She shook her head. "So what happens now?""If you'll excuse us a moment, madam," Nicholas interjected, "I'm going to have a quick word with my colleague."They stepped to the side, and Aaron looked worried. "Did I do something wrong?""No, you were fine. Now you have to make a decision. The woman was in the wrong, but has admitted it and shown contrition. Seven miles per hour over the limit isn't a great deal, so this is where you get to choose whether to show leniency." Nicholas pointed to the woman. "But there's one thing you must do before you decide.""Check her record?""Correct. The computer is in the car. I'll keep an eye on her while you do that."He watched Aaron head to the patrol car, and then walked over to the woman's vehicle and looked it over. There was nothing alarming there – it had a current registration disk, looked as if she did own it, and she was obviously familiar with the controls.At that moment, the woman spoke."Would it be all right, do you think, if I got out and stretched my legs?""Yes, madam. But please don't go too far, and especially not onto the road." Nicholas hoped she understood why – the paperwork if she were injured would be horrific. Not to mention it being unpleasant for her. He watched her warily as she opened the door and stepped out. Her black sequinned shoes sparkled in the late afternoon sun, and her black velvet dress exuded elegance and expense.At that moment Aaron returned, the licence held out. "Thank you for your patience, Mrs Obsidian," he said as he handed it back. "In light of how little you were over the limit, and your obvious acknowledgement that you knew you were in the wrong, I am letting you off with a caution this time. Please keep to the limit from now on.""That's very sweet of you, Constable." She smiled, a knowing smile that made Nicholas wonder if he had made a mistake suggesting this path of action to Constable Aaronson. "May I go now?""You may. Have a pleasant day."She turned to go, then swung back again. "By the way, it's not Mrs.""I beg your pardon. What title do you prefer?" Aaron said."It's Dame. Dame Obsidian." With that, she got back into the car and drove safely off."Do you know her, Chief Inspector?" Aaron was looking after the car as it disappeared up the road."Not at all." Nicholas held out his hand, and Aaron handed over his notebook. "Ah, no wonder. She's from the Rainbow Retirement Home.""She doesn't look so very retired," Aaron said. "But isn't that where the murder victims are from? I wonder if she knows them.""I think it's time I had a look at the place myself." o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o The new Retirement Home was built on the site of George Merchant's house, which had been damaged beyond repair by the gas explosion that had killed the whitegoods manufacturer. His heirs, unwilling to own a place where their relative had been so gruesomely killed, sold the land to a developer who had taken advantage of the growing need for accommodation suitable for an aging population. The sign at the front entrance declared the owner to be I. Irratino. Nicholas rang the doorbell, and was greeted by an elderly man with greying brown hair wearing a worn and faded grey robe with peaks on the collar."Mr Irratino?"The old man shook his head. "I am Eminence.""Are you the manager then?"The old man laughed. "I manage, yes. I manage the clothes. The towels. The floors. Everything is my managing.""Oh." The caretaker, obviously. "Could you take us to Mr Irratino's office please?"The old man bowed, and indicated that the two should follow him. The hallways were luxurious, carpeted and hung with real paintings of some artistic merit, and the scents wafting from the dining room hinted at a plethora of cuisines. In a minute they were at a large oak door with the brass nameplate of the owner on it. It stood slightly open, and the caretaker knocked once and opened it for the police officers.At the desk sat a man in a suit that was more colours than Nicholas was used to seeing at once. His office was filled with objects of esoterica – crystal balls and Ouija boards and on one wall, a silver-tipped divining rod. But Nicholas's observations were interrupted as the man stood and bowed."May I help you? The stars say that I can. I am Inspector Irratino."
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Shortly afterwards, Nicholas and Aaron were seated on a low, soft velvet sofa, and holding cups of tea that exuded a spicy aroma Nicholas could not place."You have met the Viscount. Good. He is a hard worker. Now, you are here to help me solve the mysteries of the murders of my clients?" Irratino helped himself to a small shortbread biscuit from a plate. "They are with me for their own safety as well as everyone else's. It is a stain upon the honour of my Home that two of them have been so cruelly taken before their time.""I think you'll find it's our job to solve the mysteries," Nicholas replied. "The Sandford and District Police Force is investigating as we speak.""Ah, but you see, I am one of you." The owner put his teacup down and reached behind him for a small statuette. Handing it to Nicholas, he gestured with his hands. "I am Inspector Irratino. My skills are renown. I work closely with some of the best deductives in the business. Of course I am working with you!""At the moment," Nicholas went on, unfazed, "your best contribution will be your assistance with giving us all the access we need to continue, and to let us know if there was anything connecting the two victims that might be important.""Of course there was! They both lived here! Your people came yesterday and today to check their rooms, to read their mail, to verify their identities." Irratino seemed surprised that the police hadn't worked this out already."But why were they here? What is the purpose of this Home?" Nicholas wrote as he asked."All my residents are murderers."If Irratino had expected a reaction from the police officers, he was not disappointed. Aaron almost dropped his tea, and Nicholas went as far as to blot his pen in surprise."Murderers?""Who have paid their debts to society." Irratino offered the biscuit plate around, then shrugged when no-one took advantage of it. "All of them have at one time or another been involved in a murder of most ghastly import, but they were caught and served their time. However, a quiet agreement with His Majesty's Government meant that they would be moved here, to this quiet part of the countryside, to live out their retirements.""Are their movements limited at all?" Nicholas wondered how many were involved."Not at all." Irratino gestured to a timetable lying on the table. "We have a community bus that takes them into Sandford, Buford Abbey, and on excursions around the area on Sundays. Many of my clients have their own vehicles, although some prefer just to walk. They are at liberty to come and go as they please.""Do you keep any sort of a record of them then? Their movements in and out of the Home?"At this, Irratino held up a small blue electronic tag. "They each have one of these to open the doors to their rooms, to the garage and to the front door.""So by looking at the logs of the use of these tags, we could tell who was where?""Alas, no. For some reason, the tags do not work, the logs do not log and the movements, they are not recorded. I am sorry, Chief Inspector, that I cannot be of any more help." Irratino sighed and ate the last biscuit."Then how many residents do you have here?""Our numbers have been increasing all the time. Now, we have about forty." Irratino sighed. "No. We have thirty-eight. Poor Amaranth. Poor Tangerine."Nicholas gestured for Aaron to get ready to go, and stood himself, putting his hat back on. "I need to take this information back to the station, but thank you for your help.""Inspector?""Yes, Mr … Inspector?""I have a friend who will be coming down tomorrow to help you. Shall I send him to the station?"With a sigh for all the amateur detectives that seemed to be around, Nicholas nodded. "What's his name?""Deductive Logico.""I'll keep a look out for him." Nicholas headed out the door, and along the corridor, with Aaron trailing behind.Turning the last corner before the front door, they heard a loud Hello There! behind them, and turned to see Dame Obsidian along the other end of the corridor."Officers! So good to see you again. Are you here about the murders?""Madam, we are." Aaron seemed a little overawed by the woman, but Nicholas would allow no one person's rank to intimidate him."Yes, Dame Obsidian, our investigations require us to check every fact.""That is so reassuring to hear." She sighed and clutched her black glassy beads. "Amaranth was a colleague, and Tangerine a friend. And I know how much work it takes to find out the murderers. I was just telling my close confident Miss Saffron all about how professional your people are. She wanted me to test her new fruit cake recipe, but then the murders were all we could talk about. She wanted me to look into them for her!""You're a detective too?" Nicholas prayed it would not be the case, and was reassured when she shook her head."No, not at all." Holding out a business card (black, with grey writing), she smiled. "I'm a murder mystery writer." o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o "Did he … did I mishear Inspector Irratino then? Did he call his friend Deductive instead of Detective?" Aaron went for the passenger seat, but Nicholas pointed for him to drive instead."He did, yes. Could be an Italian affectation.""Not one I've heard." Aaron put his hat in the back seat and started the car up. "I lived there for several years, and I'm pretty sure that's not an Italian word.""Even so, we should go back to the station and make sure we've passed all that information to the team." Nicholas sighed. "Somehow, I don't think there's only going to be two."
