‘She’s the gate-crasher at the party,’ Trudy said, confusing the sergeant, who hadn’t got that far in the notes either. ‘But she denied it. Being at the party that night, I mean. I can’t think why she should be drawing attention to herself now though. I’d have thought, if anything, she’d have been anxious to keep her head down and lie low. Do you want me to go and see what it’s all about, Sarge?’ she asked again eagerly.

O’Grady sighed heavily. Damn it, he needed to get up to speed on this case! How could he take control when he didn’t know what he needed to take control of!

‘Yes, I suppose you’d better. But take Broadstairs with you,’ he added flatly.

Trudy felt her heart sink. Not Rodney! The last thing she needed was his sneering, superior attitude, and sniggering handsome face getting in everybody’s way. ‘But, Sarge,’ she began.

‘Take Broadstairs,’ O’Grady growled. ‘If there is a ruckus going on, you may need a second pair of hands.’

Whilst the sergeant might not always agree with Inspector Jennings’s opinion of women in the police force, he did agree that they should never be knowingly put in harm’s way. And young WPC Loveday, although she might be an intelligent and diligent officer, simply couldn’t be expected to have the necessary brawn when it came to any rough-housing.

And the inspector would have convulsions if she got hurt in the line of duty!

Rodney Broadstairs might have a high opinion of himself, but he was a big and beefy lad who could be relied upon to use his fists if need be.

‘Yes, Sarge,’ Trudy said, seeing the set and resolute look on his face.

Chapter 29

As Rodney drove the Land Rover gleefully towards Summertown with Trudy Loveday sitting mute and resentful beside him, Patsy Arles was sitting in the back seat of the coroner’s big and impressive car. It was parked outside her house, and she was telling her story to the astonished father and son pair, Vincent and Clement Ryder.

‘It all started, you see, when the twins asked me to vamp that dead man,’ she began helpfully.

Vincent, who was turned to kneel fully on the front seat so that he could look at her sitting in the back, wondered if he had heard her right.

They had arrived at her house only a few minutes ago. She’d obviously been waiting and watching out for them, for she had come outside before they’d even had the chance to knock on the door. Clearly, she didn’t want whoever was inside the house to be made aware of their presence.