Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 15:56:07 +0100 (BST)
From: Steve Rose <cutrose40@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Martin Roberts Investigates the Greymount College Murders - 10

DISCLAIMER:
This is a story. None of the characters in the story
exist and the events that take place are purely
imaginary. This is a detective story with sexual
overtones and is a sequel to `Martin Roberts
Investigates'. I hope that you like this as a piece of
writing.

WARNING:
Do not read this story if you are in any way offended
by acts of a homosexual nature.

Do not read this if you are under the legal age for
accessing adult sites.

Always indulge in safe sex.

Copyright Steven Rose 2003. Not to be reproduced
without the author's permission.

MARTIN ROBERTS INVESTIGATES THE GREYMOUNT COLLEGE
MURDERS

Chapter 10

Simon, Harry and Tom were delighted to see Martin back
home so early and looking rather pleased with himself.
The two young children looked forward hopefully to the
possibility that they might be taken out somewhere for
an early evening treat while Tom hoped that the smile
meant that the murder case had been solved. Martin was
about to disappoint everyone, first he told the
children that he had to do more work that night but
would take them out `very soon' and then he told his
lover the developments that had taken place during the
day. Tom agreed with his partner that the developments
were significant but did not finalise the case,
However, the younger lover did persuade Tom that they
could take the children out for a meal at a local fast
food restaurant and Martin gladly agreed. They were
soon back home after a their meal out and shortly
after that the children were having their bath and
getting ready for bed. Martin and Tom jointly
supervised this exercise and they once the boys were
in bed returned to the living room. Tom would have
liked to have rounded the day off with a long sensual
cuddle and a bout of frantic but satisfying
love-making but it was clear that Martin still wanted
to do some thinking so the younger lover did not
broach the subject. Tom announced that he was off to
bed and came over to embrace his lover. Martin warmed
to Tom's embrace and was tempted to go straight to bed
himself but decided that he could not do so and told
his partner that he needed to get his thoughts
straight for the morning. Tom accepted this and walked
hesitantly from the room hoping that his partner might
change his mind but he did not show any signs of
following him so he revised his expectations and made
his way to bed. Martin stayed up for quite a while
thinking through what he had found out during the day
and then considering how he would approach the
interviews the following morning. Finally, having
resolved matters to his own satisfaction, Martin went
to bed. Climbing into his large bed, the older man
looked down lovingly at his partner and gently
caressed his body as he snuggled up against Tom, who
stirred slightly but went on sleeping. Happy and
content to lie close to his partner, Martin soon
drifted into a deep sleep.

Unusually it was the children that first awoke Martin
the following morning and he was surprised that he had
slept so late and so well. Tom was already up and he
and the boys had prepared coffee and toast for Martin.
The two boys sat on the bed and watched as Martin ate
his breakfast and then asked if they could come into
the shower with him when he washed. Martin agreed and
Tom went off to get some towels from the other
bathroom while Harry and Simon ran gleefully into the
shower and started turning it on. Martin caught them
just in time before they flooded the bathroom. The
shower was rather crowded with Martin, Harry and Simon
all inside it and all three of the occupants decided
that they would not linger for very long. Soon, Harry
was ready to come out of the water and Tom who was
waiting just outside the door wrapped him in a towel.
Simon quickly followed Harry out of the shower. Martin
spent a few extra minutes alone completing his wash
before emerging to dry himself off and prepare to go
to work. As he got himself ready for the day, Martin
told Tom that he thought that it was likely to be a
hard and difficult day, but he hoped by the end of it
they would be closer to an arrest.

As arranged, Mike called round for Martin and together
they drove to meet Mark at the local Police Station
nearest to Greymount College. Martin had thought
carefully about the day and had decided that he wanted
to establish the truth of David Graham's accusation
about the affair between Lizzie Scott-Brown and Andy
Stephens before he did anything else. The
Superintendent told the other two officers of his plan
and they generally approved of his approach. Martin
said that he would talk to Lizzie alone and suggested
that the other two continue to carry on with routine
tasks until they could interview Andy Stephens which
they would schedule for later in the day. Before he
left for the short drive to the College, Martin
telephoned the Principal's house and spoke directly to
his wife and informed her that he wished to clarify a
couple of things on her statement and would be calling
at the house in a few moments.