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Saturday was grey and threatened drizzle, but the rain held off all morning. Thank goodness thought Nicholas as he headed for the Annual Craft and Cake Fair at St Vincents. While originally held in the church hall, the size of the competition had expanded greatly over the past few years, and now three extra marquees were needed to hold all the different entries. It was normally a peaceful affair, although the previous year's anguished disagreement over the best marmalade had been an exception (and the sticky mess from the thrown marmalade jars had taken a week to clean up). However, for the sake of safety and sanity, Sandford and District Police Force maintained a visible presence around the hall, the tents, the entrance gate and the church entrance. He noted that as soon as they arrived, Madam Christina the Fortune Teller shot them a foul look and closed down her stall. Previously known as Tina from the Somerfield Supermarket, she had been cautioned more than once for telling fortunes that exceeded the limits placed by the laws that governed such activities. Nicholas had no doubt she was crossing that line once more.The competitions were fierce but civilised. No-one begrudged Mrs Wainwright the first prize in the knitting for her fair-isle jumper strewn with caricatures of the council – the subject matter may have been irreverent but the execution was perfect. The winner of the best fruitcake was Miss Saffron from the Rainbow Retirement Home, and Dr Crimson, also from the Retirement Home, came second in the Macrame category, claiming that her expertise in tying sutures had been of great assistance."And the prize for the best marmalade this year goes to … Tony Fisher, who came back to Sandford for the sole purpose of entering the competition. I had no idea our Police Force held such talent. Well done, Tony." Nicholas handed the prize to Sergeant Fisher, then stepped off the podium, glad that this year's entries had gone through without controversy.The fair wound down as four o'clock approached, and the threatening drizzle finally blew in. Nicholas was just having one final review of the proceedings with Sergeant Buttle, who had been in charge of the Fair Protection squad, when Constable Chandler came hurrying up to both of them."A problem, Constable?""Begging your pardons for interrupting, sir, but Inspector Butterman needs you around the back of the Sexton's hut.""Any idea what for?""Sorry sir, no. But he did say it was urgent."Nicholas and Sarah looked at each other, then headed over at a brisk walk. There, they found Danny directing three other police officers to cordon off the area, set up some tarpaulins to protect a cart, and try and keep back bystanders."Danny?""We've got another one."The yellow shoes protruding from under the largest covering cloth seemed vaguely familiar to Nicholas, and when they uncovered the face, he knew. Miss Saffron, friend of Dame Obsidian, and recent winner of the Best Fruitcake prize, lay in the dirt that had until very recently been protected from the rain by a delivery cart, according to the witness who had driven the cart off and found her. Her face was anguished, and one fist was clenched tight. An envelope was visible in her cleavage, and Aaron reached for it then stopped before Nicholas could tell him to."Can I be of assistance, officers?" Dr Crimson was behind them, still clutching the second prize ribbon.Behind her, a tall man with grey-brown hair waved his hand. "Or I could?""Your name, sir?""Tha… that's my business.""And policing is mine.""Fine. It's Mr Gallus.""Then," said Nicholas, "Mr Gallus, I appreciate the offer, but we need qualified medical assistance here. Dr Crimson, if you would?" He lifted the tape Constable Chandler had already laid around the scene, and escorted her in, ignoring the signs of disgust on the other man's face."I believe Inspector Butterman checked for signs of life." Nicholas pointed to Danny, who nodded."No pulse, quite cold, blood starting to settle in the limbs, no signs of stiffness." Danny checked his notebook. "I've touched the body as little as possible, but maybe the doctor could estimate a time of death?""One second." The doctor pulled out an ear thermometer and applied it, noting the temperature when it beeped, then gently picked up one hand and flexed a finger. "You're right about the stiffness. Temperature is 36C, so allowing for the personal idiosyncrasies of the human body, anything from half an hour to two hours – no more.""Time now?" Nicholas asked, noting the details in his book."Eleven minutes past four." Aaron checked on his watch."I gave this woman the prize for her fruitcake at two-thirty, so obviously she died after that. And the rain started at three fifty-two. When was the body discovered?""On the dot of four." Aaron checked his own notebook. "Fred Hauler here fastened his horse back up to it then, and was heading off to load up the tombola stall when he saw the body. But how can you tell when the rain started?""I glanced at my watch, because I had hoped it would hold off until tonight." Nicholas pointed to the ground around the woman. "Any small piece of information can be essential in these cases. Can you see, Constable, that the ground under her is still dry, especially at her feet which are wet from the rain? She must have been placed beneath the cart there before the rain started. She may have died shortly after two-thirty, and she was here before three fifty-two.""Excellent work, Chief Inspector!" A man with dark hair and a long black coat came through the police cordon, ignoring the attempts by Sergeant Buttle to stop him. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Deductive Logico, and I believe I can be of assistance.""I don't know the title, and only police officers are allowed on the crime scene," Nicholas remonstrated."My credentials!" Logico presented his badge and warrant card, which bore a rainbow logo around the edges. "I am from the Special Task Squad in charge of anything to do with murders and the members of the Rainbow Retirement Home. I was asked to come and assist with the investigation, but I can see I was too late to prevent another death." He looked down on the woman lying in the mud. "Poor Miss Saffron. But perhaps we can find something to stop any further incidents?""Any information will be of assistance." Nicholas shook the other's hand. "I suggest we vacate this area and leave it to my own Detective Inspector. Would you care to join me?"As DI Thatcher and her team moved in with the cameras and all the necessary recording devices, Nicholas left Aaron to help with the cordon while he led Danny and Deductive Logico back to the station."What cases have you worked on?" Danny asked as they made their way through the light drizzle and darkening streets of Sandford."Ah, my friend, the residents of the Rainbow Home make enough cases for many deductives. I have been kept busy these last few years with their antics, and yet it seems as if the same people are involved over and over. Believe me, we will have our work cut out for us if my instincts are right.""Danny, could you take our guest for a cup of tea? I've just remembered something I need to do." Nicholas left the pair heading to the well-equipped canteen, then hurried to his office and rang the Chief Constable of the MET."Nicholas! How are things going with the new cases?""It's looking rather familiar," Nicholas sighed. The Chief, formerly his own Inspector in his days as a London Constable, had got over his frustration at Nicholas's insistence at staying in Sandford, but was a professional."So how can I help?""Did you send me someone?""Italian-sounding chap, from the Rainbow Task Force? Name of Logico?""Good. Just wanted to check he was legitimate.""Oh, he's an odd one. But he gets results through logic and deduction, so we can certainly use him. I thought he might be some assistance for your two murders.""Three.""Bother. That's what you meant by familiar?""Let us hope there aren't any more." Nicholas jotted down some notes."Indeed. Call me if you need any help.""Shall do, sir. And thank you."Hanging up the phone, Nicholas shook his head. It might be time to call for reinforcements, but this Logico would be a bonus.He collected Logico and Danny from the canteen, and requisitioned a tray of fresh shortbread for the Incident Room. The first information was coming in already from the third death, and Andy was pinning the crime scene photographs to a third board."Sir?" Andy greeted his Chief."Deductive Logico has been sent from London." Nicholas led Logico to a spare desk at the back. "We'll have your entry card, login and ID done in the next hour … please excuse me, but what rank are you?""Do you not have Deductives in your Sandford Force?""Detectives, yes. But they have an auxiliary rank too – Constable, Sergeant, Inspector. DS Wainwright here is a Detective Sergeant. This is just so that I can tell people the best way to address you respectfully.""Respect is good, Chief Inspector. They may just call me Logico – that is respect enough."Logico was soon at the boards, combing over them closely as Andy explained the findings."This is the first place, sir. We thought it was just a case of a walker getting lost in the fog and dying of exposure, until the second death. When we re-checked, we found a small glass bead. Their wallet was missing though. Second one, odd. A crocus, a strange arrowhead, and a smell of bleach. DC Pingor, what do we have so far on the third?""The body's been moved to the mortuary. Objects found on or around the body are an empty envelope marked "Fine Columbian" and tucked inside the woman's bodice; a ripped label from a box of baklava underneath her; and she was clutching a small golden screw in her left hand. Cause of death seems to be a heavy blow to the skull by a semi-solid object, namely a fruit cake." The young Detective Constable was reading from her own notebook."Fruit cake? But she just won the competition with hers, and it definitely wasn't solid enough to kill her!" Nicholas gulped. He had tasted that cake."Then it wasn't hers." Andy nodded. "Find the fruitcake, and we'll find the …""Careful, Andy.""… murderer." Andy muttered.
