(‘Naow, naow, naow!’)
Ernie unclasped his hands and brought them down on the table. He gripped the edge so hard that the table quivered. ‘His own fault,’ he gabbled, ‘and not a soul else’s. Blood axes for blood and always will. I told him. Look what he done on me, Sunday. Murdered my dog, he did, murdered my dog on me when my back was turned. What he done Sunday come home on him Wednesday, and not a soul to answer for it but himself. Bloody murderer, he was, and paid in his own coin.’
Chris Anderson reached out and gripped his brother’s arm. ‘Shut your mouth,’ he said.
Dan said: ‘You won’t stop him that fashion. Take thought for yourself, Ernie. You’re not right smart in the head, boy. Your silly ways is well known: no blame to you if you’re not so clear-minded as the rest of us. Keep quiet then or, in your foolishness, you’ll bring shame on the family.’ His brothers broke into a confused chorus of approval.
Alleyn listened, hoping to glean something from the general rumpus, but the brothers merely reiterated their views with increased volume, no variation, and little sense.
Ernie suddenly jabbed his forefinger at Chris. ‘You can’t talk, Chrissie,’ he roared. ‘What about what happened yesterday? What about what you said you’d give ’im if he crossed you over you know – what –’
There was an immediate uproar. Chris and his three elder brothers shouted in unison and banged their fists down on the table.
Alleyn stood up. This unexpected movement brought about an instant quiet.
‘I’m sorry, men,’ he said, ‘but from the way things are shaping there can be no point in my keeping you round this table. You will stay either here or hereabouts, if you please, and we shall in due course see each of you alone. Your father’s body will be taken to the nearest mortuary for an examination which will be made by the Home Office pathologist. As soon as we can allow the funeral to take place you will be told all about it. There will, of course, be an inquest which you’ll be asked to attend. If you think it wise to do so, you may be legally represented, individually or as a family.’ He stopped, looked at each of them in turn and then said: ‘I’m going to do something that is unorthodox. Before I do so, however, I warn you that to conspire – that is, to act together and in collaboration for the purpose of withholding vital evidence in a case of murder – can be an extremely serious offence. I may be wrong, but I believe there is some such intention in your minds. You will do well to give it up. Now. Before more harm can come of it.’
He waited but they said nothing.
‘All right,’ said Alleyn, ‘we’ll get on with it.’ He turned to Ernie. ‘Last night, after your father’s body had been found, I’m told you leapt on the stone where earlier in the day you had put the dead gander. I’m told you pointed your sword at the German lady who was standing not very far away and you said, “Ask her. She’s the one that did it.” Did you do this?’
A half smile touched Ernie’s mouth, but he said nothing. ‘Did you?’ Alleyn insisted.
‘Ernie took a queer turn,’ Andy said. ‘He can’t rightly remember after his turns.’
‘Let him answer for himself. Did you do this, Ernie?’
‘I might and I might not. If they say so, I might of.’
‘Do you think the German lady killed your father?’
‘’Course she didn’t,’ Chris said angrily. ‘She couldn’t.’
‘I asked Ernie if he thought she did.’
‘I dunno,’ Ernie muttered and laughed.
‘Very well then,’ Alleyn said and decided suddenly to treat them to a rich helping of ham. ‘Here, in the presence of you all – you five sons of a murdered father – I ask you, Ernest Andersen, if you cut off that father’s head.’
Ernie looked at Alleyn, blinked and opened his mouth: but whether to speak or horridly to laugh again would never be known. A shadow had fallen across the little room. A voice from the doorway said:
‘I’d keep my mouth shut on that one if I were you, Corp.’
It was Simon Begg.
IV
He came forward easily. His eyes were bright as if he enjoyed the effect he had made. His manner was very quietly tough.
‘Sorry if I intrude,’ Simon said, ‘I’m on my way to the pub to be grilled by the cops and thought I’d look in. But perhaps you are the cops. Are you?’
‘I’m afraid so,’ Alleyn said. ‘And you, I think, must be Mr Simon Begg.’
‘He’s my Wing-Commander, he is,’ Ernie cut in. ‘We was in the same crowd, him and me.’
‘OK, boy, OK,’ Simon said and, passing round the table, put his hand on Ernie’s shoulder. ‘You talk such a lot,’ he said good-naturedly. ‘Keep your great trap shut, Corp, and you’ll come to no harm.’ He cuffed Ernie lightly over the head and looked brightly at Alleyn. ‘The Corp,’ he said, ‘is just a great big baby: not quite with us, shall we say. Maybe you like them that way. Anything I can do for you?’
Alleyn said: ‘If you’ll go ahead we’ll be glad to see you at the Green Man. Or – can we give you a lift?’
‘Thanks, I’ve got my heap out there.’
‘We’ll be hard on your heels, then.’
Begg went through the motion of whistling.
‘Don’t wait for me,’ he said, ‘I’ll follow you.’
‘No,’ Alleyn said very coolly, ‘you won’t. You’ll go straight on, if you please.’
‘Is that an order or a threat, Mr – I’m afraid I don’t know your rank.’
‘We’re not allowed to threaten. My rank couldn’t matter less. Off you go.’
Simon looked at him, raised his eyebrows, said, with a light laugh, ‘Well, really!’ and walked out. They heard him start up his engine. Alleyn briefly surveyed the brothers Andersen.
‘You chaps,’ he said, ‘had better reconsider your position a bit. Obviously you’ve talked things over. Now, you’d do well to think them over and jolly carefully at that. In the meantime, if any of you feel like making a sensible statement about this business, I’ll be glad to hear what it is.’ He moved to the door, where he was joined by Fox and Carey.
‘By the way,’ he said, ‘we shall have to find out the terms of your father’s will, if he made one.’
Dan, a picture of misery and indecision, scratched his head and gazed at Alleyn.
Andy burst out: ‘We was right fond of the old man. Stood together, us did, father and sons, so firm as a rock.’
‘A united family?’
‘So we was, then,’ Nat protested. Chris added: ‘And so we are.’
‘I believe you,’ Alleyn said.
‘As for his will,’ Dan went on with great simplicity, ‘we can’t tell you, sir, what we don’t know our own selves. Maybe he made one and maybe not.’
Carey said: ‘You haven’t taken a look round the place at all, then?’
Andy turned on him. ‘It’s our father what’s been done to death, Mr Carey. It’s his body laying out there, not as an old man’s did ought – peaceful and proper – but ghassly as a sacrifice and crying aloud for – for –’ He looked round wildly, saw his youngest brothers, hesitated and then broke down completely.
‘–