“They seem to have found what’s left of her body.” He gestured vaguely toward the rear of Veronica’s estate. “On that building site; it adjoins our northeast end. They were bl-bl-blasting a few hours ago. A watchman noticed something and summoned the po-po-police.”

“Noticed what?” Regan demanded.

“Remnants of a Saint Polycarp’s jacket ... the bo-bo-body . . . under some leaves ... a knap-knap-knapsack with her student card ...”

“Athena?” Regan asked as a stab of pain wrenched her chest.

“Yes, yes, that’s it.” His stammer had disappeared. “It does seem as though the body is that of Athena Popolous.”

Chapter 5

SUNDAY, JUNE 21

OXFORD

NIGEL LIVINGSTON HAD been the superintendent of police in Oxford for eight years. He had not been there when Athena Popolous disappeared. After her body was found Saturday afternoon and he had had his first meeting with her classmates at Llewellyn Hall, he studied the file carefully. A second meeting was scheduled at Lady Exner’s home for the next morning, and Livingston had made notes on what questions he wanted to ask and to whom he intended to direct them.

The sun was shining brightly as he pulled into the driveway of the estate. It had been generous of Lady Exner to suggest that all the questioning be done in her home, he conceded as he got out from behind the wheel of his car, grunting slightly with the effort. He’d put on two stone in the last five years, and now that he’d turned fifty was becoming aware that he had to get into better shape. When he looked in the mirror he was seeing his father’s face. A ruddy complexion, lined forehead and heavyset jaw topped with a reasonably full head of salt-and-pepper hair.

He closed the door of his car and for a moment stood silently, appreciating the restful quiet of the lovely property. Hard to believe that property this valuable hadn’t been swallowed up in the building boom. It wasn’t as though Llewellyn Hall was qualified as an official historic site.

He walked toward the door and concentrated again on the business at hand. As he rang the bell he thought of the people he had met last night and most wanted to talk to today. Topping the list was Regan Reilly, who had been the roommate of Athena Popolous and was now a private investigator. And then there was Philip Whit-comb. That girl Claire had confided to him that she always thought Athena had a crush on Philip, and that ten years ago Philip had been good-looking in a dreamy, poetic way.

The maid admitted him to the house. “They’re in the drawing room, sir.”