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Nicholas accompanied Deductive Logico to the Swan Hotel, made sure he was well settled, and all while noticing that Mr Gallus from earlier was settled in the lounge with a brandy and a magazine and shooting the pair some filthy looks."Chief Inspector?""Yes, Logico? And you can call me Chief, or Nicholas when we're being informal.""Thank you, Chief. I would like to join you tomorrow to discuss the cases so far."The next day was Sunday, but murder knew no timetable. "Would you like breakfast at the station? Myrtle in the canteen does an excellent bubble-and-squeak.""Tomorrow at nine?""I'll see you then." There were compensations to having to work on a Sunday, and Myrtle's food was one of them. Nicholas looked forward to a decent night's sleep before a delicious breakfast.It was not to be. At 6.10 am, twenty minutes before the usual time, his phone rang, and he lifted it with a soon-justified feeling of dread."Nicholas?" Danny sounded as tired as he did."Another one?""'Fraid so.""Where?""Swan pit. Peter Staker called it in.""I'll be there in ten. Call the Hotel and tell Dete… er … Deductive Logico, and then call Bath and let the Deputy Chief Constable know I'll need twenty extra constables and a couple of sergeants as well.""Shall do."Nicholas had perfected the art of fast dressing by ensuring his clothes were out ready every night before he went to bed. He arrived at the scene, dressed immaculately as always, only eight minutes after the call, to find a cordon already up and Doris and her team wearily gathering evidence.Beckoning Doris over, he looked around the site. A pair of feet were sticking out of the pit, incongruous with all the swans around. The Swan Pit was originally designed to ensure a regular supply of swans for the stomachs of local bishops and lords, and had been a tourist attraction since the nineteenth century. Mr Staker had been the custodian of the swans for the last twenty years, and had put aside his grudge against Nicholas (following an unfortunate misinterpretation of his name) following the safe return of his prize swan. Now the swans had been kept inside their sheds, and Mr Staker was waiting patiently at the side, giving his statement to Andy Wainwright."One of the Rainbow residents, Chief. One we've met – Doctor Crimson.""What? She was just helping us yesterday!" Nicholas looked again at the feet – the red shoes were rather distinctive once you saw past the mud. "What does it look like?""Not an accident, that's for sure." Doris grimaced. "Choked. Had a fish shoved down her throat. And her hand's been cut up pretty badly.""Defensive wounds?""Looks like it." Doris held up her own right one. "Especially since it seems she grabbed the weapon. Some sort of scalpel – possibly one of her own. Bagged and tagged the entire hand after we photographed it.""Excellent work as always.""You know me. Keep it covered if you want to keep it safe." They giggled a little, more to relieve the tension than anything else. "Mr Staker found the body this morning when he came to open the sheds at 5:30. He's kept the area clear – came close enough to see if she was dead, but didn’t touch her.""Very well." Nicholas strode over to Mr Staker, who was looking rather shaken. "Are you all right, sir? Can we call anyone to be with you?""I just didn't think I'd ever find one. This is the fourth?""It does seem to be." Nicholas noted the last bit of colour leave Mr Staker's face, and quickly took his elbow and helped him to a low stone to sit down with his head between his knees. Gesturing to DC Pingor, he asked her to find a drink of water for Mr Staker, and to sit with him until he felt better.Arriving back at the station an hour later, he found Logico in the Incident Room, looking through the computer records of the witness statements from the previous murders."Good morning, Chief. I hear we have another victim. One of mine?""Doctor Crimson."Logico looked puzzled. "I am surprised. I had a theory, and now that theory is gone. Will you give me the details?""Over breakfast." Nicholas took him to the canteen queue, and recommended various dishes, but after viewing the kippers, found he had lost his own appetite."Is there a problem with the smoked food, Chief?""The murder weapon may have been a fish." Nicholas sighed."Then I am not surprised. I believe you British have a strong faith in the restorative powers of a good cup of tea." Logico passed over a full mug and a couple of sugar packets.They sat, and Nicholas brought Logico up to date on the developments. "And you had a theory?""Only that, to date, the murders had been in the order of the colours of the rainbow, just as the name of the retirement home suggests. Amaranth is a red colour, Tangerine of course is orange, and Saffron is a gentle yellow. But Crimson does not fit that theory, so I must discard it and consider something else." Logico shrugged. "I have heard it said that theories must be held with only the strength necessary to restrain a feather, for with new evidence may come new theories.""I'm glad." Nicholas sipped the tea, which was helping."Why?""Because that may mean the murders are finished. If they were based on the colours of the rainbow, there would be another four.""Or three.""But the rainbow? Red orange yellow green blue indigo violet," Nicholas explained."And it is a spectrum, so there are no definitive divisions between them. I believe it was your great scientist Isaac Newton who declared there should be seven, as he had strong beliefs that the number was related to things holy and sacred, rather than just scientific. No, my friend, even though my own theory is incorrect, there should only be six colours in the rainbow.""Then I shall let that theory of mine float away feather-like." Nicholas grinned. "And thank you. You were right about the tea. I should have some toast as well, and then we can check the Incident room. Plus I have an idea.""What is your idea, my friend?""We should speak to an expert about that fish."Two hours later, the pair travelled out to the Tiller Memorial Gardens, where a brief bout of sunshine revealed the colours of the autumn leaves in full display. Nicholas, Logico and Aaron (who had been seconded to assist) walked briskly down the paths to where the fishponds lay sparkling. Once more, Michael Armstrong was surrounded by older children and teens, and was the butt of their teasing. He looked puzzled, as if not sure what his tormenters were doing, and Nicholas arrived just as the last taunt was launched."Hey Lurch!""Yarp?" Michael sounded tired, and close to tears."What sort of fish are those?" The boy, aged about fifteen, was pointing in the pond."Carp!" Michael announced, then looked baffled as the children laughed.Nicholas strode up behind the boy, and tapped him on the shoulder. As the lad turned, the rest fell silent, and the boy's eyes widened in fear."Mark Barker. I should have known.""Nnnooo sir. I'm Roger.""You're Mark. Don't try to weasel out of it." Nicholas was not going to mention how he knew, but there was a small mole on Mark's face on the right side of his nose which made distinguishing him from his twin brother just that much easier. "What do you think you're doing?""It's just a bit of harmless fun, honest." The kid sounded panicked. "Lurch doesn't mind, do you?"Michael did not reply, and a single tear started down his cheek."You've caused enough trouble, young Barker. Go home, and hope I don't come and talk to your mother about it."The lad turned even whiter, and started running out of the garden with the rest of his cadre. Michael looked to Nicholas, still obviously distressed, and Nicholas realised he would need to be careful. "Shall we go get a mineral?""Yarp!"Logico started. "You wish to feed minerals to this man?""Mineral water." Nicholas laughed. "It's one thing I've learned around the world – everyone has a different name for them. Soda, pop, fizzy drinks – here, it's minerals."Five minutes later, Michael was sipping a cola and looking a lot more relaxed, so much so that Nicholas felt he could ask the questions that needed answers."Michael, I need to ask you about your fish.""Carp?""Carp.""Yarp?"Nicholas opened his notebook and started taking the conversation down. "We think someone used a fish today for … a not very nice thing. Are you missing any?""Carp?""Ya… yes.""Narp."Bother. But he had to be sure. Pulling out the photo of the fish that had finally been removed from Doctor Crimson's throat, Nicholas slid it over to Michael."Is this a carp?""Carp?""Is it?""Narp!" Michael seemed certain. He pointed down the path outside. "Carp!" Pointing to the picture, he shook his head emphatically. "Narp!""Thank you, Michael. You have been very helpful." Nicholas stood and shook his hand, trying not to wince too much at the pressure the large man's hand inflicted.Michael smiled, then went to pick up his cola glass, but misjudged the distance and knocked it over. Before Nicholas could stop him, he'd grabbed a piece of broken glass, and looked in dismay at the small cut it made."Watch out!" Nicholas said, a moment too late. Michael held his hand up, a single drop of blood sliding down."Sharp!"
