A Matter for the Jury Read Online Free

the other day. There had been a folk music concert on the radio just before bedtime. She had listened to it with her father over their cups of cocoa. A singer called Steve Benbow had performed that same song. Billy walked on. As she switched off the lights Mavis glanced at the clock on the wall at the back of the shop. The time was 10.45.

5
    27 January
    At 8.30 on Monday morning it was still barely light. The morning was grey and cheerless and the day seemed destined to be every bit as cold as the five that had preceded it. But it would have taken more than a little cold weather to keep Archie Knights and Bouncer at home. Archie had retired from the former Suffolk Regiment with the rank of major three years before, and getting up early was a habit he had been unable to shake off. He had been awake since 5.30, although on this morning he had allowed himself the indulgence of a cup of tea and an attempt, only partially successful, on the Times crossword before calling his golden retriever for their daily walk. Archie pulled on his wellingtons, and man and dog set out for the river bank at a brisk pace.
    Archie passed the Rosemary D during his walk two or three times a week. He had met Ken and Rosemary Douglas socially once or twice, and he had heard the rumours about the parties on the boat. But that was history now, and when the police started to take an interest in them his wife had instructed him to disapprove of the Douglases and their parties. Usually, he gave the Rosemary D no more than a passing glance, wondering vaguely when someone would either come and occupy her or tow her away before she started to deteriorate. But on this morning he stopped abruptly alongside. This was partly because he noticed that the door leading down to the quarters was not firmly closed as usual, but was ajar; and partly because Bouncer had stopped and was making an unfamiliar soft whining noise. After hesitating for some time, Archie made his way carefully on to the small, muddy wooden dock. He approached the boat, put one foot up on the deck and called out.
    â€˜Hello. Anyone aboard?’
    There was no reply. Bouncer was still whining and was straining at the leash, trying to turn Archie around, as if he wanted to leave.
    â€˜It’s all right, boy,’ Archie reassured him. ‘Someone probably left it unlocked by mistake.’
    He tried to peer through the opening, but it was too narrow, and he could see no light inside. The window curtains were closed.
    â€˜Come on, Bouncer, we’ll just take a quick look.’
    He stepped fully on to the deck, pulling the unwilling Bouncer behind him, and gingerly approached the door. He knocked.
    â€˜Anyone home?’ he called again. ‘Can I come in?’
    No reply. He pushed the door open. There was just enough light for him to see. There was no one in the living quarters, and everything seemed in order, except for a single chair overturned on his left. But there was a smell hanging in the air. He closed his eyes. It was a smell which brought to mind his days in combat as a captain in North Africa and Italy. There was no mistaking it. Dreading what he now knew he was going to find, he trod quietly towards the sleeping quarters. The door was open. One look, even in the dim light, was enough. He turned and ran hell for leather for the door, for fresh air and daylight. The horror of what he had seen did not hit him fully until he had jumped back from the dock on to the river bank. He turned slowly back to look at the boat, one hand over his mouth, breathing heavily. He felt sick.
    â€˜Oh, my dear God,’ he muttered. Bouncer had sat down on the grass, his head against Archie’s leg, quiet now. Archie breathed deeply several times to ward off the nausea. There was no time for that. He forced himself to concentrate and pulled sharply on the leash.
    â€˜Come on, boy,’ he said. ‘We have to go and find Constable Willis.’
    * * *
    In Sergeant Livermore’s