“I very much doubt it. I hope to learn more on Friday. I’ve made an appointment with Philip Kershaw, the lawyer who dealt with both that will and the most recent. He’s a sick man and lives in a retirement nursing home outside Bournemouth, but he’s agreed to see me.”

Kate said, “It’s a strong motive, sir. Are you thinking of arresting her?”

“No, Kate. Tomorrow I propose to question her under caution and the interview will be recorded. Even so, this is going to be tricky. It will be unwise, and perhaps even futile, to reveal these new suspicions without more cogent evidence than we have. There’s only Coxon’s statement that Boyton was depressed after his first visit and exhilarated before the next. And his text message to Rhoda Gradwyn could mean anything. He was apparently a somewhat volatile young man. Well, we saw that ourselves.”

Benton said, “We’re getting somewhere, sir.”

“But without one piece of hard physical evidence either about the possible forgery or the deaths of Rhoda Gradwyn and Robin Boyton. And to complicate matters, we have a convicted murderer in the Manor. We won’t get further tonight and we’re all tired so I think we’ll call it a day.”

It was just before midnight but Dalgliesh continued to feed the fire. It would be useless to go to bed while his brain was so active. Candace Westhall had the opportunity and means to commit both murders, was indeed the only person who could confidently entice Boyton into the old pantry when she could be sure of being alone. She had the necessary strength to force him into the freezer, she had ensured that her fingerprints on the lid could be explained and she had made certain that someone was with her when the body was found and had remained with her until the police arrived. But none of this amounted to more than circumstantial evidence and she was intelligent enough to know this. He could do no more at present than question her under caution.

It was then that an idea came into his mind, and he acted on it before a second thought could question its wisdom. Jeremy Coxon was apparently a late drinker in his local. His mobile might still be switched on. If not, Dalgliesh would try again in the morning.

Jeremy Coxon was in the pub. The background noise made coherent speech impossible and when he knew it was Dalgliesh who was phoning, he said, “Hold on a minute and I’ll go outside. I can’t hear you properly in here.” And a minute later, “Is there any news?”

Dalgliesh said, “None at present. We shall be in touch with you if there are any developments. I’m sorry to call so late. I’m ringing about something different but important. Do you remember what you were doing on 7/7?”