“God, yes! Robin had his difficulties, but he wouldn’t take that way out. He loved life and he had friends, people who would help him out in an emergency. Of course he had his moments of depression—don’t we all? But with Robin they never lasted long. I only asked about the note because any alternative is even less believable. He had no enemies.”

Benton said, “And there were no particular difficulties at present? Nothing you know which could have driven him to despair?”

“Nothing. Obviously he was devastated by Rhoda’s death, but ‘despair’ isn’t a word I’d have used about Robin. He was a Micawber, always hoping something would turn up, and usually it did. And things were going rather well for us here. Capital was a problem, of course. It always is when you start up a business. But he said he had plans, that he was expecting money, big money. He wouldn’t say where from, but he was excited, happier than I had seen him for years. Rather different from when he came back from Stoke Cheverell three weeks ago. Then he seemed depressed. No, you can rule out suicide. But as I said, nobody’s told me anything except that Robin’s dead and to expect a visit from the police. If he’s made a will, he’s probably named me as an executor and he always put me down as next of kin. I don’t know anyone else who will take responsibility for his stuff here, or for the funeral. So why the secrecy? Isn’t it time you came clean and told me how he died?”

Kate said, “We don’t know for certain, Mr. Coxon. We may know more when we get the results of the autopsy, which should be later today.”

“Well, where was he found?”

Kate said, “His body was in a disused freezer in the cottage next to the guest cottage where he was staying.”

“A freezer? You mean one of those rectangular chest freezers for long-term storage?”

“Yes. A disused freezer.”

“Was the lid open?”

“The lid was shut. We don’t yet know how your friend came to be in there. It could have been an accident.”

And now Coxon was looking at them in stark amazement, which even as they watched turned to horror. There was a pause; then he said, “Let’s get this clear. You’re telling me that Robin’s body was found shut in a freezer?”

Kate said patiently, “Yes, Mr. Coxon, but we don’t yet know how it got there or the cause of death.”