‘How tall?’

‘He’d need to be over five foot. But, he would have to be a serious marksman. A very serious marksman. One in hundreds. Highly sought after in the services. But it’s impossible to disguise the sound. A .303 has a crack that could wake the dead. So back to a fifteen-foot kangaroo. Can I go now?’

‘Yeah. Thanks.’

‘Any point in taking the rifle?’ Cardilini asked.

‘Not until you have the bullet. Anyway the scenario is ludicrous,’ Acorn stated and started back towards the armoury and Salt.

Cardilini slowly followed.

TWENTY

Day 4

Kilkenny Road

9.00 p.m. Wednesday, 28th October 1965

Cardilini sat at his kitchen table. Having been through Edmund’s records he’d identified the four most successful marksmen. He rang Acorn.

‘Cardilini, it’s nine p.m.’

‘Acorn, I identified four cadets who achieved tight clusters of three around the bullseye.’

‘Impressive.’

‘Is it?’

‘The fact you’re still working, yes. The clusters are great for a cadet. But they aren’t the ones you’re looking for. How far did you go back?’

‘These are current students.’

‘Any assigned the rifle identified?’

‘No, the three boys that use it can’t hit a barn door at two paces.’

‘But you must ask what could possibly provoke that sort of reaction towards a teacher? Where’s the motive?’ Acorn quizzed. Cardilini didn’t answer, so Acorn continued, ‘I suppose probability would suggest at some point St Nicholas produced a marksman of the skill required.’

‘Okay. Thanks, Acorn.’

‘Good luck.’

Cardilini replaced the receiver and started to gather the files, mentally noting he would make a list of all past students who had been assigned the rifle. Unlike Acorn, Cardilini he knew teenagers who were capable of every variety of adult crime.

Paul came into the kitchen. ‘Dad, there are some boys to see you. I put them in the lounge.’ Cardilini stared back curiously but Paul only shrugged. Cardilini walked past him into the lounge. Two St Nicholas boys stood as he entered. One was Carmody.

‘Hello, boys. This is a surprise.’

‘Hello, sir.’

‘A bit late to be out and about isn’t it?’ Cardilini asked.

‘Just on our way back to school. Burnside is a day boy and I had leave to be with his family tonight,’ Carmody replied.

‘What can I do for you? Sit down.’ The boys sat back on the couch, Cardilini sat in an armchair and Paul leant against the doorframe.

‘Detective Sergeant Cardilini, this is Burnside, he’s head boy at St Nicholas,’ Carmody said.

‘How do you do?’ Cardilini reached out his hand; Burnside got up and shook it. ‘This is my son, Paul.’ Burnside and Carmody shook hands with Paul then resumed their seats. Paul sat in the other armchair.

‘Sir,’ Carmody began, ‘I hope you don’t find it too unacceptable that we’ve come in this manner.’

‘I do find it unacceptable, but, now you’re here, you better tell me why.’

‘We had dinner with John and Mrs Lockheed this evening.’

‘Go on.’

‘Mrs Lockheed said she recounted to you what John had told her regarding Captain Edmund.’