Tombland

‘I agree,’ I said. ‘Witherington struck me as stupid and obstinate. You could argue such a man might be so stupid that he would think he could get away with murder, but I can’t see him facing a capital sentence over a small piece of land. Though we can’t entirely discount the possibility.’

Nicholas sighed. ‘So we’re no further forward. Except that Isabella, and Chawry who has no alibi, must be added to the list of suspects.’

‘Except for what we saw at the scene of the crime,’ I said. ‘The killer was local, knew the area well. And if it was one man, he was very strong.’

‘Or two other people acting together,’ Barak replied.

I said, ‘Remember the twins have an alibi for the whole night in question. Carousing with a group of friends.’

Nicholas considered. ‘Friends can be intimidated. Those two would be good at that.’

I winced at a twinge from my back. ‘I wish I could see a way through this tangle.’ I looked at Toby. ‘Could you try and trace Grace Bone’s family, see if anyone has heard of her in all these years? That has to be followed up.’ I considered. ‘And we should talk to those twins about their alibi.’

Nicholas said, ‘They’ll not do that willingly.’

‘We need to get them off their own ground,’ Barak said. ‘Four of us to two of them.’

I nodded. ‘Yes. But it needs thought.’

‘They’re dangerous,’ Toby said warningly.

‘Come on, they’re just a couple of lads,’ Barak said impatiently.

Outside, the thunder rolled nearer.

* * *

DURING THE NIGHT the storm came, and I was wakened by a great crash of thunder and white flashes of lightning that lit up the room, followed by the sound of torrential rain. I wondered about the poor man lying in the alcove outside.

By morning, the storm had passed, and the air was fresher. Toby, Nicholas and I had arranged to meet Barak for breakfast at eight. None of us had expressed a wish to go to church; I suspected that Toby’s commitment to religion was as distant as that of Barak, Nicholas and I. Yesterday, Barak had said he particularly wanted to see Josephine again, but I saw he had also become caught up in the thrill of the chase. From tomorrow, Monday, he would be busy with Assize duties, which eased my conscience a little. I dared not imagine how Tamasin might react if she discovered that her husband had ended up assisting me again.

Barak was last to arrive. He had an air of excitement. ‘I called at the office they’ve set up for the Assize clerks,’ he told us. ‘The word from London is the rebels in the West Country have refused the Protector’s offer of a pardon, and chased away some Reformist preachers he sent to them. Troops are to be sent down there.’

‘Any more word of what the West Country rebellion is about?’

‘They don’t like the religious changes down there; they’re calling for the return of the practices of King Henry’s time. But they’re attacking landlords as well. The Protector’s been caught on the hop.’

Nicholas shook his head. ‘Demands for reform are one thing, but this is rebellion – in time of war, too. They’ll smart for this, and rightly.’

Toby was silent, thoughtful. I said, ‘Well, that’s nothing to do with us. I suggest we look for the lad Scambler first, then visit the address we have for Josephine. Toby, if you want to go back to your farm after we’ve seen Scambler, please do. Our other visit is a personal matter, and with riding back and forth you cannot have seen much of your parents.’

‘Thank you. I should like to do that.’

* * *

THE HOT WEATHER returned later in the morning. The air, though, was less sticky, and some of the city stink had been washed away by the rain. As we left the Maid’s Head, I saw that the man covered by the blanket was still there. As I looked I heard a groan, and the blanket twitched.

I said, ‘That fellow must be ill. We should do something.’ I took a step towards him but Toby, surprisingly, put a hand on my arm. ‘I wouldn’t, sir. If he is sick, you might catch whatever he has. There will be many coming to service at the cathedral this morning; if the name of Christ means anything, someone will show him charity. There are hundreds such as he in the doorways of Norwich,’ he added bitterly.

I hesitated, then nodded reluctantly, and we walked down into Tombland. The cobbled square was full of puddles, and water still dripped from the roofs of the fine houses round the square, glinting in the sunshine. Opposite, I saw that the great doors of the cathedral precinct were open, making the body of the great building visible, as well as the ruined buildings of the former monastery attached to it. Most of the walls were down, and carts full of rubble stood by. The cathedral doors were open, too, giving a glimpse of a huge, vaulted space within. Toby led us past, down into the town.

* * *