They discussed the toxicology report in more detail. There was now no doubt about how David Armstrong had been killed. The composition of the drugs he had ingested had been established, and the likely brand of pill identified.

‘It had to be someone he knew,’ Geraldine insisted. ‘Only someone he trusted could have persuaded him to swallow such a bitter concoction in sufficient quantity to kill him.’

‘It wouldn’t have taken much,’ someone else said. ‘It only needed to be enough to knock him out, or make him woozy, so his killer could suffocate him.’

‘The killer might not have given him the pills,’ Ariadne pointed out. ‘He might have been discovered, semi comatose, quite by chance.’

‘And a passing killer seized the opportunity to finish him off,’ Geraldine added sceptically.

‘Possibly, if the killer was following him,’ Ariadne said, defending her speculation. ‘It’s plausible.’

Eileen nodded. ‘The tox report suggests he ingested the pills and the alcohol shortly before he was killed, although they say it’s impossible to narrow it down too specifically. But we do know he was fit enough to address a public meeting just a few hours before he was killed. All the evidence suggests he took the pills shortly before his death.’

‘How quickly would they have taken effect?’ Ariadne asked.

‘Apparently the effects can be felt in as short a time as one hour,’ Geraldine replied. ‘So he could have taken the dose after the public meeting, all of which points to his wife.’

‘She may have had the opportunity,’ Eileen agreed, ‘but what was the motive? We need to look into this further. And we need to examine the exact terms of his will. So come on, let’s get going. Lots to do. Geraldine, you track down Jonathan Edwards’ other associates, and Ariadne, can you find out whether David’s widow is in any fit state to talk to us yet?’

Geraldine would have liked to interview Anne herself, as she seemed to be the most likely suspect, in view of the way David had been killed. But she had her instructions and she was soon on her way to see Alyson Read, a retired teacher who had accompanied Jonathan and Rod on most of their protests. Alyson was reportedly working in a charity shop not far from the police station, along Gillygate. Geraldine went in there on the way to Alyson’s home and found her behind the counter. Alyson Read was a plump, comfortable looking woman of about sixty, with soft greying hair, kindly blue eyes, and a gentle voice. When Geraldine explained the purpose for her call, Alyson summoned her co-worker from the store room to watch the till, before leading Geraldine into the store room. Surrounded by piles of clothes and books, kitchen accessories and toys, Geraldine questioned her about Jonathan and Rod’s protests against the local council, and specifically their targeting of David Armstrong.