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Tuesday. Two days had gone by, and no new bodies. Two days where Nicholas held his breath every time the phone rang, and hoped beyond hope that this would be the end of it. Logico was also busy mapping out clues and working through witness statements looking for those extra snippets of information that would give them the breakthrough they needed. Tuesday so far had been quiet – too quiet – when Aaron knocked on Nicholas's office door and stuck his head in."Visitor for you, Chief."Nicholas looked up as Aaron continued. "It's that lady we pulled up for speeding – Dame Obsidian.""Show her to Interview Room 2 then please." Nicholas locked his computer and headed over himself.As he reached the room, Aaron was escorting Dame Obsidian inside. "Elder Wester is downstairs too, and he's brought Hester. He says it's important.""He's never come to see me unless it is. Pop them in Interview 1, and bring them tea, would you? Keep them company until I get there."Aaron nodded, and Nicholas entered the interview room. The Dame was not under arrest or being questioned, but Nicholas took his notebook anyway."Thank you for seeing me, Chief Inspector," she said as he walked in. "I am most terribly worried, and I thought you might be able to help me.""I'll do what I can," he replied, sitting down opposite her. "What's happened?""It's my dear friend Signor Emerald." She pulled out a small, elegant black handkerchief and dabbed her eyes. "We always play chess on a Monday, and yesterday he didn't come to my rooms at all. He is terribly punctual. Never fails to send a note if he's going to be even five minutes late. I sat there in the recreation room for an hour, and he didn't show.""Was he perhaps just delayed? Busy?" Nicholas couldn't help thinking of how green emeralds are."I asked Inspector Irratino, and he said that the Signor hasn't been seen since Sunday. You don't suppose …?""That he's been murdered? I hope not." Nicholas felt his insides turn cold. "I really really hope not. Can you tell me when you saw him last?""He was heading out on a walk around the village on Sunday. Said he wanted to trace the path of the old mill stream. Could you … would you keep a special look out for him, Chief Inspector?" She was close to tears now. ""I shall certainly do my best. I'll let my teams know – they're excellent. And you can be the best help by telling me if you hear anything you think I should know.""Thank you." She stood and he motioned her to wait. Going to the next room, he asked Aaron to escort Dame Obsidian out, while he went to the other room where Elder Wester and Hester Lovell were waiting.The aged Traveller, his fine tweed coat proclaiming his status, nodded as Nicholas came in. Hester just looked uncomfortable."Mr Wester?""Chief Inspector.""How can I be of assistance this morning?""There must be an exchange."Nicholas knew the format. The Traveller Chief had something he wanted, and wished for something in return. "We shall decide. What is it you want?""Missus Tina is taking our bread. Our people tell the fortunes. We read it from the sky, from the earth, from the wind. We read it from our hearts. She is reading it from her head, and she does not speak true."Nicholas was not going to get into a fight over who had the rights to tell fortunes around the place, nor which was the more authentic, but he nodded. "Let me hear what Miss Lovell has to say, and I shall decide."The Traveller nodded to his young companion. "Tell him, Granddaughter, what you told me about the one come to fill his father's place. And straight, mind."Hester gulped."I was down by Swan Pit Saturday night.""Doing owt good," her grandfather said, and Nicholas gestured to hush him and for her to continue.She glared at her grandfather and went on."Heard voices. Man and a woman. She said What did you know and Who was doing it, and he said he … I am not allowed to say these words or my grandfather will beat me." She glowered at the old man beside her."I shall allow it this time. You are not saying them for yourself – you are repeating what the gadjo said." Wester sat back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest to indicate he wasn't going to use them on the young woman.Hester blushed and leaned forward to Nicholas. "I only tell you this because you were good to me, and to my people. He said No filthy murdering cunt is going to take my father's place. And then I looked and he was holding the woman and had his hand on her face. For a moment she was trying to scream, but then he dropped her and she stopped, and flapped like a fish on land."She stopped and shuddered, and her grandfather reached over and gently patted her shoulder."You have done well, shey."Nicholas nodded. "You have, Hester. I just need to clarify a couple of points. Do you remember what time this was?"She threw a scared glance at her grandfather, who kept patting her. "This time, child, you will not be in trouble for telling where you were, for you are helping our people and his by the telling."Hester nodded. "It was just after one. I heard t'owd bell ring as I left the camp, and it takes no more than five minutes to get to the pit."Nicholas wrote all this down. "And what were you going to do there?"She shook her head, and her grandfather grumbled."Was it another boy, that you are aiming to shame our people again?""It will not be shame," she replied. "He loves me, and my baby. But he did not come. I saw him yesterday and he had been working and could not let me know." Hester glared at her grandfather. "I will bring him to meet you when the time is right, and you will know to approve.""So you were going to meet a friend," Nicholas clarified, ignoring the snort from Mr Wester, "who didn't show up while you were there. Right. And did you recognise either of the people talking?""The woman, she is a doctor who has helped me. She is from the Retirement place on the hill." Hester looked thoughtful. "I do not know the man. I know he has been in town a week, asking about the old times. But I do not know who he is. And that is all I know.""Thank you." Nicholas finished writing the information down on the evidence sheet, then turned the notebook to Hester. "Could you please read this and sign it if it's correct?"Hester looked in terror at her grandfather, who nodded in unspoken communication."My granddaughter has missed some schooling and cannot read very well. I shall read it to her." He did so, and Hester signed it with clumsy letters, the S backwards."So," continued the Elder. "We have an agreement?""I need to consider this with all the other evidence. If it is useful in our enquiries, I shall make a decision about Tina," Nicholas said as he wrote his own name at the bottom of the sheet. Tina had returned from prison with a still-broken nose and a small dark-haired child that looked very much like the previous owner of the town supermarket. She had been making a living on a fine line between the restrictions of the 1951 Fraudulent Mediums Act and the subsequent Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. If people were still prepared to think of fortune telling as an entertainment, Nicholas had no legal grounds on which to stop her. But her rapid departure from Saturday's Fair indicated she might not be keeping to the strict guidelines. He would check later, once this affair was over.Picking up the sheet to take it straight to the Incident Room, he gently guided Hester and Mr Weston from the room and to the station exit, thanking them both again for their assistance. Just as they left, his mobile phone rang. It was Logico, and he sounded worried."Chief Inspector? There is something wrong at the Hotel.""How wrong?""Another body."
