‘He kind of intrigues me. An unusual case. I think it’s worth having another go.’

‘OK.’

‘I was just interested in why you saw him again … and whether it had anything to do with what I told you about his relationship with the late Bill Shefford.’

Another of those occasions when there was no point in Jude telling anything but the truth. ‘Yes, that was why I saw him.’

‘And?’

‘Do you mean: “And did he immediately confess to having sabotaged the Triumph Tr6 with a view to killing the boss he’d fallen out with?”’

‘I wasn’t expecting quite as much as that. I am interested in what he said, though.’

‘But, Jeremiah, you still wondered whether he might have pointed the finger of suspicion towards anyone else? Am I on the right track?’

He sighed. ‘Not far off. I’m afraid I’m just as caught up in murderous speculation as the rest of Fethering.’

‘OK. I’ll tell you what I found out from Tom but, in return, there’s something I want you to tell me.’

‘Sounds fine. If slightly mysterious.’ A thoughtful silence. Then, ‘All right. You said there was something you wanted to ask me …?’

‘Yes. The first time you talked about your plans for the therapy centre, you mentioned a doctor friend of yours called “Bob Rawley” …’

‘I may well have done. I’ve had a lot of dealings with him over the years. An NHS doctor who really believes in complementary medicine. He’s a great advocate of acupuncture.’

‘And his full name’s “Robert Rawley”?’

‘Yes.’ A chuckle. ‘Fortunately, he can pronounce his Rs. Why are you asking me about him?’

‘Because Robert Rawley is the name of the doctor who signed Bill Shefford’s death certificate.’

‘Oh.’ The news did not seem to be particularly unexpected to Jeremiah. ‘Well, he’s a qualified doctor, living in the area. Is that so surprising?’

‘He’s not one of the doctors in the Fethering Surgery. Most people locally are registered there.’

‘So? Bill Shefford was registered somewhere else.’ Again, he made it sound like it wasn’t a big deal.

‘Jeremiah …’ – Jude pieced her thoughts together slowly – ‘the fact that Dr Rawley signed the death certificate suggests he had been treating Bill Shefford …’

‘Not necessarily.’

‘Well, he must’ve seen Bill within a fortnight of his death. Otherwise, surely there would have had to be a post mortem?’

‘Perhaps.’

‘In fact, I’m quite surprised there doesn’t seem to have been a post mortem.’

‘Do we know there hasn’t been?’

‘Frankie at the garage said there hadn’t been. But I’d have thought, in the case of an accidental death like that …’

‘Pretty straightforward. There’s not much doubt about what killed him.’