Rutledge said, “And I am most strict in mine.” He reached for the envelope in Starret’s hand, and as the clerk expostulated, he wrote on it, I must see you at once. Please come. He signed it simply Tyrell, and prayed she couldn’t recognize the man’s handwriting.

“Inspector—”

Rutledge lost patience. “The sooner you deliver this, the sooner you can return to the brewery,” he said. “And make it look as if you really came from Pierce. If you fail me, I’ll have something to say to Pierce about your conduct.”

The man gave him a reproachful look, and then walked on without a word. Rutledge watched him go.

Five minutes passed, time enough, Rutledge thought, to deliver the message. But neither Starret nor Mrs. Farrell-Smith appeared.

He thought, “If it’s Summers, I’ve given the man a second hostage.”

But there had been no choice, as Hamish was pointing out.

Another five minutes passed. Rutledge paced impatiently, ignoring the stares of passersby.

It was time to take action, he thought. And prayed that he hadn’t sent two people to their deaths. He was just turning away when around the corner came Starret, with Mrs. Farrell-Smith at his side.

Rutledge breathed a sign of relief.

She saw him waiting, and at once called, “Did you speak to Tyrell? I thought I could trust you!” She was very angry.

He nodded to Starret, dismissing him, and when Mrs. Farrell-Smith reached him, he took her arm and led her toward the hotel. “Don’t say anything more,” he commanded in a low voice. “Just come with me.”

She stared at him, about to pull away from his grip on her arm, and then something in his face alerted her.

“You’ve found Daniel,” she began, anger fading, hope taken its place.

“I’m afraid not. At least I don’t think I have. When I left the school, I saw you standing in the window. There was someone else by the window on the floor above you.”

She stopped stock-still, and he urged her on.

“Not here. The hotel. We’ve drawn enough attention already.”

She relented and said nothing more. He took her into the hotel lounge and found a chair for her.

“Are you sure?” she asked, keeping her voice low. “A trick of the light, perhaps? I’d have sworn the school was empty. I’d have heard someone walking around. I know every sound!”

“I’m not mistaken. Are you certain there’s no one else in the building? And the greengrocer’s son isn’t working today?”

“No one should be there. The only reason I was there was to return some papers to my office, and then I decided to spend half an hour working.” She shivered. “What if I’d encountered him when I went to Sixth Form for the marks? My God, he knows the school inside and out, doesn’t he?”