Less than ten minutes later, the Superintendent was
being ushered into the smart living room in the
Principal's house and Lizzie was asking him if he
wanted any refreshments. Martin declined the offer and
got straight to the point,

"Mrs Scott-Brown, is it true that you and Andy
Stephens were having an affair?"

The colour drained almost immediately from the
Principal's wife's pretty face as Martin spoke and she
looked as if she was about to faint. The reaction was
enough to confirm to Martin that the allegation was
true but he needed to hear it directly from the woman
herself and he sat quietly waiting for a response.
Finally, Lizzie had recovered enough composure to
respond,

"Who .. who told you that?"

"Never mind that for now, Mrs Scott-Brown, is it
true?"

Lizzie looked down at her feet and slowly nodded her
head,

"Yes .. Yes, it's true. I did have .. am having .. an
affair with him. But how did you find out about it."

"From your stepbrother, Mrs Scott-Brown. Does anyone
else know about this affair?"

"I don't think so, no, certainly not my husband. He
mustn't know it'd kill him and finish me. Please can
we keep this quiet."

"I can't promise that, Mrs Scott-Brown. If either the
murder of Lawrence Miller or that of Paul Ferris is
connected in any way to the affair, then it will be
impossible to keep the matter quiet."

By now Lizzie Scott-Brown had recovered her more
robust nature and looked directly back at the
superintendent and said,

"You're not saying that you think that An .. Andy is
responsible for these deaths, are you?"

"It's a possibility that we can't rule out, Mrs
Scott-Brown, unless you have any evidence to the
contrary."

"Well at the time that that poor student, Paul Ferris,
was killed Andy couldn't have done it as he was
talking to my husband and they walked together to the
tea tent. I saw them go."

"And where were you to see them?"

"I was walking from the House to the tea tent and got
a clear view of them."

"Did anyone else see you on this walk?"

"Some of the students must have seen me but if you are
asking whether I was with anyone the answer is no I
wasn't."

"Thank you, Mrs Scott-Brown we may require you to put
this in writing at a later stage but for the time
being that's all. However I must ask you to keep this
conversation private and not to say anything to any
one, least of all Mr Stephens. Is that clear?'

"Perfectly, Superintendent."

Martin rose from his chair and walked towards the
door, which opened before he could reach it and in
swept Alex Scott-Brown. The Principal looked slightly
startled at the presence of the Superintendent in his
living room and blurted out,

"Oh Superintendent, I didn't know you were here. I do
hope that Lizzie has been entertaining you but nobody
said you were looking for me. I'm sorry to keep you
waiting."

"That's quite all right, Mr Scott-Brown, your wife was
the one I came to see and she has been most helpful."

The Principal looked slightly taken aback at the news
that Martin had come to see his wife and asked
slightly incredulously,

"You .. came .. to see .. Lizzie?"

Martin noted the look of anxiety and pleading that
crossed Lizzie Scott-Brown's face as he made to
answer,

"Yes, indeed. It was a small matter concerning
something in her statement over what happened on
Sunday. I've clarified the point I needed to know and
was just about to leave. However, there is a small
matter I wanted to discuss with you, so I might as
well do it now, if that's OK?"

Martin acknowledged the look of gratitude that crossed
Lizzie's face as she heard his response to her
husband's question. She was also relieved when Alex
said,

"Of course we can discuss it now. Why don't we step
into my study? Did Lizzie offer you a drink? If not, I
always have coffee about now. Would you are to join
me, Superintendent?"

"Thank you, Mr Scott-Brown, that would be most
acceptable."

As the two men crossed the hallway to Alex's
comfortable study, Lizzie went scurrying to the
kitchen to make the coffee. Everything in her actions
suggested fear, but Martin could not decide whether
this reaction was due to his interview with the
Principal's wife or fear of the Principal himself. As
he thought about it, there was more to Alex
Scott-Brown than met the eye and Martin wondered
whether he was capable of killing a man whom he knew
to be having an affair with his wife. It would also be
interesting, if necessary, to delve more deeply into
the relationship between Lizzie, her husband and her
lover. Martin was still wondering if his interest was
professional or prurient when they finally sat down in
the comfortable chairs in the Principal's private
study.

"So, Superintendent, what can I do for you today?"

The Principal's tone seemed to Martin to be either
weary or bored, but the Superintendent ignored this
and asked his simple question,

"I need to know about the security of the pavilion.
The odds must be either that the killer went in
through the front entrance to the building or was
already inside when Paul Ferris was killed. However, I
understand that there is another way into the building
somewhere round the back."

