‘Now I do.’

‘Okay. Commit this to memory and when you get a chance write it up in your notebook and draw pictures. I’ve got a feeling the photo boys are going to find themselves too busy to come out here. Did you get a good sketch of what was immediately over the wall?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘That’s good. How would you like some night-time investigation?’

‘Um.’

‘Good. Now can you remember what you’ve seen here?’ Cardilini asked, gesturing to the tree.

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Let’s get out of this heat. I know where we can get a good counter lunch.’

‘Yes, sir. Are we returning to the school?’ Salt asked, but Cardilini was already walking away.

EIGHT

Day 2

A pub

2.00 p.m. Monday, 26th October 1965

Cardilini finished his steak and eggs with chips on the side and was halfway through his second pint while Salt was still drinking his first glass of lemon squash.

‘Do you go drinking with your colleagues, Salt?’ Cardilini asked.

‘Beer during the day makes me sleepy,’ Salt replied.

‘That’s not what I asked.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘What do they talk about?’

‘The crimes and the characters, mainly. Or sport. Or girls,’ Salt replied.

Cardilini nodded. ‘So why did you join?’ he asked.

‘Just the usual,’ Salt replied.

‘What’s that?’

‘Justice,’ Salt said shifting in his seat.

‘That’s the usual?’ Cardilini asked before finishing his beer.

‘Yes.’

‘Sir,’ Cardilini said.

‘Sir.’

‘Anything else happen while I was having a chat with my superior?’ Cardilini tried to make the question sound casual.

‘No, sir.’

‘Okay. Tell me about it.’

‘Nothing happened,’ Salt said earnestly.

‘Who were those people talking to you?’ Cardilini asked impatiently.

‘A teacher and a student.’

‘Names?’ Cardilini asked.

‘The student was Carmody, in the sixth form and intent on defending the school’s reputation.’

‘What did he say?’

‘That the shooting was an accident.’

‘That’s odd, isn’t it?’

‘I’m sorry, sir?’ Salt was at a loss.

‘Why would he come up and say that?’

‘Being helpful?’

‘Is that what it seemed?’

After some consideration, Salt replied, ‘No.’

‘What then?’

‘Almost threatening,’ Salt reluctantly revealed.

‘Really. And you call that nothing?’ Cardilini asked.

‘I didn’t think of it like that.’

‘Like a policeman? You’re at the scene of a crime, the first thing a criminal wants to know is, what do you know? They can’t help themselves, particularly the stupid ones.’

‘Carmody’s not stupid.’

‘How would you know that? He could be as thick as two short planks,’ Cardilini persisted.

‘The teacher said Carmody should have been head boy.’

‘What happened?’

‘I didn’t get a chance to ask.’

‘What was the teacher’s name?’

‘I didn’t get a chance to ask.’

‘Who are you, Mary Poppins? You’re a copper, you make chances. No one leaves until you’ve got what you need,’ Cardilini growled.

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Yes, sir. What about those scrawny ones?’

‘They were probably fourth form boys. Carmody told them to move on.’

‘Maybe that’s what you should have done.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘I might have a chat with Carmody. Here’s a bit of police work for you, get me the name of the teacher.’