He could have been there when the Druids arrived, depending on what route they had taken to cross Salisbury Plain to the site. In fact, he must have been put there as soon as it was completely dark. Too much activity by the heel stone after they’d reached the stone ruins, and the killer could have been discovered in the act of tying his victim there. But had the killer and his accomplices known about the celebrants? Or had they left the body there because it was an isolated place and it was unlikely to be discovered for several days?

The letter writer hadn’t mentioned the Druids.

But the Druids had been drinking mead and chanting. To distract them from what was happening just out of sight?

He must write to Cummins again and open a new avenue to explore.

Pausing by the railing, he could just make out the coastline of France now.

Someone stepped to the rail beside him, and he turned to see that Meredith Channing had come on deck.

Staring at the landfall in the distance, she said, “I shouldn’t have come. I should have listened to my better judgment. This won’t be Mark. None of the others were. I shouldn’t have brought you into this. But I was afraid this time. I don’t know why. Very cowardly of me.”

Her shoulder was touching his, her unconscious need for human comfort overcoming her reticence.

“I’m glad you did,” he said, and wondered if it were true.

“When it seemed that you weren’t at home, I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t go to Frances, or to the Yard, and ask where you might be.”

“How did you know where to find me?”

“I’ve known for a very long time where you lived. I’d just never had occasion to go there. Until last night.”

They were silent for a time. He could feel her shivering, whether from the wind or from nerves, he didn’t know. After a moment, he put his arm around her shoulders, and she leaned into him until the shivering stopped.

When the boat had docked, and they had cleared the formalities, they turned north, on the road to Ypres and Belgium. To make conversation, Rutledge said, “I lost a murderer to France this week.” And he told her how the dog had been found, and what the French had had to say about Mr. and Mrs. Summers.

“Do you think she was just ill from the crossing? Or had he given her something to make certain she didn’t say anything untoward?”