Before he could answer the Superintendent's question,
the coffee arrived and the Principal watched as his
wife poured two cups and handed them round to the two
men. She followed this up by offering the two men a
choice of milk and sugar. Alex waited until his wife
had left the room before he made his response to
Martin's question,

"Yes, there is a back door to the pavilion,
Superintendent, but it's rarely used and as far as I
know it is usually locked.'

"I see. Usually locked, you say? Well, whose job is it
to lock the door and who has keys?"

"You're not saying that the murderer went in through
the back door are you?"

"Not definitely, no, but we have to consider the
possibility and I have to tell you that when my
investigating team tried the door, it was unlocked."

"Well, yes, that's possible. You see in match days we
sometimes unlock that door in case of an emergency and
also it's where bits of equipment are sometimes stored
and brought out for the game."

"And who would know about this door and the
arrangements for opening and locking it up?"

Well, several members of staff especially those with
responsibility for the games and members of the
sporting teams concerned. It's used more often during
the winter and responsibility for locking up is
normally given to the member of staff in charge of the
specific sport, and the caretaker, of course."

"So David Graham would be responsible this term and
who looks after it during the winter terms?"

"Um, let me see. Soccer would be Raymond Collinson,
although I believe he normally delegated the
responsibility to the caretaker and Andy Stephens was
in charge of rugby. I believe he usually locked up
himself.

"Thank you, that was most useful."

"You don't seriously think that one of those people
might be the murderer? I suppose suspicion points at
David Graham as he has disappeared, I understand. Is
there any news of him?"

"At the moment suspicion has to fall on almost
everyone in the College, I'm sorry to say, Mr
Scott-Brown. As for any individual all I can say is
that we have a reasonable idea where Mr Graham is and
we will want to use his evidence in building a case,
along with that of all the other witnesses. However,
for the time being we are as we often say `keeping an
open mind'."

"I do hope it isn't a member of staff, Superintendent.
I don't think I, or the Trustees, could stand another
blow. Of course we all want to find the murderer but
hopefully not from within the College community. Only
then can the College get back to some form of
normality and students get on with preparing for their
important examinations in a few weeks or days time."

"Well I can't make any promises either way on the
matter of who we will find is the murderer, but I
agree with you that we need to wrap the case up as
quickly as possible so that you can all get back to a
normal academic life. Anyway, thank you for the
information about the pavilion and who is responsible
for its security, you have, as always been most
helpful. I think that it is time for me to leave you
and then we can both get on with more pressing
matters, I wouldn't doubt."

"Thank you, Superintendent." Alex Scott-Brown said
quietly and then raised his voice to call his wife,
who appeared almost immediately,

"Would you show the Superintendent out, please my
dear?"

Martin followed Lizzie to the door and as he passed in
front of her to leave he mouthed `goodbye' and she
responded with an equally quiet but also sincere,

"Goodbye and thank you for not saying anything about
me and Andy,"

Martin turned and responded,

"Not yet anyway and remember not a word to anyone."

The Superintendent did not wait for a response but
strode off back towards the classroom they used as a
base. Martin looked at his watch, if all was going to
plan, Andy Stephens would be arriving at the incident
room is less than fifteen minutes. Mike and Mark
looked up expectantly as Martin walked in and they
could tell from his expression that he had received
confirmation that Lizzie and Andy had been having an
affair. The Superintendent also confided to them the
information the Principal had given him concerning the
pavilion and the fact that Andy Stephens knew about
the rear door. Mike looked very enthusiastic at this
piece of news and blurted out,

"Are you going to arrest him as soon as he arrives?"

"No, Mike, there's not enough evidence for a start and
I want to hear his side of the story before I decide
to jump that far. Let's go nice and gentle with him to
start with and then hit him with the affair, see how
he reacts to that!"
A few moments later there was a tentative knock on the
door of the incident room, which announced the arrival
of Andy Stephens. The young Assistant House Master was
conventionally handsome, but quite a lot smaller than
one might have expected from a rugby player. He was
also quite well built with, Martin noted, strong
forearms and a muscular upper body. Martin smiled at
Andy as he entered,

"Come in, Mr Stephens, thank you for sparing the time
to see us. Let me introduce my colleagues this is Mark
Jamieson, Detective Chief Inspector, from the local
Police Force and the other person present is Detective
Sergeant Mike Rickwood, who, like me, is from Scotland
Yard. You've probably seen Mike around and he played
in the game on Sunday. I'm Detective Superintendent
Martin Roberts. I must emphasise that you are here
voluntarily and you are free to leave at any time and
equally you are free to ask for legal representation
at any time. We will want to start by asking you a few
questions about what you saw and where you were on
Sunday last, the day that Paul Ferris was killed. Is
that OK."

