Murder at Maddleskirk Abbey Read Online Free Page B

we know a lot about the establishment, its routine, personnel and so forth.’
    ‘It would be fascinating to be involved….’
    ‘It would, but a lot depends upon who’s in charge of the investigation. Now we must leave and lock the crypt. Whileyou inform the abbot and the others, I’ll call the CID. I’ll use phone in the cop shop.’
    ‘I hope the sculptor doesn’t return – he won’t be able to get in.’
    ‘Then that’s one security problem solved! Next we need to know the sculptor’s full name, Father Prior. The murder team will definitely want to interview him, if only for elimination purposes.’
    ‘I know him as Harvey, but don’t know his other name or where he comes from. The procurator should know. I understand his work is being paid for by a wealthy benefactor, so both his name and that of the sculptor will surely be on some sort of contract.’
    ‘Good. So we’ve already made a start to our own investigation . I see no reason why we can’t carry out our own enquiries quite independently of the police, especially if the CID doesn’t want us to join them. But there’s another matter to think about. The detectives will require secure accommodation they can use as their murder room – it’ll need desks, a blackboard, computer terminals, telephones, seating, space for refreshment breaks and probably more besides. They’ll provide all their own equipment. A lecture theatre or conference room would be ideal – there’ll be regular conferences of detectives throughout the enquiry when lots of tea and coffee will be consumed. And it will need to be made secure when they’re not using it. This enquiry could last for several days, or be over in just one.’
    ‘That won’t be a problem, we’ve plenty of suitable venues. Leave it with me, Nick, I’ll check after I’ve locked the crypt. Where shall we rendezvous?’
    ‘How about the cop shop?’ It was called that because it had previously been the school tuck shop – some said it was named in honour of Prior Tuck, not only because of his name but also because he had been a frequent customer to buy Mars Bars. ‘I’ll wait there for you, then I can brief the monk constable on duty. He’s going to be very busy.’
    ‘It’ll take a few minutes to explain things to the abbot and others. Will you be remaining? Perhaps working with us?’
    ‘I don’t think the detectives will want me, a retired police officer, hanging around, but with our combined and specialized knowledge, the murder team might find the monkstables useful for local enquiries. I’ll be happy for us to help. It’s a case of waiting to see what the CID need. I’m not going home just yet.’
    I called Mary on my mobile to say I would not be home for some time and would probably have lunch in one of the refectories . Father Prior and I went our separate ways as I headed for the cop shop. Its normal times of opening were listed outside the door. When the duty monkstable was not in the police office, he would be patrolling the grounds and buildings in uniform to deal with whatever occurred – litter dropping, foul language, lost and found property, trespassing in secure areas, inconsiderate car-parking, noisy motor bikes roaring past the abbey during mass, or any other nuisance or problem. There was a POLICE sign complete with an illuminated blue lamp above the doorway and, as I arrived to make my call, a woman rushed to the counter. I stood back to allow her to complete her business for I had no wish to have my call overheard at this stage. I recognized the woman as Miss Dawson, one of the teaching staff.
    It was already approaching nine o’clock and the enquiry desk was staffed by Constable Will Stutely – Father Will Stutely – whose shoulder number was 14. At Maddleskirk, each of the constables’ shoulder numbers began with figure 1 because they were the first of Britain’s monastic constables. As duty officer, Monkstable Stutely would spend his scheduled time behind the