“I see. Why here?”
“Why not?” “Well,’ said Dalziel thoughtfully, ”s not the first place you’d come to, or the most comfortable, or attractive, I shouldn’t have thought.”
“Anyway, what’s it matter? I came. It was eerie. I suppose I felt brave, being here all by myself. I came up the stairs in the dark — ‘
“Was the lab door locked?”
“Yes. But I had a master key for all the rooms in this block. So in I went, this other door was a bit ajar, I peered in. I’d got my night eyes by then and I could see quite clearly. I just took one look and ran outside. There’s a phone in the corridor. I knew the girl on the switchboard, so she gave me a line though she wasn’t supposed to, not according to the planners. And I asked for an ambulance.”
Dalziel digested the information for a while.
“Was he dead?’ he asked finally.
“I don’t know. He was very still. And when I touched his hand he felt — funny.”
“You didn’t say you touched him.”
“No, that was when I went back in, to see if there was anything I could do. But I couldn’t think of anything, and I was scared, so I went and stood in the corridor till I heard the ambulance coming.”
“You’ve been very brave indeed,’ said Dalziel sincerely. ‘ you mind having another look inside?”
“No. Of course not.”
She slid off the stool and followed him back into the room.
“Now you say he was sprawled out over the desk? Good, good,’ he said.
“Now, did you touch anything in here?”
“Well, yes. I mean I had to. I touched him, Mr. Fallowfield, just once.
And I moved the chair back when the ambulance men came. And I touched the light switch.”
“But you didn’t remove anything? A piece of paper or anything at all?”
“No!’ she said with some indignation.
“I have to ask,’ he said. ‘ for instance he had tried to kill himself, and left a note it would be wrong of anyone to remove it, even if it was addressed to some specific person. You follow me?”
“I’ve overtaken you,’ she said, recovering her spirits now. ‘ I haven’t taken anything.” “Good-oh,’ said Dalziel making a minute examination of the room but touching as little as possible. He ended up on his hands and knees peering under and around the desk.
There was a clatter of feet on the stairs and Pascoe came into the laboratory, halting outside the storeroom and looking down at his superior’s proffered backside with an impassive face.
Dalziel stood up, dusting his elbows and knees. In his hand he held a broken hypodermic syringe which he wrapped carefully in his handkerchief, ignoring Sandra’s questioning gaze.
“What’s going on outside?”
There’s still a lot of people standing around, chatting, but the revolutionary spirit seems to have evaporated for the time being.”
He caught Sandra’s eye and grinned sympathetically. She looked away.
“Is this where he…?”
“Whatever happened to Mr. Fallowfield probably happened here,’ said Dalziel carefully. ”ll want this room sealed off until the lab boys can have a look at it. I’d better have your keys I think, Miss. Firth.”
She passed them over without demur and he locked both the storeroom door and the laboratory door behind them. On the stairs they met one of the uniformed men from the car. He looked apologetic.
“I know you said wait, sir, but after the ambulance… well, we thought one of us should take a walk down. It might have been for you.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, lad. As you’re so keen, you can bloody well stay here. No one gets into this block without my say-so. Right?”
They made their way back towards the old house, ignoring the groups of students and of staff with fine impartiality. Once back in the study, Dalziel gestured towards the phone.
“Is that thing OK?”
Pascoe lifted the receiver and listened.
“Yes. There’s an outside line.”
“Get the hospital. Find out what’s what.”
Outside the door they heard voices raised in heated discussion. The door was suddenly opened and a little, balding man strutted in, pushing past Landor.
“Superintendent Dalziel? We met briefly the other day, you’ll recall.
I’m Douglas Pearl and I’m here to represent… “
“Pearl?’ bellowed Dalziel, successfully bringing the little man to order; then more quietly, ‘. Well, Mr. Pearl, the swine you wish to cast yourself before have rushed off elsewhere.”
“Mr. Dalziel! I must protest… “
“So must I. You weren’t asked in here. Well, what is it, Pascoe? Spit it out, man.” “He’s dead,’ said Pascoe slowly, replacing the receiver. ”s dead. On arrival.”
The words engendered a silence which spread through the room and out into the hallway beyond.
“How?’ asked Dalziel, no respecter of respect.
“It’s early to say with certainty,’ replied Pascoe. ‘ they’re pretty sure it’s a massive overdose of heroin.”
Chapter 15
There is no greater impediment of action than an overcurious observance of decency.
Sunday morning dawned fine; had been dawning fine before most people in the college got to bed. The scent of the sea was in the air, evocative, invigorating; but it was obviously going to become over-warm later.
Pascoe thought he was probably the first person out of bed, but he gave all the credit for this to the makeshift arrangement of blankets and narrow mattress on which he had finally slept in the study. It was an unnecessary precaution, he was sure, but Dalziel had been adamant. Sheer jealousy, thought Pascoe gloomily.
He decided no harm could be done by having a quick shower and shave. He felt disagreeably grubby and dull witted.
When he returned, he saw that he was no longer alone in the world. Ellie was standing outside the main door of the old house and he felt a gush of pleasure that she had come so early to see him. Then he saw that she was pinning something to the door. A notice. He came up behind her without being observed and coughed gently. She jumped very satisfactorily.
“Oh,’ she said. ”s you.” “Good morning,’ he said reading the notice. It was typewritten and had obviously been run off from a stencil on a duplicating machine.
We the undersigned members of staff dissociate ourselves completely from the high-handed and provocative actions of the police force last night
’”
It was dated and signed by about ten people. Some of them were only names to Pascoe, but others he recognized. Halfdane; Marion Cargo; and Ellie herself.
“That’s a bit unnecessary, isn’t it?’ he said.
Ellie shrugged.
“Halfdane’s idea, I’ve no doubt. You must have got even less sleep than I did.”
“It had to be done quickly. We thought if the notices were there for the students to see first thing this morning, it might help to cool things down.”
Pascoe laughed without humour.
“Cool things down! You’ve got to be joking! People like Cockshut will be delighted when they see this. It’s carte blanche for anarchy.”
“Piddle diddle,’ said Ellie lightly. ‘ are an old reactionary now, aren’t you? You’ve forgotten what it’s like to be young.”
He looked at her coldly.
“Don’t try to kid me, Ellie,’ he said. ”re no political animal.
You’d better watch yourself. It’s very easy for single women in places like this to mistake sentimental maternalism for radical idealism. But I don’t think you’re as far gone as that, though there’s always the danger. Then what is it you’re after? Pretty boy Halfdane’s approval?”
She slapped his face, almost dispassionately.
“You can go to jail for that,’ said Dalziel’s voice behind them. The fat man shouldered his way between them and read the notice.
“Bloody cloud-cuckoo-land,’ he said. ‘ all live in bloody cloud-cuckoo-land. Come on in, Sergeant. We’ve got a real job to do.”
Jesus wept! thought Pascoe as he went inside, not looking back at Ellie, what strange allies we find ourselves lined up with! Dalziel, Disney, Dunbar, Scotby, all the oldies, all the wrong reasons, but facing in the same direction.