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Nicholas arrived with his squad in minutes, and was directed by a distressed Mrs Mason, owner and manager of the hotel."They're … laundry room … I can't …" She broke down and started crying, and Sergeant Buttle took her to the office to calm her and get a statement.Logico was in the laundry room, where a smell of slightly off meat permeated and overpowered the usual scents of dirty linen and wet towels. A line of full dirty laundry carts were lined up at the door, and the front one showed where the smell came from. Wrapped in a sheet, the face of the small woman was almost the same blue as her vestments. Logico was at the side, talking to a white-faced woman who was trembling as she spoke."Chief Inspector, this is Emily Brewster, who discovered the body. She has left it as she found it." Logico stepped back to allow Nicholas access to her."Then we should talk away from here. Detective Inspector Thatcher?""I know my way around the sheets. I've got this." Doris pursed her lips, motioning her team to come and process the scene, and Nicholas led Emily back to the hotel dining room and a back corner where they could talk."So Emily, tell me what happened.""I were lining up the laundry carts," she said with a tremble in her voice, "and we're short, seeing as the laundry was out of order yesterday and didn't collect our stuff. This were from yesterday's set, and I thought as there was a bit more room, I might fit some more sheets on there, but when I moved the bundle, the lady fell out.""What's the normal process, when things are running as usual?" Nicholas asked, writing this all down."We have the carts set up to go up to the Laundry by midday, and they bring back the previous day's wash and take ours.""In the carts?""No, they empty the carts into their big tubs on wheels, and take them on the truck." Emily winced."And did the cart look any different to how it usually does?"Emily thought for a moment. "Yes, it did. The sheets are normally just shoved in there, all squished up and stuff, and these were wrapped around themselves, like someone had taken all the sheets and turned them over and over to make a bundle. We'd never do that. They don't come apart in the wash if we does, and then they don't clean.""And any idea why the laundry wasn't collected yesterday?""Yeah, the manager said that there wasn't any water and they had to find someone to fix it. And my dad has been on holiday this past two weeks so he hasn't fixed anything at all.""Your dad's manager of Summeraisles?""Mebbe." Her shoulders went up and her look became openly hostile."Can you give me an idea of your timetable then? And does anyone else help you with the laundry?"She pulled out a schedule from the last two days, with ticks on the rooms that had been dealt with. "None but me, even when we're busy. I take it down to the laundry room where we used to do it before the new laundry started, but their people load the laundry onto their truck – and take it off again.""New laundry?""At the Rainbow Retirement Home. Much cheaper than that place at Buford Abbey.""The Retirement Home? Right!" Nicholas decided it was time for another trip up the hill.He was about to get into his patrol car when Deductive Logico came up. "May I join you?""Of course.""Thank you. I have friends I need to check on."The car started along the road to the Rainbow Retirement Home, as Nicholas continued his musings."Did you know the victim here?""I have told your Detective Inspector. That was Bishop Azure, a truly holy and blessed woman whose spiritual guidance was essential at the Home.""And does her death fit into your theory, the one you discarded?""Almost." Logico reached into his pocket and pulled out his own notebook, which had a number of colour-coded sections. "The problem is that there are a number of residents of each category, and it is hard for me to determine who may be next. And I fear I am wrong.""In what way?""There were several possibilities for blue – Baby Blue, who are two people. Bishop Azure of course, and Sister Lapis. Admiral Navy. But my theory of the Rainbow is not correct. If it were, the next victim should have been green, not blue. And there was not a green victim." He flipped over the pages, but was interrupted."Did you say green?" Nicholas looked over to him in concern."Yes, why?""Because Dame Obsidian came in to the station today, worried about a friend that she had not seen for a while, whose name is Emerald.""Signor Emerald?""That's the one.""Then I fear for the Signor. This is no co-incidence, Chief Inspector. This is a diabolical plot, and I am worried that I may have been right after all."Nicholas picked up the radio as he drove. "Station, this is Angel. We need eight officers up at the Rainbow Retirement Home, complete with water-working gear.""Water-working, Chief?""Waders, torches, snorkels, do we have anyone with a scuba set?""I'll check. On it, Chief."Nicholas put the radio back down, and Logico looked at him quizzically. "You too have an idea?""More of a trickle of an idea. I hope I'm wrong though." o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o It did not take long for Nicholas to explain his inkling to Inspector Irratino,"Your laundry has been closed for the last two days. What seems to be the problem?”Irratino waved in a northerly direction. "Our water supply for the laundry has somehow become blocked. A leet from the New River supplies our laundry room, but although there is water flowing down the channel, it does not come all the way through. There is none in the laundry room and a great pool growing by the day to the north of this building.""I have a suspicion. With your permission then, I have brought a team experienced in water issues. May I send them to go and find what is stopping your supply?"Irratino waved his agreement, and Nicholas sent the team on their way, then returned to find Irratino and Logico catching up in the manner of old friends."I had no idea you knew my friend Deductive", said Irratino."I have to admit that the last time we met, I did not." Nicholas said as he sipped his tea. "How do you two work together?""My friend Logico, he prefers the facts and the evidence, and he will squirrel and claw away until he has found the solution. Whereas I, Irratino, have the help of the Greater Powers."Nicholas almost found himself saying The Greater Good, but stifled it. "What powers would those be?""He sends me messages," said Logico. "He receives spirit messages from an unknown source that, despite their lack of logical origin, manage to sometimes help with my cases. We have worked together on so many murders.""Including my own," stated Irratino."Wait. How?" Nicholas almost sporfled his tea at this."I fake my own death regularly," Irratino said. "It is to prove the superiority of the occult over logic, but alas, my friend Logico always finds me out. Yet the exercise of the brain is good.""And these murders are all by the residents of this Home?""Yes.""And yet you let them go out in society without any warning, any sort of caution that they might commit a murder here in Sandford?""They do not murder any but each other, Chief Inspector." Logico was serious."It's still murder!" Nicholas felt as if his head was going to explode."And that is the problem. Chief, would you explain to my friend Irratino about your suspicions?"Nicholas took a long, deep breath, and tried to get back to the exact matter at hand, despite his deep worry that perhaps one of these Rainbow people might be responsible, but at that point there was a knock at the door, and Danny put his head around."Looks like you were right, Chief. We've found the reason for the blockage."All three in the room asked at once. "Who?""Are you missing a Signor Emerald?"
