A Dedicated Man

THREE

Even Purcell’s ‘Hail Bright Cecilia’ failed to cheer Banks up as he drove into Helmthorpe that evening. When he walked along High Street past the gift shop with its revolving racks of postcards and the small newsagent’s with the evening papers outside fluttering in the light breeze, he could sense the mood of the village. Nothing was obvious; people went about their business as usual, shutting up shop for the day and coming home from work, but it felt like a place that had drawn in on itself. Even the air, despite the wind, seemed tight and grim. The small noises – footsteps, doors opening, distant telephones ringing – sounded eerie and isolated against the backdrop of the silent green valley sides and massive brow of Crow Scar, bright in the evening sun.

Push, Gristhorpe had said, so push he would. Push hard enough, in the right places, and something would give. Push those closest to Steadman – Penny, Ramsden, Emma, Barker – for if none of them had actually done it, Banks was sure that one of them knew who had. He would probably have to revisit Darnley and Talbot too. There was something one of them had said – a chance remark, a throwaway line – that Banks felt was important, but he couldn’t remember what it was. It would return to him in time, he knew, but he couldn’t afford to sit and wait; he had to push.

Would Sally Lumb have confronted any of them with her evidence? he asked himself as he took the short cut through the cemetery and turned right along the pathway to Gratly. It didn’t seem likely; she wasn’t a fool. But she had phoned someone, and had used a public call box for privacy. It must, then, have been someone she knew, someone she had no reason to fear.

The sheep on his right fled and stood facing the drystone wall, their backs to him; the ones on his left scampered down the grassy terraces to the stream and stood bleating under the willows. Funny creatures, Banks thought. If they’re frightened, they simply run a short distance and turn their backs. It might be effective against people who wish them no harm, but he doubted if it would deter a hungry wolf.

Emma Steadman was watching television but turned the sound down after Banks followed her into the living room. The place was much barer now that most of the books and records were gone; it was more of an empty shell than a home.

Banks waited until Emma had made some tea, then sat opposite her at the low table.

‘I’ve been meaning to ask you a few things for a while now,’ he said. ‘Mostly to do with the past.’

‘The past?’

‘Yes. Those wonderful summers you used to have up here when the Ramsden family ran the guest house.’

‘What about them? You don’t mind, do you?’ she asked, picking up some knitting. ‘It helps me relax, takes my mind off things. Sorry, go ahead.’

‘Not at all. It’s just that the impression I got was of your husband running around the dales with Penny Cartwright while Michael Ramsden buried his head in his books.’

Emma smiled but said nothing.

‘And you never thought anything of it.’

‘Perhaps if you’d known my husband, Chief Inspector, you wouldn’t think anything of it, either.’

‘But something’s missing.’

‘What?’

‘You. What were you doing?’

Emma sighed and put her knitting down on her lap. ‘Contrary to what you seem to believe, I’m not simply a passive housewife. I did have, and still do have, interests of my own. Back in Leeds I was involved in amateur dramatics for a while. On holidays in Gratly I used to knit and read. I even tried my hand at writing a few short stories – unsuccessfully, I’m afraid – but I can’t prove it; I threw them away. I also went for walks.’

‘Alone?’

‘Yes, alone. Is that so strange?’

Banks shrugged.

‘What you seem to forget is that we were only up here for a month or so at a time. During that period I spent a lot more time with my husband than you think. I did accompany them sometimes, especially if they went by car. But I’m very susceptible to the sun, so I never ventured far on sunny days unless I could find some shade. I still fail to see why you find all this so fascinating.’

‘Sometimes present events have their roots in the past. Did you enjoy your visits?’

‘They made a nice break. Leeds isn’t the cleanest city in the world, I enjoyed the fresh air, the landscape.’

‘One more thing. I’ve been given to believe that your husband was universally liked. Even Teddy Hackett, who had good reason to disagree with him, thought of him as a friend. Since I’ve been looking into his death though, I’ve found at least two people who didn’t feel the same way – Major Cartwright and Robert Kirk. We might regard them as cranks, but I’m beginning to wonder if there’s anyone else. Someone I don’t know about. You were a close group all those years ago, and your husband was still close to Michael Ramsden and Penny Cartwright when he died. Was there anybody else around? Anybody who might have held a grudge?’