"Fine by me, Superintendent. I assume you want me to
tell you about my activities from the start of the
match onwards?"

Martin nodded and Mike got out his notepad as Andy
began to speak,

"Let me see. I decided to have a late lunch, as I am
not really a cricket person, too slow, give me rugby
anytime. I had intended to visit my girlfriend, Anna
Young, but she was stuck in the infirmary with that
lad who had the severe asthma attack. She told me he
wanted to go to the cricket so we arranged to meet
there. I strolled slowly over to the ground and saw
that Paul Ferris and your Sergeant here were having a
good old battle of wits. I could not see Anna so I
decided to walk right round the boundary. I was about
half way round when I saw Anna bringing Johnny Price
the sick boy to the pavilion in a wheelchair. I
watched the bowling from almost directly in front of
the sightscreen and then continued, rather faster,
towards the pavilion. There was quite a commotion when
Johnny and Anna arrived, Johnny's a popular student
and his friends almost mobbed him. I waited for things
to quieten down and then went to talk to Anna, but the
Principal, who wanted me to talk to him about some
House business, prevented me from doing so. Shortly
after we started chatting Paul Ferris was out and the
Principal stopped briefly but asked me to wait. I
looked round for Anna, as I wanted to explain the
delay but could not see her. I could not refuse the
Principal's request to wait for him so I sat there for
a few minutes until he returned. It was not long after
that when the Student's innings closed and the
Principal and I walked over to the tea tent together."

Martin and the other policemen exchanged glances and
then the Superintendent intervened with a question,
"You're saying that the only time you were not either
walking round the ground or sitting with the Principal
were a few moments just after Paul Ferris was out and
the Principal disappeared. Did he go into the
pavilion?"

"No, I think he went to say something to David Graham.
David might have gone inside, I'm not sure. Is it
important?"

"Everyone's movements around the time of the murder
are important, sir", Mark intervened slightly coldly.


"I understand, Chief Inspector, I'm sorry. Should I
continue?"

"Please", Martin said in a more conciliatory manner.

"I went to the tea ten with Alex Scott-Brown and was
hoping that in a few minutes Anna would come over and
joined us but she didn't. In fact I didn't see her
until someone called for medical help in the pavilion.
She told me she realised I would be tied up with the
Principal for some time and had decided to go back to
the sick bay and watch television."

Martin again sounded conciliatory,

"Yes, that's right, Mr Stephens, that's what she told
us, too. But tell me did you see anyone enter or leave
the pavilion at any time after Paul was out?"

"No, Superintendent, nobody apart from the batsmen who
went in to change after they had been dismissed."

"OK, Mr Stephens, thanks."

Martin again sounded relaxed and at ease and Mark from
old experience knew that he was about to strike a
first blow. Andy Stephens, thinking the interview was
over made to rise but the Superintendent indicated he
wanted to ask some more questions,

"Before you go, there is another matter I'd like to
ask about, it concerns the pavilion. You are a rugby
man as you said and you will know about the rear door
to the pavilion. What are the arrangements for keeping
that door secure?"

"Normally the person responsible for the game ensures
it's unlocked and locked. The door may be open during
the game may be kept open in case equipment is needed
to be got hold of or an injured player needs to be
taken to the sick bay, it's the quickest route there.
If it's left unlocked then the caretaker would
normally lock it when he did his rounds, but it's easy
to forget. I don't know if it was open on the day of
Paul's death but I presume it was. Why do you ask?"
Martin saw no reason not to tell Andy the truth,

"It's possible that that door was used by the killer
to gain entry to the washroom and shower area where
Paul died. Tell me, did many people know about the
door and where it led to?"

"Most of the staff and players on teams, I should
imagine."

Martin sighed loudly and looked at Mark who realised
that the moment had come to really hit Andy hard. The
Chief Inspector leaned forward aggressively and said,

"Tell me, Mr Stephens, when did you and Lizzie
Scott-Brown start your affair?"