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"I would suggest," Nicholas asked as they walked towards where the water team stood, "that you conduct an immediate roll-call or other means of ascertaining whether any other residents of your facility are missing.""I shall do so, once I have identified your body." Irratino was terse, and Nicholas could tell that the killings were getting to him. "After all, we must be accurate with the facts before we apply the powers of the occult."Logico said nothing, but the droop of his shoulders told of his sorrow at the situation.The body of the short man dressed in green was festooned by weeds, and his clothes had been partially pulled down by the force of the water. On his back were circular sucker marks such as those left by an incredibly large octopus, the sort that would more likely inhabit a deep marine trench than a small freshwater stream. His clothes were of good quality, but now ripped and ruined by the combination of the water and the beginnings of the putrefaction that had started. It was clearly obvious that his body had been the cause of the water blockage, as the pond created at the entrance to the watercourse's passage down into the building was dropping by the minute, and would be gone barring a couple of puddles in an hour. The grate just inside the channel's entrance had clearly been why the body had not just passed through and into the laundry's large water tank – and why no-one had seen it before. The bars of the grate were a good two meters down the tunnel, meaning the body had sat in darkness for some time."If the grate was not here, the body would have been found within a day, I think." Logico examined the situation. "So once we know when he was last seen, we have a possible time of death.""Well, the water had stopped by Monday morning, as that was when the laundry was due to be collected but couldn't be," Nicholas said. "And Dame Obsidian said that you, Irratino, had not seen Signor Green since Sunday. What time on Sunday was that?""About four in the afternoon." Irratino put his finger to his chin as he pondered. "No later, I would say – afternoon tea was at half past four, and he did not appear then.""Thus I would estimate the time of death to be between four pm on Sunday and the laundry opening time of – what time was it due to open?""Seven. We have to be ready for the great amount of work from the Swan in town." Irratino sighed. "Is this the last?"At this, both he and Nicholas turned to Logico, who was scribbling madly in his book. "I'm not certain, but once you have conducted your roll call, we should know.""Then I shall do it forthwith."Irratino disappeared inside, and Logico turned to Nicholas and held out the book. "There are several residents whose lives may be threatened. Chef Aubergine, Lady Violet, Vice President Mauve – even that Lavender character. I await the results of the roll call."It didn't take long. While there were nearly three score residents, only one now was missing. Lady Violet had left early that morning to go on a brisk and bracing walk across the limestone hills to Ewok's Entrance, and then back by lunchtime. It was now well past three, and there was no sign of the woman, even taking into account her short stature. Nicholas and Logico looked at each other then headed directly to the squad car and off to Ewok's Entrance.Nestled at the side of the hills, a series of caves had formed in the limestone. While most only went back a few meters, Ewok's Entrance was much deeper, and led to those caverns where evidence had been found of ancient humans. This time though, the human evidence was not prehistoric. Lady Violet lay on the cold floor, her chest pierced by a stalactite that had plummeted and taken her out. Nicholas took one look at the pitiful scene, and backed out, heading for the car and the radio. o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o Three hours later, with all the bodies now removed to the mortuary and in the safe hands of the official coroner from Bath, Nicholas sat with a cold cup of coffee in his office and wondered where he had gone wrong. There couldn't be so many murders again, surely? What had he missed? What information did he need? The sky was darkening outside his window, and he prayed that it was setting on the last of the killings. No-one else was missing from the Retirement Home, no-one else had disappeared from the village, and yet he had a terrible feeling about this all.He glanced at the coffee, then remembered his rule about no caffeine after three pm. Tomorrow morning, he would call the whole station in and run a brainstorming session to try and puzzle this out. Picking up his hat, he headed home, a weary man. o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o In the early morning light of Wednesday, Nicholas must have missed the murderer by mere minutes. As he jogged around the side of the village square and towards the fountain in the dim morning light, he saw the body draped over the side of it. His jog became a run as he dashed to the fountain to try and help whatever unfortunate was trapped there.It was Irratino, tied to the centre structure and drenched in the icy water. As Nicholas felt quickly around to try and determine any release points, he heard a cry behind him."No, please!"Logico climbed into the fountain beside Nicholas and also attempted to find a way to release the victim. The chill of the water made their efforts worse, and Nicholas climbed out to dash to the newsagent where Bert Tailor was cutting the strings off the newly-delivered London papers. Grabbing the scissors off Bert and yelling at him to call for an ambulance and the police station for assistance, Nicholas sprinted back to the waterfall and quickly cut the thin cords that bound the Retirement Home manager to the structure.Laying the man down on the cobbles, Nicholas felt for a pulse in both the wrist and neck. Finding nothing, he bent to the man's mouth and listened for breathing. Still nothing. He ripped open the man's soaked shirt, put his hands on the chest, and concentrated once more.No heartbeat. Not even a flutter.Nicholas quickly bent the man's neck back and opened the mouth, pinching the nose shut in the prescribed manner. He blew into Irratino's mouth, but the breath met an obstruction, and he couldn't inflate the man's lungs.Prying the mouth open, he looked for the obstruction, but he couldn't see. All he could tell was that there was a fine foam around Irratino's throat.Nicholas stuck his fingers down as far as he could.He couldn't be certain, but thought there might be something just on the end of where his fingers could reach.Lifting the body up, he placed his hands under the ribcage, and, with his thumbs sticking up, squeezed hard.The Heimlich manoeuvre did not work.Nicholas put the body back down again, and started chest compressions. Even a little oxygen would keep Irratino alive – the tiny amount still in his blood would do the job, surely. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Logico pick up a piece of paper, and the lights coming around the town gate as the ambulance drew in. Pumping hard, he kept up the count – staying alive staying alive oh oh oh oh … A hand on his shoulder told him the medical help was here, and he collapsed back on the cold cobbles as they placed an oxygen mask over Irratino's white face and lifted him onto a stretcher and into the back of the ambulance. Nicholas could barely speak as the doors were closed, his own breath short from the exertion and the cold and the horror of the situation. He put his head between his knees and attempted to recover."You tried so hard, my friend.""I don't think it was enough." Nicholas looked up into Logico's eyes.Logico smiled sadly. "If it was not, then nothing would have been. And I worry that this was for real.""What?""He tests me." Logico shrugged. "He fakes his death. But this time it seemed so real. Surely, this time he isn't faking it. That would just be too much." With a sigh, Deductive Logico helped lift Nicholas to his feet. "I am determined to solve this case and avenge my old rival, my antagonist, and my friend."