Emma Steadman pursed her lips and shook her head slowly.

‘Think about it.’

‘I am. Of course there were other people around, but I can’t imagine any of them had a reason to harm Harold.’

‘The point is, Mrs Steadman, that somebody did. And if none of you can help me find out who it was, I don’t know who can. Is there any reason why he was killed at this particular time rather than, say, a year ago, or five years ago?’

‘I’ve no idea.’

‘You must know something about his affairs. Was he planning to do anything with his money? Write a will, leave it to the National Trust or something? Was there any other land he was after, anyone else’s toes he was treading on?’

‘No. No to all those questions. And I think I would have known, yes.’

‘Well, that doesn’t leave much, does it?’

‘You think one of us did it, don’t you?’

Banks kept silent.

‘Do you think I did it? For his money?’

‘You couldn’t have, could you?’

‘Maybe you think Mrs Stanton was lying to give me an alibi?’

‘No.’

‘Then why keep bothering me? I only buried my husband a few days ago.’

As Banks could think of no answer to that question, he sighed and got up to leave. Before Emma closed the door on him, he turned and spoke again: ‘Just consider what I said, will you? Try to remember any enemies your husband might have made, however insignificant they might have seemed at the time. Think about it. I’ll be back.’

Penny Cartwright was listening to music, and when she grudgingly let Banks in, flashing him a ‘you again’ look, she didn’t bother to turn it down.

‘I won’t keep you,’ Banks said, sitting on a hard-backed chair by the window and lighting a cigarette. ‘It’s just about the other night.’

‘What night? There’s been a lot lately,’ Penny said, pouring herself a drink.

‘Friday night.’

‘What about it?’

‘You were singing at the Dog and Gun, remember?’

Penny scowled at him. ‘Of course I remember. You were there too. What is this?’

‘Just refreshing your memory. Between sets you went off with Jack Barker. You were gone for about an hour. Where were you?’

‘What’s that got to do with anything?’

‘Look, it’s about time you got this right. I ask the questions; you answer. Understand?’

‘Oh, poor Inspector Banks,’ Penny cooed, ‘have I been undermining your authority?’ Her eyes challenged him. ‘What was the question again?’

‘Friday night, between sets. Where were you?’

‘We went for a walk.’

‘Where?’

‘Oh, hither and thither.’

‘Can you be more specific?’

‘Not really. I go for a lot of walks. There’s a lot of places to walk around Helmthorpe. That’s why so many tourists come here in summer.’

‘Stop the games and tell me where you went.’

‘Or else?’

After a thirty-second staring match, Penny looked away and reached for a cigarette.

‘All right,’ she said. ‘We came here.’

‘What for?’

‘What do you think?’

‘Sex?’

‘That’s not the kind of question a lady answers. And it’s nothing to do with your investigation.’

Banks leaned forward and spoke quietly. ‘Would it interest you to know that I’ve got a damned good idea why you came here? And I’ve got some colleagues back in Eastvale who’d be more than happy to come out here and prove it for me. Help me and you help yourself.’

‘I’m not admitting anything.’

‘Where were you at four o’clock on Friday afternoon?’

‘I was here practising. Why?’

‘Anybody with you?’

‘No. There usually isn’t when I practise.’

‘Did you receive any telephone calls?’

Penny looked confused. ‘Telephone calls? No. What are you getting at?’

‘And you refuse to tell me what you did during the interval on Friday evening?’

‘Wait a minute. Sally. Sally Lumb. She disappeared on Friday, didn’t she? Christ, you bastard!’ She glared at Banks. Angry tears made her eyes glitter. ‘Are you implying that I had something to do with that?’

‘What did you do?’

‘If you already know, why do you want me to tell you?’

‘I need to hear it from you.’

Penny sagged in her chair and looked away. ‘All right. So we came back here and smoked a couple of joints. Big deal. Is that what you wanted to hear? What are you going to do now, bring in the dogs and tear the place apart?’

Banks stood up to leave. ‘I’m not going to do anything. I remember the difference between the last set and the first, how you seemed more remote, detached. If it’s any consolation to you,’ he said, opening the door, ‘I believe you, and I’m glad I was right.’

But Penny didn’t move or say anything to make his exit easier.