“Well, there is good news, if anything about this can be good. We’ve got his DNA. With luck, he’ll be on the database. I can’t believe that he hasn’t got form. It was a violent attack, but the rape wasn’t completed. Probably too drunk. She fought back with extraordinary courage for so slight a woman. I’ll ring you as soon as I have anything to report. And, of course, we’re keeping closely in touch with Miss Beckwith. He’s most probably local. He certainly knew where to drag her. We’ve already started a house-to-house. The sooner the better, DNA or no DNA. Things going well with you, sir?”

“Not particularly. No clear line at present.” He didn’t mention the new death.

Howard said, “Well, it’s early days, sir.”

Dalgliesh agreed that it was early days and, after thanking Howard, rang off.

He carried the plates and mugs into the kitchen, washed and dried them, then rang Kate. “Have you had a meal?”

“Yes, sir, we’ve just finished.”

“Then come over now, please.”

Chapter 13

13

By the time Kate and Benton arrived the three glasses were on the table, the wine uncorked, but for Dalgliesh it was a less successful, at times almost acrimonious meeting. He said nothing about the visit of Emma, but he wondered whether his subordinates were aware of it. They must have heard the Jaguar passing Wisteria House and been curious about any car arriving at night on the road to the Manor, but neither of them spoke of it.

The discussion was probably unsatisfactory because, with Boyton’s death, they were in danger of theorising in advance of the facts. There was little new to be said about Miss Gradwyn’s murder. The postmortem report had been received, with Dr. Glenister’s expected conclusion that the cause of death was throttling by a right-handed killer wearing smooth gloves. This last was hardly necessary information in view of the fragment in the WC in one of the empty suites. She confirmed her final assessment of the time of death. Miss Gradwyn had been killed between eleven o’clock and twelve-thirty.

Kate had had a tactful word with the Reverend Matheson and his sister. Both had found strange her questions about the vicar’s one and only visit to Professor Westhall but confirmed that they had indeed visited Stone Cottage and that the priest had seen the patient. Benton had telephoned Dr. Stenhouse who confirmed that Boyton had questioned him about the time of death, an impertinence to which he had given no response. The date on the death certificate had been correct, as had his diagnosis. He had shown no curiosity about why the questions were being put so long after the event, probably, Benton thought, because Candace Westhall had been in touch with him.