Mark's question brought a reaction from Andy that was
similar to someone being struck by a rapier and it was
several moments before the teacher could respond. It
was obvious that he was uncertain how to reply and
unsure of just how much the Police actually knew. He
obviously decided that a straight denial of the
existence of any relationship with the Principal's
wife was not a realistic option. Eventually, in a
quiet and rather subdued voice Andy replied to Mark's
question,

"It started several months ago. It was one Saturday
evening and I was on duty on the dormitory, as usual,
and Anna was in the infirmary with several students
suffering from German measles. Lizzie came across to
the dormitory looking for her husband but he wasn't to
be found, no doubt off with his local cronies I
suppose. Anyway, I was having a drink and naturally I
offered her one and she took it. I don't know how it
happened but very soon she was pouring out all her
troubles to me. She told me that Alex was not very
attentive and had lost interest in her once she had
produced a couple of children. It was the usual `my
husband doesn't understand me' and I suppose I fell
for it. Not long after she started telling me her
concerns I found myself kissing her and one thing led
to another and soon we were having sex on the floor of
my living room. Neither of us seemed to care if we
were caught, which fortunately we weren't. After it
was over, I said I wasn't sure that we should have
done what we did and she agreed but neither of us
meant it. The next day I received a note from Lizzie
asking me to come to meet her and I went and things
just progressed from there."

Mark intervened to prompt Andy to go further,

"OK, so that's how it started. Is it still going on?"

Andy looked back at the Chief Inspector and said,

"Sort of. Of course I love my girlfriend, Anna, but I
also love Lizzie in a different way. Lizzie is so much
more experienced, so physical. She satisfies my needs
in a more fulfilling way than Anna ever could. I've
tried to end it with Lizzie but I couldn't and I think
she feels the same way. On the other hand I stand to
lose my job and my career if the Principal ever found
out."

"Were you worried enough about that question to be
willing to protect your secret, Mr Stephens?"

This time it was Martin who intervened and Andy looked
aghast at the suggestion,

"Of course not!! Hardly anyone knew about us, except
that stepbrother of hers, David Graham. He found out
and started to threaten me, saying that he would lose
his job if Alex found out. I asked Lizzie why David
was so concerned about our secret getting out and she
explained the situation and then I understood, but now
the old busybody has disappeared hasn't he?"

"Apparently so, Mr Stephens, but let us get back to
you and your story, leave Mr Graham to us. Where did
you and Lizzie meet?"

Once again Martin was concerned to move matters on and
not to be side tracked into other issues.

"Sometimes we met in my rooms in College House, never
at her house and at other times in the tower basement.
There was a rumour that the tower was used by student
smokers so I encouraged people to believe that and
then if I was spotted I could explain that I was
checking to see if any smokers were about. If we were
both spotted I could say that I met Lizzie using the
short cut from the village that runs through the
woods. We found a way to bar the door once inside and
it was normally possible to tell when it was safe for
us to leave."

"OK. Why did you suggest that people look in the tower
on the day Lawrence Miller went missing?"

"It was simple, Superintendent, we'd looked everywhere
else and the tower was the only place we hadn't
searched. It wasn't possible to avoid suggesting
there."

"Did you know that Lawrence Miller's body was there
all along, Mr Stephens?"

"I don't like your inference, Chief Inspector! No I
did not know his body was there. I didn't kill him and
I don't know who did. I couldn't possible have known
he was there."

Martin looked on thoughtfully while this exchange took
place and then said,

"You said that Mr Graham was threatening you. On the
day of Lawrence Miller's murder and at roughly the
time he was killed were you on your way to the tower
or at the tower?"

"No, I was not!"

Andy Stephens' answer came just that little bit too
quickly and Martin and probably the teacher recognised
the error straight away,

"Are you sure, Mr Stephens, we have a witness who
claims to have seen you walking away from the tower?"

"Yes, Superintendent. I did walk towards the tower
that morning. I had asked David Graham to see me so
that we could try to settle things but as I was going
to the meeting I thought better of it and turned round
and walked back. Your witness confirms I was walking
away from the tower not towards it, doesn't he?"

"Indeed so, but we do not know the exact moment Mr
Miller died so it doesn't put you in the clear."

"But why would I wish to kill Lawrence? He was a good
friend, he didn't know about me and Lizzie and he
wasn't threatening me!!"

Mark and Martin knew that they could not pursue this
line further without any more concrete evidence so
Mark changed tack again,

"Apart from our witness did anyone else see you turn
round and walk back or did you see anyone else near
the tower on the morning in question?"

