In theory Joe was a great believer in honesty in a relationship. Though there were certainly things in his past that he’d never discussed with Sal. But this was a murder investigation, and information was power. He imagined Vera’s face when he passed on the news, and thought it gave him power too. At least it would earn him a few brownie points. ‘We’d rather you kept this to yourself for the moment, sir.’

Relieved to be let off the hook, Stuart flashed him a sudden bright smile, and got out of the car.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Vera stood outside the Georgian symmetry of the Lit & Phil Library in Newcastle city centre, waiting for Holly, and letting her mind wander. Passengers from Central Station swept past her and cars screeched at the lights, but Vera was lost in thought and took no notice. Two women. Margaret Krukowski, bright and smart, born into affluence and wanting to set her affairs straight because she realized that she was ill. Dee Robson, one of life’s unfortunates, someone who’d needed looking after from the moment she was born, though until Margaret had come along, nobody had bothered much. They were linked by geography, living close to each other, on the seaward side of the railway line, and they’d both travelled on the same Metro train the afternoon of Margaret’s death. As had Joe Ashworth. And his daughter Jessie. Vera wondered if it had occurred to Joe that he and Jess might be in danger too. Perhaps it was just as well that he had so little imagination.

Holly appeared, fighting against the crowd, still immaculately made-up. They went inside and stood at the bottom of the grand stone stairs.

‘Do you know the Lit & Phil?’ Vera was a member. Hector had brought her here for lectures on birds and bugs. A love of the building was one of the few things she’d inherited from him.

‘Of course. Brilliant, isn’t it?’

Of course she knew the library. Holly had no areas of ignorance at all. Or so she thought.

‘Apparently Enderby’s inside. He left Harbour Street straight after breakfast and told Kate he was coming here. Let’s see what he has to say for himself.’

They climbed the stairs to the library on the first floor and opened the door to a room flooded with light from the glass domes. The walls were made of books. There was no immediate sign of Enderby either at the reading tables close to the door or at the hatch where coffee was served. The members looked up briefly, but took no notice. The library assistant behind the desk gave Vera a wave. Holly seemed surprised that her boss had been recognized – the Lit & Phil wasn’t the inspector’s natural habitat.