William had reallocated troops to the western front of his Asian stronghold and was lining up to advance into Europe. Victory was now more or less just a formality but Priest decided to keep the game going – visiting time was an hour and he still had five minutes left. He doubted William had much concept of time but stealing five minutes off him seemed unsavoury.

‘Very well. Here, roll.’ William handed Priest the dice. ‘Was the damage to the face done pre-or post-mortem?’

‘Don’t know yet – waiting on the autopsy.’

‘Ah!’ William cried. ‘How frustrating! Your best guess?’

‘Post.’

‘How so?’

‘Just the logistics of it. Pathologist said there’s evidence of only one killer and there was no apparatus around to hold her down so I’m guessing she was killed and then her face mutilated. Besides, if it’s the same killer then the first victim had to be paralysed first and the work on him was far less extravagant.’

‘How fascinating – so someone really is making a point.’

‘Apparently.’ Priest rolled the dice again but the outcome was predictably unfortunate.

‘I trust you’ve thought of the three wise monkeys? Perhaps that is the point?’

‘I have.’

‘Good. And who found the bodies?’ William asked, concentrating on the board.

‘That was me.’

‘I see. Well, you wouldn’t be the first Priest to find himself next to a corpse. Let’s hope you didn’t do it, then.’

William laughed and removed another of Priest’s units. He was still chuckling five minutes later when Priest forfeited the game.

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

As was so often the case when Priest visited his brother, he found himself sheepishly reporting for a dressing-down at his sister’s house straight afterwards. He knew she disapproved of his continuing relationship with William – she was so bitterly disappointed and angry with his inability to let him go. So when he had finished his infidelity at Fen Marsh Secure Hospital, he would unburden his guilt by immediately seeing her. He supposed he needed her condemnation, somehow. Her scorn would wipe the slate clean and they would go around the merry-go-round again.

As it turned out, today Sarah was in a jovial mood, bustling around the kitchen with considerable zeal making lunch for Tilly and tea for Priest, although no doubt she knew full well why he was there.

‘I don’t have any Earl Grey,’ she told him, biting her bottom lip. ‘I did buy you a box once to keep here but it stank out the cupboard.’

‘It’s fine, Sarah. Just whatever you have will be great.’

She grinned and handed him a mug, which he took gratefully. ‘It’s this or cold water.’