Andy looked slightly relieved at the change of
direction and replied more confidently,

"No to both questions, Chief Inspector. I don't think
anyone saw me and I certainly didn't see anyone else."

"OK, thank you. That's almost everything for today but
one last question. Does anyone else know about your
affair?"

"Not that I know of, Superintendent and I hope it
stays that way."

"Thank you, Mr Stephens I can't promise you that if it
proves to be an integral part of the case. I must ask
you not to discuss anything that has been said in this
room today in strictest confidence. Do not discuss it
with anyone and that include Lizzie Scott-Brown.
Someone may be killing to keep something secret and
talking could put people's lives at risk. Finally, I
may well need to talk to you again but for now you are
free to go."

A somewhat relieved Andy Stephens left the interview
and still rather shaken went back to supervise the
lunch break in his dorm. Meanwhile Martin, Mark and
Mike sat together in the incident room assessing the
latest developments. As usual Martin said a few words
by way of introduction,

"Well, I don't know about you two I thought that was
very interesting but I'm not sure that it gets us very
far. By the way Lizzie confirmed to me earlier that
the affair was a reality and still, as far as she is
concerned, an active one and her husband also told me
about the back door to the pavilion. Andy Stephens
testimony on that is confirmed by what Mr Scott-Brown
said. So, do you two think Andy was telling the truth
about the rest of the events?"

Mark responded first,

"I was quite persuaded by his account of the morning
of Lawrence Miller's death. I know there's no clear
evidence to support him except even David Graham's
account says he was walking away from the tower. My
gut instinct is to say that he didn't kill Miller,
which makes it unlikely that he killed Paul Ferris
either, sir."

Mike Rickwood who had been keeping the notes of the
exchanges nodded in agreement,

"I agree with that as well, sir. And another thing is
that his account of his movements at the time of Paul
Ferris' death suggests that he couldn't have committed
that murder either. He has a powerful alibi in the
fact that he was with the Principal."

The Chief Inspector interjected another comment at
this point,

"Not all the time, though, Mike. He says that he was
alone for a few minutes but I agree it would have been
difficult for him to get in and out of the pavilion
and back to his seat without his absence being noted
or his movements being seen."

Martin acknowledged these points and added,

"He'd also have been very wet as well. I think that
there is little point at this stage in going further
with the Miller murder. I believe that the key to this
case lies in the death of Paul Ferris. If we solve
that case we get the killer. What do you say to the
idea of a reconstruction? I would not use the
students, it would be too traumatic for them but the
main adult staff members could take part and we could
provide our own people to play the other roles. I
think that would give us a better idea of what
happened and who was actually where."

Mark looked enthusiastic and said,

"Sounds a good idea to me, but would they all agree
and will David Graham wish to expose himself to the
danger he claims to be in?"

"Leave Mr Graham to me", Martin said grimly. I will
contact the Principal and get it organised. He won't
like it but it shouldn't take more than an hour or so.
I'll suggest as soon as possible, do you agree?"

"Yes sir" chorused Mark and Mike.

As Martin had predicted Alex Scott-Brown was far from
pleased at the suggestion of a reconstruction but
reluctantly agreed to it for the following day after
he was reassured that no students would have to be
involved. It was agreed, however, that students would
be informed that the activity was to take place and
Martin stressed in his short speech that if any of the
students remembered, saw or heard anything during the
reconstruction they could contact any member of the
investigation team in private afterwards.

A few moments later Mike Rickwood was cornered by
Bobby Marsh, who indignantly demanded to know why
students were not allowed to take part in the
reconstruction. The Police Sergeant explained that it
was felt that it would prove very traumatic for
several of the students and they could still help by
being present if they wished and making comments
afterwards. This went part way to satisfying Bobby,
who claimed he represented a wide measure of student
opinion and added,

"We all want to help, you know."

"We do know that Bobby but we don't want to cause more
upset or put any more lives in danger if we can avoid
it."

Rather reluctantly and still keen to express his
objections, Bobby decided not to press the point and
went back to his dormitory. As he left he looked
pointedly at the Superintendent and his two fellow
officers and said,

"Maybe tomorrow, you'll solve this crime."

Martin smiled grimly and said,

"Let's hope so, Bobby. Let's hope so!"

to be continued

If you liked the story let me know
cutrose40@yahoo.co.uk