Past Reason Hated

Morley gaped at her, as if her insulting words, delivered in such a matter of fact, even tone, had pricked him like darts. ‘I told you,’ he stammered. ‘I want-’

Susan rested her hands on the table, palms down, and spoke softly. ‘William, be sensible for once in your life. Look at the facts. We already know the two of you broke into the Darby and Joan Club. You used a jemmy. It’ll have your fingerprints on it. You must have handled it at some time. It’s being tested right now. And there’ll be fibres we can match with the gloves you were wearing, too. We also have two very reliable witnesses. PC Wilson here and his colleague caught you red-handed. There’s no getting around that, solicitor or no solicitor. We’ve followed correct procedure so far. You’ve been warned and charged. Right now we’re reviewing your options, so to speak.’

‘He hit me,’ Morley whined. ‘He’s broke my arm. I need a doctor.’

For a moment Susan thought that might be true. Morley was pale and his sharp, narrow brow looked clammy. Then she realized it was fear.

‘Look at his eye, William,’ she said. ‘Nobody’s going to believe he attacked you for no reason.’

Morley fell silent for a while. Susan could almost hear him thinking, trying to decide what to do.

‘It’ll go easier for you if you tell us what you were up to,’ she said gently. ‘Perhaps you were only trespassing.’ That would never wash, she knew. Trespassing, in itself, wasn’t an offence except in certain special circumstances, such as poaching and espionage, and breaking the lock of a club with a jemmy was a long way from simple trespass. Still, it wouldn’t do Morley any harm to let him look on the bright side.

He remained silent, chewing at the edge of his thumb.

‘What’s wrong, William? Are you frightened of Robert? Is that what it is?’ She was about to tell him Chalmers had already talked, tried to put the blame on him, but realized just in time that such a ploy could ruin any advantage she had. He might suspect a trick then, no doubt having seen such tactics used on television, and her carefully constructed house of cards would fall down.

‘There’s nothing to be afraid of. You’ll be helping him too.’

Ten seconds later, Morley took his thumb from his mouth and said, ‘We weren’t burgling anything. That wasn’t it at all.’

‘What were you doing there, then?’ Susan asked.

‘Just having fun.’

‘What do you mean, fun?’

‘You know, it was something to do. Smashing things and stuff. It wasn’t no aggravated burglary, or whatever you call it. You can’t charge us with that.’

‘It looks like burglary to us, William. Are you trying to tell me you were going to vandalize the place?’

‘We weren’t going to take anything or hurt anyone. Nothing like that.’

‘Were you going to cause damage?’

‘Just a bit of fun.’

‘Why?’

‘What do you mean, why?’

‘Why would you want to do such a thing?’

‘I du

‘Will you please not use language like that in front of me, William,’ Susan said. ‘I find it offensive. Answer my question. Why did you do it?’

‘No reason. Do you have to have a fucking reason for everything? I told you, it was just fun, that’s all.’

‘I’ve told you once,’ Susan said, mustering as much quiet authority as she could. ‘I don’t like that kind of language. Learn some ma

Morley tried hard to glare at her, but he looked more ashamed and defeated than defiant.

‘Was it the same kind of fun you had in those other places?’ Susan asked.

‘What other places?’

‘Come on, William. You know what I mean. This isn’t the first time, is it?’

Morley remained silent for a while, then said quietly, still rubbing his arm. ‘I suppose not.’

‘Suppose?’

‘All right. No, it’s not. But we never hurt anyone or anything.’

Susan could taste success. Her first real case. She was only assisting on the Hartley murder, but this one was all hers. If she could wrap up a four-month problem of vandalism with a neat confession, it would look very good on her record. As she listed the dates and places vandalized over the past few months – mostly youth clubs and recreation centres – Morley nodded glumly at each one, until she mentioned the community centre.

‘Come again?’ he said.

‘Eastvale Community Centre, night of December the twenty-second.’

Morley shook his head. ‘You can’t do us for that one.’

‘What are you saying?’

‘I’m saying we didn’t do it, that’s what.’

‘Come on, William. What’s the point in denying it? It’ll all be taken into account. You’re doing yourself no good.’

He leaned forward. Spittle collected at the corners of his mouth. ‘Because we didn’t f- Because we didn’t do it, that’s why. I wasn’t even in Eastvale that night. I spent Christmas with my mother down in Coventry. I can prove it. Call her. Go on.’

Susan took the number. ‘What about Robert?’

‘How should I know. But I didn’t do it. He wouldn’t do it by himself, would he? Stands to reason. Rob – now, wait a minute, wait a minute! He was out of town, too. He was down in Bristol with his brother over Christmas. We didn’t do it, I’m telling you.’

Susan tapped her pen on the desk and sighed. True, it didn’t make sense for the lad to lie at this point, when he had confessed to everything else. Damn! Just when she thought she had got it all wrapped up. That meant there must be two sets of vandals. One down, one to go. She stood up. ‘Take his statement, will you, John? I’ll go and make out a report for the chief inspector. We’ll check the alibis for the community centre job tomorrow morning.’ As she passed the room where Robert Chalmers was being held, she almost went in for another try. But there was nothing more to learn. Instead, she carried on down the corridor to her office.

THREE

‘Of all the times to come pestering me! It’s opening night tonight. Don’t you know that? How did you even know I’d be here? Normally I’d be at school at this time.’

‘I know,’ Banks said. ‘I phoned. They told me you’d taken the day off.’

‘You did what?’ Faith Green was really pacing now, arms folded under her breasts. She wore purple tights and a baggy, hip-length sweater with red and blue hoops around it. Her silver hair and matching hoop earrings flashed in the morning sunlight that shone through her large picture window.

‘How dare you?’ she went on. ‘Do you realize what damage that could do my career? It doesn’t matter that I’m guilty of nothing. Just a hint of police around that place and the smell sticks.’

‘Why don’t you sit down?’ Banks perched at the edge of his armchair, faintly amused by Faith’s performance. It certainly differed from his last visit. His amusement, however, was overshadowed by irritation.

She stopped and glared at him. ‘Am I making you nervous? Good.’

Banks leaned back in the chair and crossed his legs. ‘Remember last time I called, I asked if you’d noticed anything odd about the rehearsal on December the twenty-second?’

Faith resumed pacing again, stopped in front of the Greta Garbo poster, as if seeking inspiration, and said, with her back to Banks, ‘So?’

‘Were you telling me the truth?’

‘I’m not in the habit of lying.’

‘It’d be easier if you sat down,’ Banks said.

‘Oh, all right, damn you!’ Faith flounced towards the sofa and flung herself on to it. ‘There,’ she said with a pout. ‘Does that suit you?’

‘Fine. I must say you’re not quite as welcoming as you were last time.’

Faith looked at him for a moment, trying to gauge his meaning. ‘That was different,’ she said finally. ‘I didn’t see why we had to have such a boring time just because you were asking silly questions.’

‘And this time?’

‘I should be rehearsing, going through my lines. I’m tense enough as it is. You’re upsetting me.’