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Author insert here.The clues are laid out at the end, so that you can find them without any problems or accidentally reading the solution.It's not exactly like a Murdle, but has some similarities.Go here to get straight to the clues.
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It was a subdued group that met at the Incident Room that afternoon."The clues don't make sense." The incident room walls were covered with notes and strings, codes for links in the puzzle, and dents in the cork board where DI Thatcher had beaten her head against them in frustration. "It's almost as if something is leading us on a wild goose chase.""All right. What do we have for certain.""We have three main clues at most of the murders, but not all." Doris held up a list. "They're all on the wall.""Go through them then, in order." Nicholas winced – he'd pulled a muscle while doing CPR on Irratino, and his shoulder still hurt. "The rest of you take what notes you need, and if you think of something, write it down and we'll go through the ideas at the end.""Right, Chief." Doris pulled up a computer, fired up the projector, and started showing what they had."Amaranth seems to have died from some sort of allergy. In his pockets was a packet of citrus jellies, and on the ground under him we found a small black glass bead." She brought up pictures of each item, and then continued. "Mx Tangerine was murdered with an icecream. They had a crocus, a black glassy arrowhead, and a strange smell of bleach. Miss Saffron was beaten to death with a cake – but not hers. We found an envelope marked "Fine Columbian", a golden screw, and the ripped label from a box of baklava."She took a small drink of water then continued. "Doctor Crimson was choked with a fish - Clupea harengus – and was found with only an obsidian-tipped scalpel. We have a witness that says that she was meeting up with someone there though. The conversation was What did you know? Who is doing it? Then No filthy murdering cunt is going to take my father's place. We don't have the identity of the other party apart from the fact that they are male."Bishop Azure was strangled with apron strings, said apron being part of the uniform for laundry workers at the Rainbow Retirement Home. In addition to the apron, which was tied around her neck, she had an empty bottle of crystallised violets in a pocket and a black sequin lodged in her cleavage. Signor Emerald was drowned in the leet that leads to the Home. Caught in their clothing was a packet from snowflake-brand milk chocolate, and a tub of Skyr yoghurt which is not available at any shop in the local area as far as we can tell. In addition, his back was covered in strange sucker marks."Lady Violet was stabbed with a stalagmite. Again, tucked into her clothing was a bottle of volcanically-hot chili sauce, a tarot card and a copy of Debrett's. Last of all, Inspector Irratino was choked to death with a bar of soap. Deductive Logico found a piece of paper beside the body."She pressed another button, and the piece of paper showed up on the screen.T D S T L T F H E X W O T R E R B O U N T Z E E F R O O M R R V U T N U Y E C B S E R I F O U O Q"I have all the clues individually written out on sheets of paper so that we can move them around as needed.""Thank you, Doris." Nicholas looked around the group. "Any ideas?""If you please, sir, it might be better to put them in order of time of death rather than when the murder was discovered," Constable Chandler offered."Excellent idea." Doris took the slips and put them in that order, then typed the table up in a moment. She scowled at the red underlines, but time was of the essence - no time to fix them. ; Aaron looked at the list. "It's a shame that Doctor Crimson is in the middle of it all. If they weren't, you would have that Rainbow that Deductive Logico keeps going on about.""They were found by the swan pit?" Andy asked. "Sounds like a wild goose chase to me!""Be serious, Andy." Nicholas's frustration was building again. "Doris, what was that fish again?""Clupea harengus." Doris read off the sheet."Anyone know …" Nicholas asked, but was forestalled by Sarah checking her phone."I don't believe it.""Tell us, Sarah."She looked up in wry amusement. "It's a bloody herring, Chief.""Oh hell. A real red herring." Nicholas put his head in his hands. "Michael was right. It wasn't a carp.""What if we take that one out of the table then, Chief, and work on the rest?" Danny said.
"Is it just me," asked Logico, "or do some victims hold the clue to the one following? There are crystallised violets before violet, and citrus jellies before the one named for a citrus fruit.""You could be right." Nicholas looked at each. "So if the citrus jellies give us a tangerine, which of Tangerine's three clues gives us Saffron?""Saffron comes from a crocus," Sarah said. "But I can't work out what would have been the clue for Emerald.""I have one. Not for Emerald though." Logico sighed. "The Tarot card is the calling card for Inspector Irratino.""What does Skyr mean?" DC Pingor squinted at the board."It's a weird Icelandic yoghurt. Doesn't mean anything." Andy grumbled."But sky can be azure. Perhaps that's it?" Aaron suggested."Then we've only got Saffron left. What's their clue?" Nicholas mused. "Baklava is from Turkey or Greece, which I can't see working. Fine Columbian is either cocaine or tequila, neither of which is green, and the screw doesn't make sense either.""Wait!" Andy almost leapt from his seat in his excitement. "You know what else comes from Columbia? Emeralds!""Let's try that then," Doris said as she shuffled some cells.
"Anyone else see a common thread through the rest of the clues?" Danny asked. "I mean, I'm seeing two lots of black glass.""And the sequin was black too." Doris checked her notes.Aaron looked up. "Didn't that woman we caught speeding have black beads on her necklace and black sequins on her shoes?""Dame Obsidian? Yes." Nicholas looked over the rest of the clues. "And while we've removed the death of Doctor Crimson, there's that obsidian scalpel. If that's the case though, what other clues point to her."Logico stepped forwards and pointed to some of the others. "What do you know of obsidian?""Ohhhhh." Andy waved his hand. "It's a rock. A volcanic rock, like a black glass.""This seems too obvious though." Doris looked at what Logico was pointing at."You're right, Detective Inspector." Logico hung his head. "Here, I must make my case, then withdraw, for I have a conflict of interest. But I think that someone is trying to set the dear Dame up.""How?" Nicholas exclaimed."Obsidian comes in a variety called snowflake, and it comes from lava." He motioned and Doris moved the relevant cells.Sarah spoke up. "Isn't lava hot?""It is," Logico replied. "Why?""Chili sauce.""Of course!" Once more he indicated for the cells to be moved, and Doris quickly re-aligned the table.
"Then it seems our chief suspect must be Dame Obsidian." Nicholas stood and addressed the rest of the room. "Do we have any idea of her movements when these murders occurred?"There was a murmur as Logico approached the front of the room."Here, I can give information, then I shall recuse myself. Dame Obsidian has a perfect alibi for the murders of Amaranth, Tangerine, Violet and Irratino. It would surprise me immensely if she were responsible for any of the others.""How can you be so sure?" Nicholas asked, suddenly sure of the answer anyway."Because Dame Obsidian and I have been a couple since last June, and on those times, she was with me."
