Peter Lovesey - Skeleton Hill

‘You were in at the beginning,’ he said, pleased how comfortable he felt on the treadmill. Maybe he was fitter than anyone suspected.

‘And so were they.’

‘I reckon you have a better memory than theirs. You formed the society in 1993, I was told, to see that the down wasn’t mistreated by the people staging the mock battle up there.’

‘Correct. And later we put ourselves on a more permanent footing.’

‘Public spirited of you.’ A genuine compliment from Diamond. Mrs White’s contribution to the running of the city was well known to be altruistic and gladly given.

‘It isn’t a burden. I enjoy walking up there and I might as well check what’s happening at the same time.’

‘Do you happen to remember if anyone was seriously hurt in the battle? You know why I’m asking?’

‘I know about the skeleton you found. It’s female, isn’t it? Women do take part. They’re sometimes in the gun crews. The less adventurous prefer a support role, ministering to the sick or preparing meals at the camp. They call themselves camp followers. Not too nice a description. Personally I’d rather be astride a horse wielding a sword.’

A scary mental image.

‘A camp follower could still be hit by a stray cannonball, I expect.’

‘I watched the battle,’ she said, ‘and I’m absolutely certain real cannonballs weren’t used.’

‘This woman was minus her head.’

‘Lord save us, the explosives aren’t that dangerous, or we’d never have sanctioned them. If there had been a serious accident like that, the papers would have been full of it.’

‘I know. I’m working on the theory that the death was covered up. She was buried close to the battleground.’

‘Surely her people would have raised the alarm: family, friends, workmates?’

‘Unless she was a loner.’

‘Loners don’t join in war games, Mr Diamond – certainly not female loners. Most of them join because their boyfriends or husbands are part of it. I don’t know why you’re wasting time on this.’ She took a hand off the handlebar and raised a finger. ‘Ah, but I do. I see it now. You want to link it with the killing of the man found in the cemetery. He was one of the battle people, a cavalier.’

‘We can’t ignore the possibility.’

‘It’s far more likely that your skeleton lady had nothing to do with cavaliers and roundheads. My best guess is that she was the victim of a sex crime and the killer disposed of her body afterwards. How are you doing? Do you want to step off?’

‘I’m all right. Is the battle area popular with courting couples?’

‘Don’t ask me. You’re the policeman.’

‘Yes, but you people patrol it regularly.’

‘“Patrol” is not the way I think of it. We make a point of spending time up there when other commitments allow. I like walking. Reggie and Colin do their golf and Colin never misses the race days. Your boss Georgina is a rambler, like me. Charlie Smart, our vicar, is interested in wildlife, so between us we keep an eye on things. Patrolling, no. We’re not vigilantes, you know.’

Speak for yourself, he thought. The major, for one, seemed to think he had a mission to catch anyone who misbehaved. ‘So you wouldn’t know what people get up to at night?’

She turned her head and gave him a magisterial glare. ‘Personally, no. Well,’ she said, ‘I must correct myself. I haven’t seen anything going on personally, but I’m informed what happens. There are several unofficial points where motorists can drive off the road, and do and sometimes throw out their used condoms. Reggie – the major – keeps count for some reason, and will insist on reporting the latest figure at our meetings.’

‘I didn’t think to ask him.’

‘I wouldn’t. It’s not good for his blood pressure. How’s yours, by the way? Don’t overdo this if it’s your first time.’

‘The problem with the sex murderer theory,’ he said, ignoring that, ‘is that he’d need to have a spade with him to bury his victim. If your thoughts are on sex, do you carry a spade in your car?’

A pause while he regretted phrasing it that way.

Then she said, ‘My thoughts in that department are not for you or anyone else to enquire about.’

‘Sorry, ma’am. I’m speaking of people in general.’

‘Drivers sometimes carry spades routinely in case of snow. Or if they’re treasure-hunters, or have an allotment. One can think of reasons.’

‘Agreed.’

‘As you well know, I’ve had a number of murderers brought into my court for preliminary hearings. They can be resourceful when it comes to covering up their crimes.’

‘Don’t I know it!’

‘A magistrate sees the whole spectrum of offenders, from speeding motorists to serial murderers.’

‘And I dare say some crimes are committed on Lansdown.’

‘Of course.’

‘Any habitual offenders up there?’

She laughed. ‘You’re scraping the barrel now.’

‘No. This man Rupert Hope was attacked twice in two weeks. He was living rough. We could be looking for someone with a grudge against him. Maybe someone who gets violent when drunk. You must see a few.’

‘Regularly, but not specially linked with Lansdown, except sometimes on race days.’

His calf muscles were aching. He’d need to step off soon. ‘No names, then?’

She gave the matter some thought. ‘I’ve seen a man from Charlcombe a few times, a big fellow with the unlikely name of Gentle. Ned Gentle. He’s put a few unfortunates into A &E on Saturday nights. I sent him down for six months last time. He’d still be inside.’

‘I’ll check.’

‘If you don’t mind me saying so, you’ve turned rather pink.’

He could feel his face glowing. ‘I’m stopping presently. In your rambles over the last couple of weeks did you see Rupert Hope at all?’

‘How would I know?’ she asked. ‘Was his head bandaged?’

‘Probably not. How do I switch this thing off?’

‘Touch the red button on the screen.’

‘I can’t see it.’ All the controls were a blur.

She leaned right across him and touched the screen.

‘Thanks for that. It suddenly got difficult.’ He stepped off, panting.

Augusta White continued pedalling. ‘You’ll feel better after a shower. You don’t mind if I continue? I have another mile to go.’

He’d arranged to see Paloma at her house in Lyncombe that evening. She’d spent the afternoon in Winchester and would need cheering up, not because Winchester is a depressing city, but because the place she’d been visiting was the prison. As a comforter, he was not much help. Having driven there, he felt a sharp pain in his back when he tried to rise from the car seat. It was ridiculous, but he couldn’t get out. He had to sound the horn.

Paloma opened her front door and came out. With her help he got vertical and limped inside, where he explained about the session at the fitness centre.

‘What were you on?’ she asked. ‘The rowing machine?’

‘A treadmill,’ he said, ‘and I was only walking, for pity’s sake, and I’m used to that. I felt good at the time, a little wobbly at the end, that’s true. I didn’t expect this.’

‘You must have moved in a way you wouldn’t normally use. I can see the pain you’re in. You’ll need a couple of days off work.’

‘Some chance. I’m needed.’ He told her about the Rupert Hope investigation.

‘Peter, no one is indispensable.’

‘That’s exactly my point. They can replace me and I don’t want to be replaced. The boss is trying to elbow me off the case anyway. She’ll hand the whole thing over to Bristol CID. I’ve got to put in an appearance even if I’m on crutches.’