Report for Murder by Val McDermid

Author:Val McDermid [McDermid, Val]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Suspense
ISBN: 9780704340800
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 1986-12-31T13:00:00+00:00

PART THREE: FUGUE

13

It was noon before Cordelia and Lindsay pulled in beside Paddy Callaghan's Land Rover at Derbyshire House on Friday. Lindsay had felt an increasing sense of unreality as the morning had worn on. The conversation of the evening before had all but restored her to her normal frame of mind, by recalling her past and awakening her desires for the future. Somehow that all seemed very distant from what had been happening in the last few days. It seemed absurd to Lindsay that she and Cordelia should have any pretensions about being able to solve the problem of Loma Smith-Couper's death. She could not shake the increasing conviction that she was taking part in some elaborate but ultimately silly game. Only the presence of Cordelia made her determined to finish what they had started.

She was not even able to pause and collect her thoughts before they came face to face with Jessica Bennett at the door of Longnor House. The girl started when she saw them and a momentary panic flashed across her eyes before she regained her composure.

'Hello, Jessica. We haven't actually met, but Cordelia and I wanted to have a chat with you.' Lindsay announced before the girl could escape. 'We saw Miss Callaghan yesterday. She thought you might be able to help us with a couple of details. Are you busy at the moment?'

'Well. . . I suppose not. I'm meant to be in the library for private study, but no one will check up on me if I'm not there. They'll just assume I'm doing something else,' the girl replied nervously. The three of them went to Paddy's rooms. While Cordelia made some coffee, Jessica seemed apprehensive, so Lindsay tried to put her at her ease. 'What are you studying for now? Is it A levels?'

'Yes. I'm doing music, history and maths. I know it sounds a funny combination - at least everyone says it is - but maths and music are very closely related in some ways, so it helps. The history I'm doing because I like it.'

That's a good enough reason. What comes next? After this place?'

I'm not sure. I'd like to carry on with my music, but I don't know if I'll be good enough to get into one of the Royal Colleges. If not, I'll settle for reading music at university, I suppose. If my results are good enough. It's just a matter of working hard now, I guess.'

Lindsay reckoned that Jessica was being so forthcoming because she did not want to come round to the subject of Lorna's death. So while the girl was still talkative, Lindsay started to slip in the more awkward questions. She said casually, 'I shouldn't imagine anyone's getting much work done at the moment. The upheaval of the last few days must take a lot of getting used to.'

Jessica's air of nervousness instantly returned. 'It hasn't exactly been a help to anyone,' she replied.

'If you'd known Miss Callaghan as long as I have, you'd

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