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The gasps of surprise echoed around the Incident Room, and then increased as a hubbub of wonder started to build, until Nicholas stood and held his hands up like a teacher, gradually bringing them down to quell the disturbance."Are you saying, Deductive Logico, that Dame Obsidian is not responsible for these murders?""I am saying, Chief Inspector, that she is innocent of a majority, so it looks as if someone was trying to set her up." Logico rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I cannot know for certain, of course, but it would seem reasonable.""I see your point." Nicholas scanned the table once more. "That being the case, it's likely those last clues point to the real murderer. So, everyone, now's your chance. What can we work out?""How do we know the sucker marks are from an octopus?" DC Pingor asked. "I mean, could they be love bites or something similar?"Every eye swung to Doris, who shook her head. "You'd have to have a mouth as large as a horse to leave marks that big. No, the sucker that makes that mark must be at least ten centimeters wide.""Like a vacuum cleaner nozzle?" Danny asked."Bigger," she replied."What about a plumber's mate?" Andy queried."You mean like a plunger? Yeah, could be that." She pencilled the information it."That would fit with the bleach," said Sarah. "And the apron.""Ohhhhh." Aaron almost choked with eagerness. "That screw?""Yes, Constable?""I saw one just like it." Aaron held his hands vertically about 15 cm apart. "It's on one of the trophies, holds the metal part onto the base. Doctor Crimson had one at her place, and I'm afraid the screws come out very easily.""So are you saying that it might be from Miss Saffron's cake trophy?" Doris made the appropriate marks. "Then we need to find that trophy, and it'll be in two pieces.""What about the paper clue?" Danny held up a piece of paper on which the letters were scribed."How many letters are there?" Aaron asked.About ten seconds later, Andy replied "Forty-nine.""Weird number," Sarah muttered."Not that weird," Aaron replied. "It can only be divided into ones, forty-nines, or …""Or sevens!" Andy sat and quickly scribbled the letters down. Thirty seconds later, he held the paper up triumphantly. "Try this!"
"TdStltf??? What's that – a new goalkeeper for Manchester City?" Danny peered at the paper."No, read down the columns." Andy held it up. "There's some weird letters in it – hang on." Peering closely, he copied the letters onto one of the white boards.THE Z MURDERER Y IS X BEREFT W OF V COLOUR V BUT T NOT S OF R TONE Q"I think I'm getting an idea," Nicholas muttered."But the copy of Debrett's?" Logico asked. "What is that?""It's a list." Nicholas replied. "All the people in Britain with noble titles. That's how you keep track of who is to inherit which position.""What sorts of positions?" The Deductive looked around the room. "As in a manager, or a Prime Minister or something?""Not quite," Sarah said. "Upper crust. The nobility. Dukes and Marquises and Earls and Viscounts and Barons and Baronets and Knights and all."Logico started walking towards her, his hands waving in the air. "Did you say Viscounts?""Yes. They're the rank that's slightly higher than Baron and lower than Earls." Sarah looked puzzled. "You know one?""Ohhhh yes. I think you had better all come with me. For if this is true, I shall not be able to control myself." o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o -o The cadre of police cars sped up the hill to the Home, as quietly as they could. No sirens blared, no lights flashed, but their urgency was apparent to all. Arriving at the Home, Nicholas sent the Force out in several directions, to make sure that all the doors were covered, and then crept forward and opened the front door.It swung silently to reveal an empty hallway.Creeping down, Nicholas, Logico, Danny and Aaron made their way to the end, then the stairs down to the laundry in the basement. There, behind a discreet door, they heard the sounds. Laughter. Clanking. And the thud of something heavy.Nicholas readied his troops, then kicked open the door. With a cry of "Police! You're under arrest!" they surrounded Viscount Eminence, who was vainly trying to repair a small trophy that would not seem to attach properly to its base."It was you!" Logico pointed his finger. "How dare you attempt to implicate my beloved Dame Obsidian!""She laughed at my fruitcake," the Viscount snarled. "And then those fools in the Village gave the prize to Miss Saffron!""And President Amaranth?" Nicholas asked."He took some cake. He was always stealing food around the place. I found him dead in my rooms – he did not know that my crumb-catcher was made of marzipan. He is allergic to nuts – I have a list of all the residents' allergies.""Mx Tangerine?""Laughed at my attempts to get the cake to bake.""But why did Signor Emerald have to die? And Bishop Azure? Lady Violet?" "It was more satisfying that way." The Viscount cackled."And what about Inspector Irratino?" Logico fumed. "He was my friend!""He still is!" The doors flung open and the Inspector strode in. "Viscount Eminence, you tried to kill me with a soap on a rope! Luckily the hole where the rope goes through was just enough for me to get some air, even if it wasn't enough to keep me conscious.""But you were cold! Dead!" Nicholas gasped."The water made me seem so," Irratino replied. "I did not fake my death, but my death was fake. And the Viscount is responsible. Arrest him, Chief Inspector."The Viscount swirled his strange grey cloak, but four determined Police Officers leapt upon him and led him away."One thing doesn't make sense," Danny said as the rest of them retired to Irratino's office for a cup of tea. "Who killed Doctor Crimson?""The obsidian scalpel gives the game away," Nicholas replied. "I realised it had to be another doctor. And the whole thing about take my father's place? Doctor Hatcher who is still in jail has a son who was at university, training to be a doctor, when the Battle took place. His name is Gallus Hatcher, and I've sent Sergeant Buttle and her team to arrest him.""But why did he kill Doctor Crimson?""Because he thought she had come to be town doctor instead of him. She hadn't. She truly had retired. But he sent her a note to meet him beside the Swan Pit, and she foolishly went.""For once, Irratino, this was not a test," said Logico. "I am so glad.""As am I. And for you and your dear lady Dame Obsidian." Irritano saluted Logico. "And thank you, Chief Inspector. It is as if you have had practice at solving multiple murders.""Then let me tell you a story." And Nicholas leaned back in his chair in Irratino's office, while back at the station, a mountain of paperwork waited.
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Author note here. If you've come here from Pause in Chapter 11, here's all the clues for you to work on:Amaranth - died from some sort of allergy. In his pockets was a packet of citrus jellies, and on the ground under him a small black glass bead.Mx Tangerine - murdered with an icecream. They had a crocus, a black glassy arrowhead, and a strange smell of bleach.Miss Saffron - beaten to death with a cake. An envelope marked "Fine Columbian", a golden screw, and the ripped label from a box of baklava.Doctor Crimson - choked with a fish - Clupea harengus – found with only an obsidian-tipped scalpel. Witness: she was meeting up with someone there though. The conversation was What did you know? Who is doing it? Then No filthy murdering cunt is going to take my father's place. No identity of the other party apart from the fact that they are male.Bishop Azure - strangled with apron strings, said apron being part of the uniform for laundry workers at the Rainbow Retirement Home. Had an empty bottle of crystallised violets in a pocket and a black sequin lodged in her cleavage.Signor Emerald - drowned in the leet that leads to the Home. Had a packet from snowflake-brand milk chocolate, and a tub of Skyr yoghurt. Back was covered in strange sucker marks.Lady Violet - stabbed with a stalagmite. Tucked into clothing was a bottle of volcanically-hot chili sauce, a tarot card and a copy of Debrett's.Inspector Irratino - choked to death with a bar of soap. A piece of paper beside the body:T D S T L T F H E X W O T R E R B O U N T Z E E F R O O M R R V U T N U Y E C B S E R I F O U O QClick here to return to Chapter 12.