He took them outside, relieved that neither seemed inclined to object, and was just in time to see a couple of uniformed men from Penzance leading Gerald Lancaster over to the boats. He waved to attract their attention, and the detective inspector responsible for pursuing the case peeled off from the group. ‘Busy day today, sir?’ he said, looking curiously at the Pendeans.

‘You could say that.’ Penrose took him to one side and briefed him on what had happened. ‘I’m hoping for some physical evidence to prove which one of them is telling the truth,’ he said, ‘but in the meantime, you’ll have my full report first thing in the morning.’ 286

‘Thank you, sir.’

He watched as the Pendeans were escorted to the boat, then a thought struck him. ‘Wait a moment,’ he called. The policeman did as he asked and the couple turned back in surprise. ‘Which of the three kings was the murder weapon?’ he asked, looking quickly between them for their separate reactions.

Tom hesitated, baffled by the question, but Nora answered immediately. ‘Melchior,’ she said. ‘I killed Emily with Melchior.’

‘But I don’t know their names,’ her husband objected. ‘That doesn’t mean—’

‘Gold, frankincense or myrrh, Mr Pendean?’ Penrose interrupted. ‘If you washed the figure, surely you noticed what he was carrying?’

‘Myrrh,’ Pendean said, looking nervously at Nora.

Penrose saw the relief on her face as her husband gave the wrong answer, and nodded to his colleagues to take them away. Deep in thought, he walked back along the harbour to the sail loft. Usually, it would have frustrated him to hand over a case before it was finished, but he was happy to let this one go. Perhaps it was because the island was so close to his heart, perhaps because he felt sorry for Hilaria, but the sadness of the day had affected him more than he would have cared to admit. ‘So, Mr Penrose, will we all sleep safely in our beds tonight?’

He looked up and saw Marlene standing by the harbour wall, smoking a cigarette and looking out to sea. ‘Some of us will,’ he said, walking over to join her. ‘Some of us might struggle a little.’

She passed him her cigarette case. ‘I’m so glad you have come back. I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye.’ 287

‘You’re going?’

‘In the morning, yes. Miss St Aubyn has offered me a car to the airfield at Torquay. I’m going to Paris to be with Maria and her father. At times like this, you realise how important family is.’

Penrose nodded, suddenly longing more than anything to see his own daughter. ‘Yes, you’re right.’

‘It has been such a pleasure to meet you, Archie. I wish the circumstances had been different – we might have had time to get to know each other better. You must come and see me when I’m next in London. Promise me you will.’

‘I promise.’

They went back inside, where some of the islanders had begun to gather. Johnny was surrounded by well-wishers, and Penrose waited to speak to him. ‘As soon as there’s any news, you’ll be the first to know,’ he said, when he had explained what was happening.